ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Apr. 6) – The Central Washington University softball team's defensive struggles cost them a game against Simon Fraser, but their bats more than made up for it game two. The Wildcats fell 3-2 to the Clan in game one before trouncing the visitors 12-3 in five innings in game two. 
 
The Wildcats' (20-2, 11-3) offense unloaded on the Clan (7-20, 2-14) 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.  
 
"Taylor can spin the ball up, has a nice drop and a changeup, she pitched really, really well," CWU head coach Mike Larabee said. "We had one inning again where we had a couple errors and they scored their two runs. I thought we swung the bats really well and bounced back. If you're going to only win one game, it's nice to win the last one."
 
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. 
 
"I thought Lexie pitched a phenomenal game," Larabee said. "We addressed the team about taking care of the ball. On five out of the six runs that Simon Fraser scored today, we had errors. We have to continue to work hard on our defense. I thought Lexie pitched a great game and we hit a lot of balls hard but it wasn't enough." 
 
The Wildcats host two games against rival Western Washington tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for noon. 
 
"If you're not excited about tomorrow's game, you don't have a pulse," Larabee said. "It's going to be a good one. They have some excellent hitters and two pitchers who can be crafty. We have to play well tomorrow if we are going to come out ahead."