TURLOCK, Calif – The Central Washington University softball team defeated Stanislaus State University 4-3 in nine innings Wednesday evening, to open its seven-game California road trip and extend its winnings streak to 12-games.
 
The Wildcats (19-5) scored in the top of the ninth inning on a single by Kailyn Campbell that scored Rachel Johnson, who began the inning of second base due to international tie-breaker rules, giving CWU the 4-3 victory over the Warriors.  Johnson secured the victory by running down a fly ball over her head, ending the Warriors attempt to tie the game.
 
Senior Kiana Wood pitched all nine frames to improve to 10-1 on the season.  Wood allowed eight hits, three runs (one earned), while walking two and striking out a pair.
 
The Wildcats collected nine hits in the game, and took advantage of the base runners by swiping six bases.  Campbell and Savannah Egbert each had two steals, while Sammy Morris and Johnson recorded one.
 
The Warriors struck first, scoring off a CWU error in the second inning to take a 1-0 lead.  Central responded in the third inning when Julia Reuble singled home Morris to tie the game.
 
With the game tied at 2-2 after regulation, the teams entered extra innings and in the top of the eighth, Celine Fowler drove in Taylor Ferleman from third base to put the Wildcats up one.
 
Stanislaus State scored early in the bottom of the eighth, and had runners on first and second with no outs.  Wood forced a line drive straight to Campbell at first, who turned and doubled up the runner on first two give the Warriors two outs.  The Warriors loaded the bases and on a 1-1 count lined a shot out to left center field, and Celine Fowler tracked the ball down and caught it over her left shoulder to end the inning and force another frame.
 
Campbell's RBI, and Johnson's heroic grab in left, ended the game and secured the 4-3 CWU win.
 
Morris and Reuble led the Wildcats with two hits apiece, while Campbell, Jacie McDaniels, Ferleman and Egbert each recorded one.
 
Central Washington returns to action on Friday, Mar. 31 for its opening two games of the Tournament of Champions against Cal State San Bernardino (9 a.m.) and Holy Names (11:30 a.m.).