SELAH, Wash. – The Central Washington University softball team earned a split with Northwest Nazarene University to open Great Northwest Athletic Conference play, dropping game one 6-7 before winning the nightcap by a score of 10-5.
 
The Wildcats now sit with an 8-5 record on the season, while the Crusaders now stand at 8-11. 
 
Taylor Ferleman helped pace the CWU offense on the day, going 4 for 7 with two doubles, four runs scored and an RBI.  Kailyn Campbell went 5 for 7, collecting five hits, driving in three runs.  Campbell also hit a homerun in the game two victory, a two-run shot to center field.
 
Kayla Ellis continued her hot hitting, also going 4 for 7 and drove in a team-high four runs.
 
Kayla Smith earned her fourth victory of the season in the night cap, going 4.2 innings with three strikeouts.
 
The Wildcats were an out away from earning a sweep over the Crusaders, but a dropped fly ball, that should have ended the game, allowed the visitors to extend the seventh inning where they scored five runs, helping NNU to claim the victory to start the day.
 
Game 1 -- 6-7 Loss
 
Jacie McDaniels got the CWU offense started hitting a line drive homerun to right centerfield to put the Wildcats up 1-0.
 
After the Crusaders tied the game at 1-1 after two, Central built a 5-1 lead after Julia Rueble drove in a run on a fielder's choice in the third, followed by a three run fourth highlighted by a two-run double by Ellis that plated Molly Nutt and Ferleman.
 
Up 5-2 heading into the final inning, CWU starting pitcher Kiana Wood got two quick outs and the Wildcats look to cruise to victory when Cassidy Fifield hit a routine deep pop up to right field, unfortunately, the ball dropped out of the fielders glove and the runner at first scored on the play.  Two pitches Abigail Otto hit a two-run homer to tie the game at 5-5.
 
NNU added two more runs in the inning to take a 7-5 lead heading into the bottom of the inning.  The Wildcats nearly tied things up after Ellis pulled CWU to within one run on a run scoring single, but the Crusaders took advantage of a base running error to end the game and walk away with the 7-6 win.
 
Game 2 – 10-5 Win
 
The Wildcats broke the game open in the second inning, scoring eight runs off six hits, and took full advantage of four fielding errors by the Crusaders.  Central saw 12 batters come to the plate in the second inning, highlighted by Campbell's two-run big fly.
 
The Crusaders again battled back, adding three runs in the fifth inning of a three-run round tripper by Shelbie Martinez.  But CWU Freshman Kylie Sweeny shut the door on NNU, allowing just one hit in the final 2.1 innings to secure the 10-5 win for the Wildcats.
 
Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene will finish up their four-game set tomorrow at Carlon Park in Selah, Wash.  The double header is slated for start times of noon and 2 p.m.