ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Apr. 7) - Sunday featured two crucial meetings between the Central Washington University softball team and rival Western Washington University that had implications on the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings. The Wildcats found a way to remain at the top of those standings by sweeping the day. The Wildcats took game one 6-2 before a hot start in game two lifted them over the Vikings 6-3.
"Those are absolutely great wins," CWU head coach Mike Larabee said. "To be able to sweep an opponent like Western Washington is pretty incredible. To be able to sweep anyone in the GNAC is pretty special. I loved the way our team came out today and competed from the start."
The Wildcats (22-12, 13-3) and Vikings (23-12, 12-6) opened game one with a bang. After a leadoff walk from Shearyina Labasan, the Vikings' Makinlee Sellevold blasted a two-run home run to center field. The visitors owned a 2-0 lead before the Wildcats could swing their bats.
With one out in the bottom of the first, Alycia Bannan came to the plate with Savannah 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 Maddy 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. Katie 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. Kayla Smith followed with a single into right field that drove in Bannan as the Wildcats took a 4-2 lead.
Lexie 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 Gracee 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 Sydney 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.
"We definitely strengthened our defense from yesterday," Larabee said. "Our two freshman pitchers bent a little bit, but didn't break. We didn't give up the big inning. We got good timely hitting and had no errors in the last game. Couldn't be more excited about the way we bounced back after the loss to Simon Fraser."
The Wildcats travel to Billings, Montana for a four-game series against Montana State University Billings. The Wildcats and Yellowjackets will play two doubleheaders. The first happens on Saturday, April 13 at 12:00 p.m. The two teams are scheduled to meet again on Sunday, April 14 at 12:00 p.m.
"We get to enjoy these wins today," Larabee said. "Throughout the week, we have to get better as a team. We're pretty good when we come to play, but everyone in our program can get better."
