LACEY, Wash. – The Western Washington University softball team completed a series sweep over GNAC foe Saint Martin's on Saturday with a pair of wins at Saints Softball Field.

The Vikings earned the doubleheader sweep with wins of 3-2 and 5-3 to extend their winning streak to five consecutive games. WWU has won six of its last seven games to improve to 13-8 overall and is 5-0 against conference opponents to start the 2026 season.

The Vikings played perfect defense in the doubleheader not committing an error in 55 total chances and the pitching staff was brilliant in pressure situations limiting the Saints to 5-for-24 with runners in scoring position.

Freshman pitcher Alanna Wirtala earned the win in both games coming out of the bullpen, completing a 3-0 weekend in the circle against SMU. In Saturday's doubleheader Wirtala combined to scatter 13 hits and allow only two runs in 11.0 innings, striking out four and allowing four walks.

Junior third baseman Maleah Andrews combined to go 3-for-7 with a double, triple and one RBI and senior first baseman Olivia Matlock went 2-for-5 with a home run, two sacrifice flies and four RBI against her former school.

"I am really proud of the grit the team showed this weekend against a tough Saint Martin's squad," said WWU head coach Sheryl Gilmore. "Every time SMU started to get something going today, our pitching and defense did a great job shutting it down in the pressure cooker, leaving their runners on base, which is a great step in the right direction for us. Evy did a great job in the first game keeping SMU's strong bats quiet for the three innings to set up Alanna to come in and shut the door. Alanna has done a phenomenal job shouldering a lot of innings for us - her composure and competitiveness, regardless of the situation, has kept us in so many games and given us a chance to win. We are excited to get back to work this week after a little rest tomorrow."

Western Washington 3, Saint Martin's 2 (Game 1)

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Western Washington...... 010 110 0 -  3  7  0      (12-8)

Saint Martin's.......... 100 100 0 -  2  9  0      (7-10)

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WWU – Massena, Wirtala (4) and Wise

SMU – Johnson, Peterson (5) and Prosch, Detrinidad

Win-Wirtala (9-5)  Loss-Johnson (4-3)  T-2:12

HR WWU – Matlock (1)

Western Washington 5, Saint Martin's 3 (Game 2)

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Western Washington...... 003 020 0 -  5  6  0      (13-8)

Saint Martin's.......... 200 000 1 -  3  9  2      (7-11)

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WWU - Massena, Wirtala (1) and Wise

SMU – Vaughan, Leitz (3), Peterson (5) and Prosch

Win-Wirtala (10-5)  Loss-Vaughan (3-3)  T-2:00  A-121

The Vikings (13-8) return to Viking Field next week hosting a four-game "non-conference" series vs. Western Oregon with doubleheaders scheduled for Friday and Saturday with a noon first pitch. 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 112-33 (.772).