BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The defending GNAC champion Western Washington University softball team opened the 2026 conference slate with a pair of victories Friday against in-state rival Central Washington, defeating the Wildcats 11-2 and 3-2 at Viking Field.

WWU improved to 16-11 overall and opened the 24-game conference slate with a 2-0 record at a sun-soaked Viking Field during spring break.

The Vikings broke the GNAC (and program) single-game record with 11 stolen bases in the opener while winning 11-2 in a run-rule-shortened 5-inning game. WWU and CWU was locked in a tight second game with Western earning a walk-off victory on a sacrifice fly by senior Olivia Matlock.

In the opening game of the four-game series, the Vikings pressured the Wildcats on the basepaths with 11 stolen bases, including three by freshman Payton Chacon and two each by Maleah Andrews and Hailey Rath. The 11 stolen bases broke the GNAC record of 10 set by Simon Fraser in 2023 and the previous program record also with 10 steals against CWU in 1999.

Western scored seven runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning to pull away early, powered by a two-run home run by center fielder Laila Carpenter. Andrews was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI to extend her hitting streak to 12 consecutive games. Carpenter finished 2-for-3 with three RBI. Freshman Alanna Wirtala (12-7) earned the win in the circle allowing three hits and one run in 3.0 innings. Mac Ferguson finished the game allowing one run in 2.0 hitless innings.

The nightcap featured tight battle between the Vikings and Wildcats with WWU winning 3-2 in walk-off fashion. The Vikings jumped out to the 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning with a two-out, two-run single by Andrews to extend her hitting streak to 13 games. CWU got a run back in the 4th inning on a bases loaded hit-by-pitch to Izzy Vargas and pulled even in the top of the 6th on a run-scoring double by Kasi Thomas.

Wirtala retired the Wildcats in order in the top of the 7th inning, setting up for the final at-bat dramatics. After going down in the count 0-2, senior shortstop Hailey Rath led off the bottom of the 7th with a double to left field fence, moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt by catcher EmmaJoy Wise and scored the winning run on a sac fly to deep right field by Matlock.

WWU starting pitcher Evalyn Massina allowed one run in 3.2 innings and Wirtala earned her second win of the day allowing one hit (and run) in 3.1 relief innings. Wirtala finished the day 2-0 with a 2.21 ERA (2 ER, 6.1 IP) as the Viking pitching staff allowed just four runs and eight hits. Western's defense played error-free in both games.

Western Washington 11, Central Washington 2 (Game 1)

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Central Washington..... 001 10 -  2  3  2      (7-20, 1-4 GNAC)

Western Washington..... 172 1X - 11  9  0      (15-11, 1-0 GNAC)

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CWU: Anderson, Flohr (2) and Cable

WWU: Wirtala, Ferguson (4) and Wise

Win-Wirtala (12-7)  Loss-Anderson (1-8)  T-2:00

HR WWU - Carpenter (1)

Western Washington 3, Central Washington 2 (Game 2)

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Central Washington..... 000 101 0 -  2  5  0      (7-21, 1-5 GNAC)

Western Washington..... 020 000 1 -  3  5  0      (16-11, 2-0 GNAC)

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CWU: Theophilus and Brown

WWU: Massena, Wirtala (4) and Wise

Win-Wirtala (13-7)  Loss-Theophilus (4-6)  T-2:00  A-107

The Vikings (16-11, 2-0 GNAC) conclude the four-game GNAC series vs. the Wildcats Saturday with a doubleheader starting at noon at Viking Field in Bellingham. Admission is free for all fans and parking is available at no cost in the C Lots and 12 G Lot. WWU is six games into a season-high 12-game homestand. More information on the 2026 season can be found at WWUVikings.com/Team34.

Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2026 season:

The WWU softball is in its 34th season in 2026 while coming off a historic 47-13 season in 2025. The Vikings claimed their fourth GNAC title by winning the 2025 postseason tournament and advanced to the NCAA Division II Championships for the seventh time in program history. Playing in the NCAA postseason for the seventh time, WWU won its second consecutive West Regional title defeating Cal State East Bay in the sub-regional and Cal State San Marcos in the Super Regional. The historic season ended playing in the D2 World Series in Chattanooga, Tennessee, reaching the semifinal round (Final Four). WWU has posted a winning record 22 times during the 33-year history of the program, which won the 1998 NAIA National Championship in only its sixth season to record the school's first ever team national title. Over the last three seasons the program has combined to go 115-36 (.762).