PORTLAND, Ore. (May 4) – The Central Washington University softball team snuck past Concordia (Ore.) 1-0 to force a winner-take-all Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championship game today at 2:00 p.m. 
 
Lexie Strasser (17-10) got the start in the circle for the Wildcats (33-17) against the Cavaliers (30-22). The ace was excellent through the early stages of the game. Through three innings, she faced 11 batters and had three strikeouts. Two of Strasser's strikeouts were looking. Strasser led the league with 33 strikeouts looking entering the tournament. 
 
The Wildcats had their leadoff hitters reach base in the third and fourth inning. Bethany Balucan drew a walk in the third, but the Wildcats couldn't turn it into a run. In the fourth inning, Katie Kastning led off with the team's first hit of the game. After a flyout from Maddy Zerr, Kasnting stole second to get into scoring position. Julia Reuble ripped a ball into left field, putting runners at the corners with one out. 
 
Theresa Moyle pinch ran for the Reuble, and would advance to second on the first pitch of the next at bat. Kayla Smith hit a sharp ground ball to the shortstop. Kastning broke towards the plate on contact. The Cavaliers' Tori O'Niell fired the ball to the plate, a tag was applied by Courtney Somers and Kastning was called out. Suddenly, the Wildcats had two outs in the inning. 
 
With runners on the corners and two outs, Smith took off to steal second. At the same time, Moyle cautiously made a move towards the plate. The Cavalier defense noticed and shifted their focus towards Moyle. Moyle was caught in a run down between third and home, and what had looked like an excellent scoring opportunity for the Wildcats seemed to be lost. Hope was regained as a throwing error allowed Moyle to touch home plate, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. 
 
The Cavaliers put together a huge threat to open the sixth inning. Macy Besuyen had an infield single to lead things off. Mckenzie Smith was walked, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Paityn Willoughby was called upon to pinch hit for Karley Yoshioka. Strasser struck out Willoughby, shifting the momentum back in the Wildcats favor. 
 
The next batter was Hannah Self. On a 0-1 count, Self popped out to the Sydney Brown. The Wildcats were just one out away from getting out of the inning unscathed. Marisa Stockton grounded out to Strasser, as the Wildcats avoided danger and held onto their 1-0 lead.
 
With one out in the sixth, Kastning blasted a fly ball into center field. The ball took one hope before bounding over the wall for an automatic double. Kastning had a great game for the Wildcats. She went 2-for-3 with a double. 
 
The Cavaliers got the tying run first after a one-out single in the seventh inning. Strasser slammed the door shut, striking out the final two batters to end the game. Strasser pitched the complete game, allowing just three hits, two walks and had six strikeouts. Strasser faced 24 batters and induced six fly outs and nine ground outs.  
 
The Wildcats and Cavaliers will play each other once more, this time to decide the GNAC Champion. First pitch is slated for 2:30 p.m. today.