LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Feb. 5) -- The Central Washington University softball team won both of its first two contestests of the 2016 season, defeating 21^st ranked Regis University 5-3, and 25^th ranked Cal State Monterey Bay 7-3 Friday at the Desert Stinger in Las Vegas, Nev.
 
Central Washington Head Coach Mike Larabee picked up his first two victories as a Wildcat after taking over the reins of the program this past summer.
 

5-3 Win Over Regis

The Wildcats got on the board early with Austin Wilkerson driving home Kailyn Campbell on a double in the first inning, giving CWU a 1-0 lead.
 
Regis threatened in the bottom half of the first with two runners reaching base, but their attempt to tie the game came up short as starting pitcher Kiana Wood forced a foul out, ending the inning.
 
Central Washington added to its lead in the third inning when Sammy Morris and Taylor Ferleman had back to back singles setting the table for Campbell who singled to left field allowing both runners to score upping the CWU lead to 3-0.
 
Morris added to the CWU advantage gaining an RBI on a fielder's choice and forced the Ranger defense to chase her between first and second allowing Michaela Hazlett to also score on the play giving CWU the final 5-0 lead.
 
Wood notched her first victory of the year, and was an out away from a shutout, but the Rangers rallied to score three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
 
The Wildcats had seven hits in the contest, three coming from Campbell who was 3 for 4 on the day.  All but one of the CWU hits came from the top four hitters in the CWU lineup with Morris, Ferleman and Wilkerson each recording a hit in the game.
 
7-3 Win Over CSUMB

The first three innings saw a pitcher's duel between CWU's Brielle Copodonna and CSUMB's Tori Pierucci leaving the game deadlocked at 0-0.  The Otters struck first scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 1-0 lead.
 
The Wildcats did not record a hit until the fifth inning, coming off the bat of Celine Fowler who later scored on sacrifice fly by Hazlett to tie the game at 1-1.  Monterey Bay answer right back, rattling off three hits, scoring two runs to regain the lead at 3-1.
 
It did not take long for the Wildcats to respond as Campbell doubled down the left field line and eventually scored on a single by Remy Bradley in the sixth inning.  Two batter later, Andrea Hamada came to bat with the bases loaded and cleared the bases with a double to center field handing CWU a 5-3 lead.
 
The runs kept piling on with Wilkerson driving in a run on a double in the seventh followed by a sacrifice fly by Steiner that scored Campbell from third base to give CWU a comfy 7-3 lead.
 
Wood pitched the final two innings for the Wildcats, picking up the save and Copodonna recorded the win.
 
The Wildcats next play Concordia University (Calif.) and Hawaii Hilo tomorrow, Feb. 6 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., respectively.