Burnaby, B.C. (Mar. 17) - Persistence and power lifted the Central Washington University softball team over the Simon Fraser University Clan in both of Sunday's games. The Wildcats stole game one 14-10 before owning game two 8-4. 

The Wildcats (15-4, 8-0) were down to their final out in game one against the Clan (5-9, 0-8) as they trailed 10-9. The Wildcats had runners on the corners when Savannah Egbert hit a routine ground ball to the short stop. The ball was fielded, but a throwing error allowed Alee Cruz to hustle home and tie the game at 10. Katie Kastning followed with a two-run double that scored Rachael Johnson and Egbert, giving the Wildcats a 12-10 lead. Maddy Zerr capped the two-out rally with an exclamation point, clubbing a two-run home run over the left center field fence.

The Wildcats plated five runs in the top of the seventh inning and were able to hold on for the win. Samantha Stanfield came on in relief of Lexie Strasser in game one. Stanfield pitched the final 5.2 innings. She pitched to her defense, getting eight fly outs and five ground outs. 

The Wildcats put together a fantastic performance to hang in the game. After two innings, the team trailed 7-3. In the third inning, Maddy Zerr and Sydney Brown hit a pair of huge doubles for the Wildcats. Zerr's double brought home a run while Brown drove in two. In the next inning, Egbert had a base hit before the Clan threw the ball away, allowing Bethany Balucan to score. Later, Kastning hit a sacrifice fly to the left fielder that brought home Johnson. Alycia Bannan had a bases loaded single in the fifth inning that tied the game at nine. The slue of offense throughout the game aided the Wildcats in mounting a necessary comeback in the final inning. 

Unlike game one, the Wildcats owned the lead throughout the majority of game two. In the second inning, Bannan worked a walk and would eventually steal second base. With two outs in the inning, Sydney Brown swatted a homer, giving the Wildcats a 2-0 lead. 

The Wildcats plated three more runs in the next inning. Kastning came through with a two-run single that scored Johnson and Egbert. With two outs in the inning, Bannan ripped a double that brought Kastning in to score. Midway through the third inning, the Wildcats owned a 5-0 lead. 

The Wildcats added a run in each of the final three innings. The late innings were highlighted by a home run from Mikayla Kopacz. Kopacz crushed her second home run of the season. 

Isabel Womack had a strong performance in the circle for the Wildcats in game two. Womack went 6.1 innings with five strikeouts, six of the innings she pitched were scoreless. Taylor Williams came on in relief and was able to finish the game for the Wildcats. 

The Wildcats play six games next weekend. They host a doubleheader against Whitworth on Friday that starts at 1:00 p.m. On Saturday, Western Oregon takes on the Wildcats in a doubleheader that starts at 1:00 p.m. The weekend concludes on Sunday when the team hosts Concordia (Ore.) for two games that start at noon.