PORTLAND, Ore. (May 2) – The Central Washington University Softball Team brought their bats to the opening round of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Tournament. The Wildcats pounded eight hits on their way to an 8-0 win over the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks on Thursday. 
 
"Outstanding all-around game," CWU Head Coach Mike Larabee said. "Offensively, defensively, and we had timely hitting. We talked about getting that momentum early. We were able to do that. We had a couple of two-out hits that were big for us." 
 
Savannah Egbert put the Wildcats (31-16) in motion by reaching on an error in the first inning against the Nighthawks (27-23). She would advance to second after Katie Kastning grounded out to the short stop. Egbert advanced to third on a wild pitch. The smart base running allowed Maddy Zerr to smack a sacrifice fly into left field. The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead over the Nighthawks without recording a hit in the opening frame. 
 
The Wildcats picked up their first hit of the game in the third inning. Kayla Ellis punched a double into the right center field gap. Rachael Johnson laid down a bunt to advance a pinch-running Alee Cruz to third base. The ball was fielded, but mishandled by the second basemen who was receiving the throw at first. The error put runners on the corners Egbert. Egbert came through, slashing a ball into left field that drove in Cruz. The Wildcats led 2-0 with runners on first and second and nobody out in the inning. 
 
Kastning dropped down a sacrifice bunt that advanced those runners to second and third. Those runners were in the same spot when Julia Reuble stepped to the plate with two outs. Reuble scorched a 2-2 pitched through the middle of the infield, bringing Johnson and Egbert home to score. With one swing of the bat, Reuble had doubled the Wildcats lead to 4-0. The Wildcats had chances to add on, but left three runners stranded on base to close out the third. 
 
Ellis opened the fourth inning with a bang. The senior clubbed her second home run of the year. The solo home run gave the Wildcats a 5-0 lead. Ellis finished the game 2-for-2 with a double and a home run, all coming on her birthday. 
 
"We can't forget about Kayla Ellis," Larabee added. "Today is her birthday. She had a double and home run. It was a phenomenal day for her."
 
With two outs in the fifth, the Wildcats had the bases loaded for Smith. Smith lofted a single down the right field line that plated Johnson and Keegan Wise. Bethany Balucan followed with a single into right field that scored Reuble. The Wildcats had an 8-0 lead after four innings of play and would take the game by that score. 
 
Lexie Strasser (16-9) set the tone early for the Wildcats in the circle. Strasser sat down the first six batters she faced in order and got all four of her strikeouts during that span. The biggest jam Strasser faced came in the fourth inning. The Nighthawks' Anna Williams led off the inning with a single. After a quick out, Brittany Genaurdi worked a walk, putting runners on first and second with one out. Strasser retired the next batters she faced, and left the inning unharmed. 
 
"Lexie really controlled the strike zone this evening," Larabee said. "We played really strong defense behind her. We always talk about getting ahead in the count and controlling the strike zone. She got a head a lot today and was very successful." 
 
The Wildcats move on to face host Concordia (Ore.) tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.