ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Apr. 11) – The Central Washington University softball team hits the road for a four-game set with Montana State University Billings this weekend. The Wildcats and Yellowjackets play a doubleheader on Saturday before another one on Sunday.
GAME INFORMATION
Saturday | April 13 | 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. PST
at Montana State University Billings
Billings, Mont. | Avitus Group Stadium
Watch|
Live Stats
Sunday | April 14 | 1:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. PST
at Montana State University Billings
Billings, Mont. | Avitus Group Stadium
Watch|
Live Stats
FROM THE COACH
"I'm really proud of the way our team competed last weekend and I know they will carry their energy and enthusiasm into this week's GNAC series against Montana-Billings," CWU head coach
Mike Larabee said. "We played very well in Billings in 2017 and I know our team really enjoys hitting on their field. Like all GNAC games, our team will need to keep their focus, concentration, and play to their potential in order for us to give ourselves a chance to win."
SCOUTING MSU Billings
The Yellowjackets find themselves near the bottom of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings with a 3-13 conference record. They'll enter the weekend sputtering, having lost eight of their last 10 games The Yellowjackets were swept by Concordia (Ore.) on Saturday, 6-3 and 3-2, won the first game on Sunday, 7-5, but couldn't do the same in the nightcap, falling 7-3. The trip ended with a pair of five-inning losses to Western Oregon on Monday, 12-0 and 11-1. The Yellowjackets enter the week with a .247 batting average and 4.96 earned run average.
Sidney Pollard led the Yellowjackets against Concordia (Ore.) with a .545 batting average, going 6-for-11 with one run, five RBI and two doubles. Pollard went 2-for-3 in Saturday's second game and then went 2-for-3 in Sunday's win, which included a bases-clearing double in the seventh that scored the game-winning run. Pollard enters the week with a .275 batting average.
Madison Kelly also went 6-for-11 in the Concordia series with five runs, two RBI and three doubles. Kelly went 2-for-3 in Saturday's second game, opening scoring with an RBI single in the fourth. She scored two runs in Sunday's opener and went 3 for 3 with an RBI double. Kelly enters the week with a .294 batting average.
Alyssa Etheridge earned the lone MSUB pitching win over the week, allowing five runs on six hits with nine walks and six strikeouts in Sunday's opener. Etheridge enters the week with a 5.02 earned run average and is tied for first in the GNAC with two home runs allowed.
Unbelievably, the Wildcats will be the first team the Yellowjackets have hosted this season.
LAST TIME OUT
The CWU softball team took three out of the four games they played over the weekend. The Wildcats split with Simon Fraser, falling 3-2 before trouncing the Clan 12-3 in five innings. The team swept Western Washington 6-2 and 6-3 on Sunday.
The Wildcats' offense unloaded on the Clan in the second meeting between the two teams on the day. The Wildcats erupted for five runs in the second inning. The rally started with a lead-off single from
Sydney Brown.
Kayla Ellis followed with a single of her own.
Rachael Johnson laid down an effective sacrifice bunt, moving both runners into scoring position for
Savannah Egbert.
Egbert knocked the ball through the middle of the infield, scoring brown.
Katie Kastning singled into center, scoring Ellis. The Clan made a pitching change, but it didn't affect the Wildcats' offense.
Alycia Bannan doubled home Egbert.
Maddy Zerr followed by driving in both Bannan and Kastning. By the end of the second inning, the Wildcats owned a 6-0 lead over the Clan.
After a quick third inning, the Wildcat offense got back to work in the fourth. Kastning, Zerr and
Kayla Smith all had doubles that brought home a run for the Wildcats.
Mikayla Kopacz had a sharp single into left field that scored
Sydney Williams. The Wildcats led 10-2 entering the top of the fifth.
The Clan plated a run in the top of the fifth to fend off the eight-run rule. Kastning ended the game in style, obliterating a two-run home run over the right center field fence. The unconventional walk-off home run was Kastning's first this season.
As a team, the Wildcats bashed 14 hits and drove in 12 runs in game two. Kasnitng led the way going 4-for-4 with four runs batted in and three runs scored. She swatted a home run and a double in the game. Egbert also had an excellent performance, going 3-for-3 with a walk, a run driven in and four runs scored out of the top spot in the order.
Taylor Williams (4-2) got the start in game two. Williams pitched the complete game, striking out two batters while allowing just one walk. Of the 22 batters she faced, Williams induced nine ground outs and three fly outs.
