By: Evan O'Kelly, Associate Commissioner for Communications

NAMPA, Idaho – The dirtiest uniform on Thursday afternoon at Halle Field belonged to shortstop Hailey Rath, who propelled No. 9 Western Washington to a decisive, 8-2 win over Montana State Billings on day one of the 2025 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Softball Championships.
 
An RBI-triple in the first, a sacrifice fly in the second and an RBI-double in the fourth gave Rath three RBIs in three different innings, as the Vikings provided plenty of run support behind starter Alli Kimball. Rath, a three-time first-team all-conference selection, also contributed defensively with a career-high eight putouts – five of which were catches made within the outfield grass. “We really wanted to play connected and together, and I think we did a really good job at picking each other up,” Rath said. “I came in wanting to provide for my team and help get some runs on the board early. The people behind me and in front of me – we all contributed to this win.”
 
Kimball earned her 15th win of the season, allowing two runs on two hits with two strikeouts and zero walks in five innings of work. GNAC Pitcher of the Year Kaiana Kong tackled the final two frames in the circle, scattering two hits while striking out one to secure the victory. The reigning tournament champion Vikings stretched their winning streak to 11 games and improved to 38-10 on the season. They advanced to Friday’s semifinals where they’ll face a Saint Martin’s team that edged past Simon Fraser 2-1 in the opening game of the tournament earlier on Thursday. First pitch between the two day-one winners is set for 10 a.m. (Mountain).
 
“The team did a really good job to prepare for their pitcher, and we just came out swinging and sticking to the plan,” said WWU head coach Sheryl Gilmore, who is in her seventh season leading the squad. “Alli did a great job like she has done all season, and it was a great team win. We hang our hat on our pitching and our defense, and they did a great job too. To see the hitters come out against a strong opponent – it was good to see them come out swinging.”
 
The Yellowjackets (16-27), who lead the GNAC with 50 home runs this season, received a pair of long balls on Thursday with one each from seniors Jazlyn Kalehuawehe and Kaylin Galvin. Kimball’s limitation of baserunners however proved valuable in that each homer was a solo shot, as MSUB’s production was quelled. Kalehuawehe, an honorable mention all-conference pick, led her team going 2-for-3 in a game where the ‘Jackets managed just four hits. MSUB faces Simon Fraser in an elimination game on Friday afternoon that is scheduled for a 12:30 p.m. first pitch.
 
After Kimball retired the side in order in the top of the first, the Vikings got to work early as GNAC Player of the Year Maleah Andrews drew a leadoff walk, stole second and came around to score on Rath’s triple. An ensuing throwing error allowed Rath to scamper home with a slide, as the Vikings grabbed a quick, 2-0 advantage. “They do a great job – Mal leading it off and Rat being in that three hole is hard to beat,” Gilmore said on the offensive duo of Andrews and Rath. “They play lock-down defense together, and they hold down the left side of the infield. They read the ball well, anticipate well and communicate well.”
 
Kalehuawehe’s 10th homer of the year, 28th of her career and fourth in the last five games halved the deficit in the top of the second, but Kimball shook off the towering drive over the fence in left-center to retire the next three hitters she faced. “She went in there really wanting to get this win,” Rath said on Kimball. “We all had her back, and she is one person who is really good at shaking things off.”
 
WWU’s offense rewarded their sophomore standout with three more runs in the second, with Kanilehua Pitoy drawing a bases-loaded walk, Rath driving in her second with a fly ball to right and Emma Andrewjeski-Ramirez punching a two-out, RBI-single into left field to make the score 5-1.
 
Galvin, in her second year with the Yellowjackets, launched her seventh home run of the season over the fence in straightaway center field to lead off the top of the fourth and give the Yellowjackets hope for a late comeback. Kimball once again was unfazed, retiring the final six hitters she faced across her last two innings of the game. “Our pitchers like to attack, and we know that (MSUB) is going to get ahold of a few – they’re a great hitting team and you tip your hat to that,” Gilmore said. “To not let hitters get on base around them before the home runs is something that our staff does really well. They stayed efficient, and we knew we just had to limit the walks and free bases.”
 
The Vikings meanwhile put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fourth with three more runs. Rath shot the gap in right-center with a double that plated Pitoy from first, Olivia Matlock blasted an RBI-triple off the wall in the left-field corner and Nyree Johnson capped the scoring with an RBI-groundout to give the Vikings an 8-2 cushion.
 
Pitoy made an important, sterling defensive play in the top of the sixth inning, after Kennedy Dypwick gave the Yellowjackets a leadoff baserunner with a single up the middle. On a sharp ground ball to her left off the bat of first-team all-GNAC outfielder Marleigh Nieto, Pitoy made a sliding stop before shoveling an accurate ball to Matlock at first to take away a single. Kong went on to strand the runner in scoring position after the highlight-reel play from her veteran second baseman, with Rath snagging a sharp line drive off the bat of another GNAC first-teamer in Bryn Lucht to close the frame.
 
Makenna Crum went 2-for-3 with a run scored, joining Rath as the other Viking with multiple hits in the game. WWU totaled nine hits and drew four walks while striking out just twice, and left six runners on base.
 
MSUB’s Emily Watters took the loss, allowing five runs on four hits with four walks and one strikeout in 1 2/3 innings of work. Caitlyn James followed with three runs allowed on five hits with one strikeout and no walks across the final 4 1/3 frames.
 
GAME NOTES: WWU improved to 4-1 on the season against the Yellowjackets…the triple was Rath’s second of the season…competing in her third GNAC Championships tournament, Rath is now 12-for-23 (.522) with 11 RBIs in eight career games.
 
Head-to-head at GNAC Championships: MSUB 2-1
The Yellowjackets beat the Vikings in the quarterfinals and the title game of the 2015 GNAC Championships, en route to their sole conference tournament title a decade ago.
 
Western Washington at the GNAC Championships
Tournament Wins: 3 (2017, 2021, 2024)
Appearances: 8 (2014, 2015, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
 
Montana State Billings at the GNAC Championships
Tournament Wins: 1 (2015)
Appearances: 2 (2015, 2025)