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ELLENSBURG (Mar. 17) -- Junior Jill McDaniels (Walla Walla) homered twice and tied a Central Washington University single-game record with seven runs batted in, helping power the Wildcat softball team to a sweep of visiting Western Oregon University on Sunday afternoon at Gary & Bobbi Frederick Field. CWU won the opener, 10-4, before winning the slugfest of a nightcap, 15-14.

The Wildcats improved to 6-9 overall and evened their Great Northwest Athletic Conference record at 4-4. They also handed the Wolves their first GNAC losses, as WOU fell to 15-14 overall and 6-2 in conference play.

GAME ONE: CWU 10, Western Oregon 4
McDaniels had a grand slam as part of a six-run second inning, adding a first-inning RBI single and a two-run home run in the sixth to help carry the Wildcats to the six-run victory.

McDaniels tied a school record with seven RBI in the game, becoming the third player in the school's 21-year softball history to accomplish the feat.

Junior Maria Gau (Woodinville) got plenty of offensive support with a 13-hit attack. She scattered six hits over seven innings, striking out five and allowing just one earned run.

In addition to McDaniels' power surge, freshman Michaela Hazlett (Purcell, Okla.) had a three-hit game with three runs scored and two RBI. Senior Elena Carter (Olympia/Black Hills HS) also homered and finished 2 for 3 at the plate.

Lexi Orteza and Ashlie Gardner had two hits each for Western Oregon.

GAME TWO: CWU 15, Western Oregon 14
The Wildcats overcame a three-run top of the first inning with a six-run bottom of the inning, then had to match the Wolves with a six-run bottom of the sixth to win the slugfest and complete the doubleheader sweep.

CWU led 9-6 after three innings, but after WOU scored once in the fifth and six times in the sixth, the Wildcats found themselves trailing 13-9 after 5 1/2 innings. In the bottom of the sixth, McDaniels led off with her third home run of the doubleheader -- and sixth of the year -- to jumpstart a six-run rally. Sophomore pinch-hitter Dallas Maupin (Ellensburg/Kittitas HS) drove in two runs with a single to cut the deficit to one, and Hazlett then gave the hosts the lead with a two-run double. Senior Cassi Ellis (East Wenatchee/Eastmont HS) capped the scoring with a RBI single.

Western Oregon scored once in the top of the seventh to cut the margin to one run, but Ellis threw out the potential game-tying run attempting to steal to end the game and preserve the win.

CWU finished with a season-high 19 hits but also committed six errors. Hazlett, Ellis, Carter, and junior Maikala Galusha (Battle Ground) all had three-hit games, with McDaniels and freshman Andrea Hamada (Walla Walla) each scoring three times.

Four different pitchers appeared in the circle for the Wildcats, with sophomore Heidy Wells (Tacoma/Stadium HS) -- the team's starting pitcher -- earning the save after re-entering in the seventh inning. Sophomore Taryn Smith (Olympia/Timberline HS) picked up the win for her first pitching decision of the year.

Jourdan Williams scored four runs and drove in three for WOU, while Hannah Pomeroy homered and drove in four.

CWU travels to Montana State University Billings this Thursday (Mar. 21) for a doubleheader with the Yellowjackets. The Wildcats will then return home next Monday (Mar. 25) to face Northwest Nazarene University.