A few untimely errors proved costly for the Wildcats in the day's first game. The Wildcats owned a 2-0 lead entering the fifth inning. The Wildcats obtained two quick outs in the inning, before an error allowed Alex Ogg to reach base. At the same time, Kate Fergusson hustled home to score, cutting the Wildcat lead in half. The Clan continued to apply pressure. Bonnie Whitford and Amanda Janes had RBI singles that gave the Clan a 3-2 lead. The Clan was able to hang on to their narrow lead to pick up an upset victory.
The Wildcats stung the ball throughout the first game. As a team, they collected eight hits. In the third inning, Bannan reached on an error that allowed Egbert to score. In the fourth inning, Johnson singled home
Gracee Dwyer to put the team up 2-0.
Lexie Strasser (8-8) got the start in the circle in game one for the Wildcats. Strasser went all seven innings, had seven strikeouts and allowed no earned runs. Strasser forced eight ground outs and six fly outs from the 32 batters she faced.
The Wildcats trailed early against the Vikings in game one. With one out in the bottom of the first, Bannan came to the plate with Egbert on first base. Bannan bounced into a fielder's choice, beating out the throw to first base that would have made it a double play. Bannan's hustle extended the inning for Zerr. Zerr smoked a single into left field. The ball was bobbled by left fielder Lauren Lo, allowing Bannan to score. At the end of the first inning, the Wildcats trailed 2-1.
The Wildcats put together a strong offensive inning in the third. With one out, Egbert struck out, but was able to reach first on a dropped third strike. Kastning singled to right field, putting runners on first and second for Bannan. Bannan roped a single of her own, scoring Egbert to tie the game 2-2. Both Kastning and Bannan advanced to scoring position on the play.
Zerr was able to piece together an at bat that resulted in a productive out. Zerr smacked a sacrifice fly to left field that brought home Kastning. Smith followed with a single into right field that drove in Bannan as the Wildcats took a 4-2 lead.
Strasser (9-8) found her groove in the circle after the first inning. She faced just seven batters in the following two innings. Strasser needed some magic to get out of the fourth inning without allowing a run. With two outs in the fourth, the Vikings had the bases loaded for Mackenzie Palmer. Palmer smashed a ball down the third base line that was speared by Dwyer. Dwyer completed the play with a strong throw to first to aid the Wildcats in getting out of the inning.
The Wildcats added insurance runs in the fifth inning. Bannan drew a leadoff walk before being pinch ran for by
Theresa Moyle. Zerr clobbered a two-run home run over the center field fence. The homer was Zerr's sixth this season and gave the Wildcats a 6-2 lead.
Strasser was sensational after the small hiccup in the first inning. Strasser pitched the full seven innings, allowing four hits while striking out three Vikings. Strasser picked up her ninth win of the season while pitching her 13th complete game of the year.
Isabel Womack got the start in the circle in game two between the Wildcats and Vikings. Womack got herself into, then worked her way out of trouble in the first inning. Womack tossed three walks, including a bases loaded walk that plated the Vikings' first run of the game. It was the only they would get in the inning, as Womack wiggled off the hook.
The Wildcats weren't behind for long. Egbert and Kastning opened the game with singles, putting runners on the corners with nobody out for Zerr. Zerr dropped a single into center field that plated Egbert.
Julia Reuble came up clutch for the Wildcats, dotting a double down the right field line that scored Kastning, as the Wildcats took a 2-1 lead. The offense continued to role as Smith who drove in two on a single to center field. The Wildcats plated four runs before the Vikings could get the first out of the inning. The Wildcats owned a 4-1 lead after the first inning.
After allowing two runs to score in the top of the third, the Wildcats earned them right back. Smith and Brown opened the inning with base hits. A sacrifice bunt from Dwyer put runners at second and third with one out. Bannan was called upon to pinch hit for
Bethany Balucan. Bannan hit the ball on the ground towards the second basemen. The ball was fielded and thrown towards the plate to try and get Smith at the plate. The throw was in the dirt and bounced away from the catcher. Brown also hustled home to score. The Wildcats ended the third inning with a 6-3 lead.
The Vikings threatened to close the gap the Wildcats had in the fifth inning. The Vikings were able to put two runners in scoring position with nobody out. The Wildcat defense was able to get three outs without allowing a run as they shut down the threat from the Vikings. The Wildcats would hang on for the win.
Samantha Stanfield (8-1) came on in relief of Womack in the fourth inning. Stanfield pitched the final four innings. Of the 16 batters face, Stanfield induced six fly outs and four ground outs on the day.
