St. George, Utah (Feb. 7) – The Central Washington University softball team swept the opening day of the Dixie State Courtyard Classic, steamrolling Metropolitan State University Denver 9-0 in five innings. Then the Wildcats outlasted Hawaii Pacific 8-7 in the second game of the day.
The Wildcat (4-1) offense got off to a fast start against the Roadrunners(1-5). After a two-out double from Kayla Smith that scored Katie Kastning, Sydney Brown came up clutch. Brown obliterated a ball over the left field wall, scoring Julia Reuble and Smith for a three-run home run. The Wildcats held a 4-0 lead before the Roadrunners had even stepped to the plate.
Later in the third, Brown would homer again, this time over the centerfield fence. Brown's second homer of the day gave the Wildcats a 7-0 lead entering the bottom of the third.
"Really pleased with the way we swung the bats today," CWU head coach Mike Larabee said. "We hit a lot of balls hard today. We had a handful of players have really big days at the plate today and that is great to see."
In the top of the fifth, Bethany Balucan laced a double into the gap, scoring Brown and Smith. The Wildcats would go on to take the game 9-0 in five innings.
Lexie Strasser opened the game in the circle for the Wildcats. She went three innings, striking out three batters while allowing just two hits. A rain delay took place in the top of fourth, essentially putting an end to Strasser's day. Taylor Williams came on in relief, facing the minimum over the final two innings.
The matchup between the Wildcats and the Sharks (2-5) came down to a key moment in the bottom of the sixth inning. The bases were loaded with nobody out as Alycia Bannan came to the plate. She ripped a ball high and deep to center field, but it was caught. Scoring on the play was Rachael Johnson, as Bannan had what would prove to be the game winning sacrifice fly. Strasser pitched the final inning, aiding the Wildcats in securing the 8-7 win.
The Wildcats' biggest inning of the game took place in the bottom of the second when they plated five runs. The highlight of the inning came when Kastning singled down the right field line, scoring Johnson and Balucon.
Samantha Stanfield got the start in the circle against the Sharks. She found success, striking out nine batters in six innings of work. Stanfield allowed five hits and just one earned run.
"Lexie and Samantha pitched phenominally today," Larabee said. "I am disappointed with our defense. We aren't going to be perfect but we do need to mature a little bit and find a way to stop the bleeding when there is some."
Day two of the Dixie State Courtyard Classic takes place tomorrow. The Wildcats play Fort Lewis College at 10:00 a.m. MT. Then the team has a game with Colorado Mesa University to follow.
