ELLENSBURG, Wash (MAY. 7) -- This is the first NCAA Regional Tournament for the majority of the CWU softball team.  MARIA GAU and JORDAN ZURFLUH are the only remaining players who experienced the team's last NCAA berth during their freshman season in 2011.
 
MARIA GAU remembers her last trip and thinks this year is much different
 
"As a freshman I didn't really get a chance to play but it was a good learning opportunity for me to experience, and will help my mind set having been there before.  We have strong leadership this year, not just us seniors, but all around and this is a different team then my freshman year.  We were led by strong seniors in 2011, and this year we are balanced across the board."
 
Three of the top four hitters from the CWU lineup are underclassmen and eight of their top 12.  Senior JILL MCDANIELS who was named to the all-GNAC first-team goes into the regional tournament as the Wildcats top hitter with a .359 batting average with a conference leading 11 homeruns.
 
"Even though I have never been there (regionals) before, the GNAC is a big tough conference too," McDaniels explained.  "We are planning on doing what we do, one pitch at a time.  Coaches have been telling us that the regional tournament comes down to small ball and fundamentals and not to expect high scoring games."
 
One advantage the Wildcats will bring into their matchup with Dixie State is their strength of schedule.  Central Washington has played some of the better teams in the West Region.  The softball team competed three times with the regions top team in Cal State Monterey Bay, and even though they lost each game, there were within striking distance and didn't give up more than four runs in a contest.  They also played against Humboldt State who is the third-seed in the tournament and on the Wildcats side of the bracket.
 
"We have played stiff competition all year."  Head Coach Mallory Holtman-Fletcher said. "Not just in conference, but outside of it as well, and that will help us tremendously as we head to St. George this week."
 
The Red Storm has played just one team that made the regional tournament, and that was Sonoma State.  Dixie State split their series with the Seawolves who are the fourth-seed in the tournament.
 
Looking at the numbers, DSU has an impressive resume.  They have won 21 straight contests and 26 of their last 27.  As a team they are batting .376 and have four players batting over .400.  Their pitching marks are just as impressive with a team ERA of 2.21 with two of their main starters with ERAs under 2.00.
 
The Wildcats with have their hands full when they travel to play Dixie State on their home field, but the softball team will walk into regionals confident they can pull out the victories they need to advance.

"We have what it takes to win this, without question," Holtman-Fletcher said. "We have prepared for this all year, and our girls will be ready play come Friday."