WWU defeats UIndy 2-1 in a thrilling 12-inning victory to set up evening semifinal game vs. UIndy
Alli Kimball (7.1 IP) and Kaiana Kong (4.2 IP) hold UIndy to 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position
Vikings and Greyhounds to meet again Wednesday evening with trip to championship finals on the line
The Western Washington University softball team gutted out a 2-1 victory in 12 innings over the University of Indianapolis to stave off elimination in a national semifinal game at the NCAA Division II Championship Tournament at Soldiers Creek Park.
WWU and UIndy will meet again Wednesday evening in Florida with the winner advancing to the best-of-three championship final series.
Western’s freshman pitching duo of Alli Kimball (7.1 IP) and Kaiana Kong (4.2 IP) went pitch-for-pitch against the nation’s top pitcher in UIndy right-hander Kenzee Smith, who during the middle of the game, headlined the NFCA All-America awards as a first-team selection when it was announced.
Kimball and Kong did not allow the Greyhounds a hit with runners in scoring position, combining to hold UIndy to 0-for-11 and Western’s pitching and defense stranded 14 runners on base.
The Vikings jumped out to an early lead over UIndy with a run in the top of the 1st inning when Hailey Rath scored on a two-out grounder by Ashley Jacobson that was misfielded by the third baseman.
UIndy equalized in the bottom of the 3rd inning with a two-out run on a throwing error by Jacobson.
From there it was a lot of zeros on the scoreboard with neither team scoring over the next eight innings.
UIndy had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the 8th inning, but Kong wiggled out of the jam in relief of Kimball getting a strikeout and groundout to end the threat. The Greyhounds also loaded the bases in the 9th inning to no avail with Kong ending the inning on a strikeout.
The Vikings pushed across the go-ahead run in the top of the 12th inning on a two-out single up the middle by center fielder Taylor Khorrami. Catcher Emma Andrewjeski-Ramirez recorded a leadoff single through the right side of the infield and designated player Amaya Davis singled through the left side. Khorrami lined a 2-1 pitch from Smith up the middle to score pinch runner Isabella Bay from second base.
UIndy had another scoring chance in the bottom of the 12th inning loading the bases on a pair of walks and a single, but Kong got Shelby Cook to fly out to deep center field to end the game sending the Vikings to victory.
Kong earned the win to improve to 16-1 on the season with 4.2 scoreless innings. Kimball continued her tremendous run in the national tournament allowing one unearned run in 7.1 innings while striking out a single-game career-high seven batters.
Smith, a front-runner for National Pitcher of the Year, dropped just her fourth game of the season with her pitching record now at 39-4 and ERA at 0.35.
The Vikings improved to 51-10 on the season while UIndy moved to 60-6.
How to Watch
All games during the 2024 NCAA Division II Softball National Championship will be streamed live and FREE online by visiting NCAA.com/liveschedule. Once visiting that link fans will be able to choose from all NCAA events that will stream that day…just find the Viking logo and click to watch the game live online. A direct link will also be available by bookmarking wwuvikings.com/SB_Watch.
How to Follow the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Tournament History
WWU is making its sixth all-time appearance in the NCAA Division II Softball Championships and the first in the NCAA II World Series (final 8 teams). Entering the 2024 postseason with one NCAA Tournament victory, the Vikings are 9-3 during the current playoff run and are 10-13 all-time in the NCAA Championships. Prior to moving to the NCAA level in 1999, WWU won the NAIA World Series for the first team title in WWU Athletics history.
