Turlock, Calif. (Mar. 27) - An explosive second inning propelled the Central Washington University softball team to a 10-2 win in six innings over Stanislaus State on Wednesday. 

The Wildcats (18-6, 10-2)  trailed the Warriors (14-20, 10-14) 1-0 heading into the second inning. The team answered by batting around in the inning and plating six runs on five hits. Julia Reuble scored the team's first run when she hustled home on a wild pitch. Bethany Balucan doubled to right field, bringing home Maddy Zerr. The next batter was Rachael Johnson who hit a sacrifice fly to right field that plated Kayla Smith. 

The Wildcats led 3-1 with two outs in the inning as Katie Kastning came to the plate with runners on first and second. Kastning roped a single into the outfield, as Balucan and Savannah Egbert hustled to the plate. Kastning advanced to second on the play. Theresa Moyle capped the offensive outburst with a double, essentially trading places with Kastning. Midway through the second, the Wildcats owned a 6-1 lead over the Warriors. 

"We were able to get some timely hitting that broke the game open a bit," CWU head coach Mike Larabee said. "We got the big inning early and we were able to carry that momentum throughout the rest of the game."

Zerr led off the third inning with a solo blast that lifted the Wildcats lead to 7-1. The homer was Zerr's fifth home run of the season. Zerr drove in the first of three runs in the top of the sixth inning to reach the eight run rule. She grounded out to the short stop, allowing Kastning to score. In that same inning, Alycia Bannan pinch hit for Smith. Bannan singled into right field, bringing in Reuble and Moyle. 

Samantha Stanfield was in the circle for the Wildcats. Stanfield was solid, pitching the complete six innings with four strikeouts, allowing five hits and just two earned runs. 

"Samantha had an outstanding performance," Larabee said. "She pitched really well. She got out of a couple jams that happened after she got behind in the count. The defense played very well behind her. Samantha also kept our other pitchers fresh for the weekend. We play seven games in five days. Really proud do what Samantha did for us today." 

Egbert was fantastic in the leadoff spot for the Wildcats. Egbert finished the game 0-for-1 with three walks and a run scored. As a team, the Wildcats drew six walks for the game. Kastning went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in and two runs scored. Zerr went 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs batted in and two runs scored.

The Wildcats take on No. 1 Concordia (Calif.) tomorrow in Turlock, California at 1:00 p.m.