La Jolla, Calif. (May 9) – The Central Washington University softball team faces elimination from the NCAA West Regionals against No. 6 Sonoma State on Friday at 2:30 p.m. A matchup against the loser of No. 2 UC San Diego and No. 3 Chico State is waiting for the winner at 5:30 p.m.
GAME INFORMATION
Friday | May 10 |
Tournament Central
vs. Sonoma State | Triton Softball Field
Watch |
Live Stats
SCOUTING THE SEAWOLVES
The Seawolves got on a roll in the California Collegiate Athletic Association tournament, winning all four of their games on the weekend. They beat CSU San Bernardino 7-2 in the championship game to secure its spot in the Regional Tournament for the ninth time in 10 years.In the opening round of the NCAA West Regionals, the Seawolves were blanked by Chico State 7-0.
Five Seawolves were recognized named to the All-CCAA team. Jordyn Martinez and Alee Balanon both collected First Team honors, while teammates Cameron Kirtlan, Brielle Vidmar, and Jordann White earned Second Team nods.
Martinez hit .341 during the regular season, she has the second highest slugging percentage in the conference (.659), second most RBIs (42) and leads the CCAA in home runs (11). Balanon recorded two home runs in the Seawolves 6-0 win over Cal State Monterey Bay this season. Balanon leads the conference in slugging percentage (.713) and triples (6).
Kirtlan led the Seawolves in stolen bases this season with 28, and she is ranked in multiple top ten categories in the conference leader boards, with a .565 slugging percentage, doubles (12) and triples (4). Vidmar led the Seawolves pitching staff in wins (17), strikeouts (88), and opposing batting average (.247) White led the Seawolves in RBIs this season (43), she's tied with two of her teammates for the most doubles this season (12) and has the second most home runs in the conference (10).
NCAA WEST REGIONALS: UC San Diego 2, CWU 1.
The close scoring contest between the Wildcats and Tritons provided plenty of drama.
Lexie Strasser was put in a tough situation, but would work her way around the base runner. Brittney Ross-Smith bounced into a fielder's choice. With two outs in the inning, Danielle Stedman hit a come-backer that was fielded by Strasser and flipped to first for the final out of the inning.
Katie Kastning got the scoring started in the top of the third. Kastning unloaded on a pitch, driving it over the right center field fence for a solo home run. Midway through the third, the Wildcats owned a 1-0 lead.
The fifth inning proved to be pivotal in the game. In the top half,
Savannah Egbert reached base with a solid single to left field. On the very next pitch, Egbert took off towards second. It was a close, but Egbert slid in safely. The Wildcats had a runner on second with one out in the inning.
Maddy Zerr stepped into the batter's box with two outs and Egbert on Second. Zerr blasted a ball high and deep. Tritons' left fielder Keila Bosinger raced back and made a fantastic catch at the wall, taking away extra bases from Zerr, and a run from the Wildcats.
There was one out in the bottom half of the fifth when Stedman reached on bunt. An infield single from Maddy Lewis put runners on first and second with one out for the Tritons. A sacrifice bunt from Danica Kazakoff set up a huge situation for Bosinger. Bosinger came through for the host team, hitting a single into right field that plated both Stedman and Leiws. The Tritons took a 2-1 at the end of five innings.
The Wildcats were unable to counter the huge hit from the Tritons and fell 2-1. Strasser pitched well, going six innings while allowed six hits. Strasser struck out one and just walked one. Of the 26 batters faced by Strasser, she forced 10 fly outs and seven ground outs.
Strasser was aided by fabulous defense from the Wildcats.
Sydney Brown was strong at short stop. Brown made a diving grab to end the bottom of the sixth inning.
LAST TIME THEY MET
The Wildcats and Seawoelves met on March 31, 2019. The Wildcats erased an early 3-0 deficit to Sonoma State in their final game of the 18th annual Tournament of Champions. A late run from the Seawolves helped them outlast the Wildcats 4-3 on Sunday morning.
The Wildcats answered back in the top of the third inning. Egbert led off the inning with a triple. Kastning followed with a productive out, hitting a sacrifice fly to center feudal that allowed Egbert to score. Midway through the third inning, the Wildcats trailed 3-1.
In the fifth inning,
Rachael Johnson got a chance to show off he speed. Johnson opened the inning with a bunt base hit. She'd go on to steal second base, putting her in scoring position as Egbert stepped to the plate. Egbert roped a single into the outfield, allowing Johnson to race home to score. The Wildcats trailed the Seawolves 3-2.
In the sixth inning, Egbert came to the plate with
Bethany Balucan and
Keegan Wise on second and third respectively. Egbert put the ball in play on the ground towards the short stop. Both runners ran on contact. The fielder chose to toss the ball to third where the Seawolves tagged out Balucan. At the same time, Wise came home to score, tying the game at 3-3. The Seawolves scratched across a run in the bottom half of the inning to take the game.
