AZUSA, Calif.  (May 7) – The Central Washington University softball team defeated UC San Diego 6-2 to advance to the regional final against Azusa Pacific.  The Wildcats will need to defeat the Cougars twice to move on to the Super Regional.
 
The first game of the potential two game series will be played today at 2 p.m., and if the Wildcats win the second game will be played tomorrow, May 8 at 11:30 p.m. 
 
Celine Fowler led the first inning off with a line drive triple to right centerfield and after a two out intentional walk of Austin Wilkerson Brielle Copodonna sent the second pitch over the leftfield wall to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.
 
Copodonna's blast was the first homerun of the tournament, by any team.
 
In the second inning, CWU loaded the bases and Alexa Olague drew a walk to up the CWU advantage to 4-0.
 
The Tritons added two runs in the third inning off a two-run single off the centerfield fence to cut the CWU lead in half at 4-2.
 
Defensively Taylor Ferleman took over the game in the fourth and fifth inning, taking a ricocheted ball and throwing a runner out at first, then makes a diving grab and doubles up the hitter.  Then in the fifth inning Ferleman makes a backhanded stop deep in the 5-6 hold and throws out the runner to end the inning.
 
The Wildcats backed up the great defense with a solo homerun by Austin Wilkerson in the fifth inning, followed by a run scoring single by Andrea Hamada to give CWU the a 6-2 advantage.
 
The Tritons came roaring back loading the bases with just one out and two hits later they trailed CWU 5-6.  With a runner on third, the Tritons got caught in a run down and the lead runner was tagged out at third base.  Pitcher Kiana Wood forced a foul out to end the game and help CWU advance to the final.