MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Washington University softball team split its Friday doubleheader at Western Oregon to open the final week of play in the 2026 regular season.
WWU won the opener 8-4 behind home runs from Laila Carpenter and Maleah Andrews, and a complete-game victory from freshman pitcher Alanna Wirtala. The Wolves took the nightcap 8-0 in a 5-inning game shortened by the run rule.
The Vikings head into the final day of the 2026 regular season one game out of first place in the GNAC standings with a 15-7 conference record. WWU and Saint Martin's entered Friday tied for the top spot in the GNAC, with the Saints going 2-0 and the Vikings 1-1. WWU, SMU, Simon Fraser and Northwest Nazarene have locked up the four spots for the GNAC Championships that will be played next weekend in Ellensburg.
Carpenter went 3-for-6 in the doubleheader falling a double short of hitting for the cycle combined between the games. Andrews went 2-for-4 with a double, home run and four walks to reach base safely in six of eight plate appearances. Sophomore designated player Emily McCutcheon went 3-for-6 with two RBI.
Wirtala earned the complete-game victory in the opening game allowing seven hits and four runs in 7.0 innings to notch her 23rd victory of the season in the circle.
Senior shortstop Hailey Rath drew three walks and was hit by a pitch in the doubleheader while setting the WWU career record with 220 games played, passing the 219 by former teammate Kanilehua Pitoy (219 games, 2022-25).
Western Washington 8, Western Oregon 4 (Game 1)
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Western Washington..... 033 020 0 - 8 12 0 (29-17, 15-6)
Western Oregon......... 001 200 1 - 4 7 3 (22-26, 8-13)
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WWU: Wirtala and Wise, Pewitt
WOU: Martin, Stansbury (3) and Bodak
Win-Wirtala (23-9) Loss-Martin (6-7) T-2:08
HR WWU - Andrews (9); Carpenter (4)
HR WOU – Mauer, Schneidt, Rush
Western Oregon 8, Western Washington 0 (Game 2)
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Western Washington..... 000 00 - 0 4 2 (29-18, 15-7)
Western Oregon......... 121 4X - 8 7 0 (23-26, 9-13)
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WWU: Massena, Matlock (2) and Wise
WOU: Fullmer and Cordero
Win-Fullmer (2-1) Loss-Massena (5-6) T-1:32 A-89
The Vikings (29-18, 15-7 GNAC) close out the regular season Saturday with a GNAC doubleheader against Western Oregon. The GNAC Championships will be held next week May 7-9 in Ellensburg, with WWU, Saint Martin's, Simon Fraser and Northwest Nazarene already clinching spots in the three-day tournament. 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:
|
RECORD BREAKDOWN
|
|
Overall
|
29-18
|
|
GNAC
|
15-7
|
|
Non-Conference
|
14-11
|
|
Streak
|
L1
|
|
Home
|
12-6
|
|
Away
|
9-5
|
|
Neutral
|
8-7
|
|
vs. Ranked Teams
|
1-2
|
|
1-Run Games
|
7-5
|
|
2-Run Games
|
3-3
|
|
Extra Innings
|
3-0
|
|
Shutouts
|
2-2
|
|
BY UNIFORM
|
|
Light Blue Pinstripes
|
5-5
|
|
Navy/White
|
9-3
|
|
Black
|
7-4
|
|
Gray
|
5-3
|
|
White/Navy
|
3-3
|
|
Gray/Blue
|
0-0
|
Here is a look at the current GNAC standings through Friday's games in conference play, with the Vikings in 2nd place heading into the final day of the regular season on Saturday. The top four teams in the standings at the end of the regular season advance to play in the GNAC Championships held May 7-9 in Ellensburg, with WWU, Saint Martin's, Simon Fraser and Northwest Nazarene already locking up the spots.
|
|
School
|
GNAC
|
CONF %
|
Overall
|
OVERALL %
|
Home
|
Away
|
Neutral
|
Streak
|
L10
|
|
1.
|
Saint Martin's *
|
16-6
|
.727
|
31-17
|
.646
|
8-5
|
8-4
|
15-8
|
W2
|
6-4
|
|
2.
|
Western Washington *
|
15-7
|
.682
|
29-18
|
.617
|
12-6
|
9-5
|
8-7
|
L1
|
7-3
|
|
3.
|
Northwest Nazarene *
|
14-9
|
.609
|
34-16
|
.680
|
17-2
|
9-9
|
8-5
|
W8
|
9-1
|
|
4.
|
Simon Fraser *
|
13-9
|
.591
|
15-29
|
.341
|
8-4
|
6-14
|
1-11
|
L2
|
4-6
|
|
5.
|
Western Oregon
|
9-13
|
.409
|
23-26
|
.469
|
11-7
|
7-9
|
5-10
|
W1
|
2-8
|
|
6.
|
Central Washington
|
7-16
|
.304
|
13-32
|
.289
|
10-10
|
1-13
|
2-9
|
L3
|
5-5
|
|
7.
|
Montana State Billings
|
5-19
|
.208
|
7-42
|
.143
|
4-8
|
1-24
|
2-10
|
L5
|
3-7
|
|
* clinched spot in GNAC Championships
|
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 128-43 (.748).
