ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Mar. 20) – The Central Washington University softball team travels to Turlock, California to compete in seven games, including a game against one the country's best No. 7 Concordia (Calif.) on Wednesday. Then, the 18th Annual Tournament of Champions presented by the City of Turlock begins on Friday and runs through Sunday.
GAME INFORMATION
Wednesday | March 27 | 5:00 p.m.
vs. Stanislaus State
Turlock, Calif. | Warrior Softball Field
Watch |
Live Stats
GAME INFORMATION
Thursday | March 28 | 1:00 p.m.
vs. No. 7 Concordia (Calif.)
Turlock, Calif. |
GAME INFORMATION
Friday | March 29 | 2:00 p.m.
vs. Academy of Art
Turlock, Calif. | Pedretti Sports Complex Field 3
Live Stats
GAME INFORMATION
Friday | March 29 | 7:00 p.m.
vs. CSU Chico
Turlock, Calif. | Pedretti Sports Complex Field 2
Live Stats
GAME INFORMATION
Saturday | March 30 | 11:30 a.m.
vs. Azusa Pacific
Turlock, Calif. | Pedretti Sports Complex Field 3
Live Stats
GAME INFORMATION
Saturday | March 30 | 2:00 p.m.
vs. Hawaii Pacific
Turlock, Calif. | Pedretti Sports Complex Field 3
Live Stats
GAME INFORMATION
Sunday | March 31 | 9:00 a.m.
vs. Sonoma State
Turlock, Calif. | Pedretti Sports Complex Field 3
Live Stats
FROM THE COACH
"The Tournament of Champions is one of the most prestigious D-2 softball tournaments in the nation," CWU head coach
Mike Larabee said. "We are playing seven outstanding programs that will give us a great idea of where we stand in the region. We will have to be playing our best to have a chance to win any of these games. If we come to play I always like our chances."
TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS FAN INFORMATION
Schedule
Ticketing
Directions
LAST TIME OUT
The CWU softball team split their first weekend at home this season. On Saturday, the team took two games from Western Oregon by scores of 10-2 and 11-4 before dropping two games to Concordia (Ore.) by scores of 6-4 and 7-2 on Sunday.
The key moment of game one between the Wildcats and the Wolves took place in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Katie Kastning came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. Kastning ripped line drive into the right center field gap that scored
Bethany Balucan,
Rachael Johnson and
Savannah Egbert. Kastning's bases clearing double gave the Wildcats a 5-1 lead. Kastning was sensational for the Wildcats in game one, going 3-for-3 with three doubles, four runs batted in and a walk.
The Wolves were able to scratch across a run in the top of the fifth before the Wildcats answered in a unique way. Johnson led off the inning with a strong shot into center field. Johnson sped to second base as the ball was mishandled in the outfield, allowing Johnson to advance to third and beyond. Johnson cashed in for an inside-the-park home run. The Wildcats plated three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to pick up a 10-2 win.
In game two, the Wildcats owned a 4-3 lead going into the bottom half of the third inning.
Sydney Brown came to the plate with two runners on and one out in the inning. Brown blasted a three-run homer, boosting the Wildcats' lead to 7-3. The Wildcats continued to add on, as Johnson singled home Balucan. Balucan went 2-for-2 with two runs scored for the Wildcats in game two.
The inning continued as Egbert tripled into right center, scoring Johnson. Kastning brought home Egbert on a ground out to second. The Wildcats plated six runs in the third inning, and took a 10-4 lead into the fourth.
Taylor Williams (3-0) came on in relief of
Samantha Stanfield in the third inning. Williams pitched five innings, striking out three batters while allowing just two hits and no earned runs.
Maddy Zerr capped an outstanding offensive day for the Wildcats in the fourth inning. Zerr smoked a solo home run over the right center field fence. As a team, the Wildcats had 21 runs on 26 hits, while making just one error.
The Wildcats trailed the Cavaliers 4-0 entering the bottom of the fifth inning of the weekend's third game. The Central bats came alive when Kastning started a two out rally with a single back to the pitcher.
Alycia Bannan came up and doubled off of the left field fence scoring Kastning from first. After a Zerr walk,
Kayla Smith reached on a fielding error by the right fielder allowing
Theresa Moyle, who pinch ran for Bannan, to score from second on the play.
After a scoreless inning posted by
Samantha Stanfield, the Wildcats came back for more. This time,
Kayla Ellis did it on her own with a solo shot over the left field fence. Johnson came up two batters later and roped a single to right field. Johnson moved to second on a wild pitch and then to third after a passed ball. After an Egbert walk, Kastning doubled to right field scoring Johnson. The Wildcats tied the game at four heading into the final inning.
The Cavaliers' Hannah Self blasted the first pitch if the seventh inning over the center field fence to give her team a 5-4 lead. The Cavaliers added an insurance run and would go on to take the game 6-4.
Contrary to Saturday, the Wildcat offense was quiet on Sunday. In the third inning of the final game, Kastning had a single that brought home Egbert. The run was the only Wildcats run until the final inning.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Wildcats had loaded the bases with one out.
Keegan Wise drew a walk, bringing in a run for the team. The Wildcats were unable to get any more runs out of the late inning rally, dropping the game 7-2.
