Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
Game 3 Box Score

BILLINGS, Mont. (Apr. 7) -- Despite losing the first two games of its tripleheader with Montana State University Billings, the Central Washington University softball team rallied in game three to defeat the Yellowjackets, 16-1, as they scored 12 runs in the second inning. CWU lost game one, 7-5, and game two, 7-2, and lost the four-game series, three games to one.

The Wildcats are now 13-22 overall and 9-14 mark in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. MSUB improved to 27-9 and 20-4 in the GNAC.

The Wildcats surrendered six runs in the first three innings of game one, and were unable to overcome the deficit. CWU collected 11 hits in game one, seven of which came from a trio of Wildcats as freshman Heidy Wells (Tacoma/Stadium HS) went 3 for 4, while seniors Carrina Wagner (Tacoma/Spanaway Lake HS) and Bre Thomas (Vancouver/Columbia River HS) were each 2 for 4. Wells and Wagner both homered in game one, and senior Natasha Wood (Graham/Graham-Kapowsin HS) also hit a round-tripper, the first of her career.

Sophomore pitcher Maria Gau (Woodinville) threw four innings in game two, after throwing all six innings in game one, and gave up just three hits and one run, but CWU trailed by a 1-0 margin after four frames. MSU Billings added two runs in the fifth inning and four in the sixth, while the Wildcats added just two runs in the sixth inning on solo home runs by Thomas and junior Elena Carter (Olympia/Black Hills HS), which accounted for two of Central Washington's three hits in the contest. Thomas had a single for the other CWU hit.

The Central Washington bats came alive in game three, taking a 14-0 lead after two innings, including a 12-run second inning. Senior Liz Jusko (Snohomish) had a monster game, going 3 for 4 with four RBI, two of which came on a two-run home run in the first inning. Thomas finished 3 for 4 with four runs scored in the series finale. 

Wells served double duty in game three as she batted and pitched for the Wildcats, throwing all five innings, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out three batters. Offensively, she hit her second home run of the day and finished 1 for 3. Senior Molly Coppinger (Belfair/North Mason HS) also had a home run as part of the 12-run second, in which the Wildcats had eight hits and sent 15 batters to the plate.

Central Washington will open the second half of Great Northwest Athletic Conference play next weekend, beginning with a doubleheader at Western Oregon University on Saturday (Apr. 14) at noon. The Wildcats will then host Simon Fraser University on Sunday (Apr. 15) at 1 p.m.