ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Apr. 9) – The Central Washington University softball team completed the four-game sweep of Montana State Billings Saturday afternoon winning both of its games by scores of 11-4 and 11-3 (6 innings) to improve to 29-10 on the season and 13-7 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
The Wildcats hold a solid grip on the second spot in the conference and will have a chance next week to climb into first place when they play Saint Martin's in a four game series next week. The Saints are 14-4 in the conference.
"At this point in the season, some teams are just going through the motions, we are not going to do that," CWU Head Coach
Mike Larabee Said. "We are working at getting one-percent better everyday. I think the reason for our success this weekend is due to the fact that we are still having great practices."
Taylor Ferleman put a stamp on the productive weekend for the Wildcats by hitting a walk off two -un homerun in the bottom of the sixth inning to enforce the eight-run mercy rule and secure the four game sweep.
"It was great to see Ferleman get more aggressive at the plate, she started stinging the ball pretty good today," Larabee said. "She nearly undressed the second baseman with a ball earlier in the game, so I knew that she was locked on. I talked to her about attacking the ball and to be less passive, and her final at bat was a product of doing just that."
Austin Wilkerson and
Brielle Copodonna each drove in five runs on the day, with Wilkerson going 5 for 6 with three doubles. Copodonna earned each of her RBI in game one, going 2 for 2 including a sacrifice fly.
Celine Fowler,
Kailyn Campbell and
Alexa Olague, the Wildcats 1-3 hitters, each had three hits and two RBI on the day.
"It is really important for the top of our lineup to get on base, it sets the tone for the whole game," Larabee added. "It gives everyone confidence, and we know that hitting is contagious. Celine gets up and hits a laser and Campbell follows with a gap shot and it sends the message to the rest of our team that we got this pitcher."
Sammy Morris went 4 for 6 and was able to put her average above .300 at .308 on the season. Eleven different Wildcats earned hits on the day including every starter between the two games.
The Wildcats totaled 28 hits on the day, including seven extra-base hits and batted .452 as a team.
Kayla Smith entered game one in relief of starting pitcher
Kiana Wood and threw four innings, giving up just one hit and one walk while striking out two batters to improve to 5-0 on the season.
Laura Steiner pitched in both contests, totaling 2.2 innings allowing four hits and held the Yellowjackets scoreless.
Copodonna earned her eighth win of the season in the nightcap giving up three runs over 4.1 innings.
As mentioned earlier, the Wildcats will next faceoff with conference leading Saint Martin's University next Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, Apr. 16, CWU hosts SMU for two games starting at 1 p.m., and on Sunday they travel to SMU, also a 1 p.m. start time.
