Las Vegas, Nev. (Feb. 1) - The Central Washington University softball team opened their season with a pair of games at the MSUB Desert Stinger on Friday. The Wildcats outlasted Hawaii Hilo 3-1 in extra innings before being walloped by CSU San Bernardino 18-0.
"We faced two really good pitchers, so that was good for our team," CWU head coach Mike Larabee said. "In the first game, I couldn't be more proud of how we came out against a really good Hawaii Hilo team. We had a couple opportunities early, but couldn't get that key hit when we needed to. We were able to execute some short game and get that game in extra innings. The other game is one you hopefully don't have very often."
The Wildcat (1-1) offense came alive in extra innings against the Vulcans (1-1) in the first game of the day. In extra innings in the MSUB Desert Stinger, the last out of the previous innings goes to second base to start the inning. Bethany Balucan was on second base when Rachael Johnson smashed a ball to third base. The ball was fielded, but an error occurred on the throw, allowing Balucan to score. Johnson motored her way to third base on the play, setting the Wildcats up to add on to their newfound lead.
Savannah Egbert came to the plate, and would come through with a single up the middle, scoring Johnson. Later in the inning, Julia Reuble hammered a double to right center field, scoring Egbert on the play. The knock gave the Wildcats a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth. The Vulcans would score an unearned run, but it wasn't enough as the Wildcats took game one 3-1.
Lexie Strasser was in the circle for the Wildcats. She went eight innings, striking out four batters without allowing an earned run. Strasser pitched to her defense, accruing 10 groundouts and eight fly-outs in 29 batters faced.
"She was phenomenal," Larabee said. "She left off where she finished last year as an all-conference pitcher. She was really in command. I never really felt that there was ever a crucial situation in that whole game."
The Wildcats took on CSU San Bernardino in the second game of the day. The Coyotes opened the game by scoring two runs in the first inning, despite not recording a hit. The Coyotes added another in the top of the second, taking a 3-0 lead in the early stages.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Maddy Zerr drew a one out walk. Later, Gracee Dwyer singled to centerfield, advancing Zerr to second. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, that's all the further she would get.
Taylor Williams came on in relief for Samantha Stanfield against the Coyotes. Williams faced 17 batters over 2.2 innings of work. She forced five ground outs and three fly-outs.
"We can't forget about the positives from today," Larabee said. "A game like the last one hasn't happened in the last three years. Humboldt has historically been a great program so were going to have to come out ready to go."
The Wildcats return to the diamond for two more games tomorrow. They take on Humboldt State at 2:00 pm. followed by a game with San Francisco State at 7:00 p.m.
