LAS VEGAS, Nevada – The Central Washington University softball team captured a pair of victories over Cal State San Bernardino and Regis University. 
 
"We were streaky with the bats today," CWU Head Coach Alison Mitchell said afterward.  "We had lock down defense and pitching.  Sam had a day in the circle.  She had each team guessing and had the plate locked down.  It was a solid effort at the plate for all the hitters today with Julia [Reuble] and Lyci [Bannan] bringing in some critical runs.  Taylor was cool as a cucumber coming in to shut down Regis for the final inning.  She has ice in her veins and is playing really well."
 
Lexie Strasser toed the rubber in game one.  She went 3.2 innings and surrendered six hits, four runs, three earned, five walks, and struck out two hitters.  Samantha Stanfield (1-0) picked up the win.  She went 3.1 innings in relief, allowing three hits and no runs.  Stanfield also struck out a pair of hitters.
 
Both offenses got out to a quick start.  The Coyotes tallied first in the opening frame.  A single to left field brought around the game's first run.  The Wildcats wasted no time responding, plating two on a single to left from Katie Cunningham in the bottom of the inning. 
 
After both pitchers tossed goose eggs in the second, the Coyotes plated a pair of runners in the third.  A single to right field scored the first and was followed by a single back up the middle to give the Coyotes a 3-2 advantage.  They tacked on a fourth run in the top of the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly, extending their lead to 4-2.
 
Central scratched across a run in the fifth inning.  Alee Cruz led off with a single and moved to third on a pinch-hit single from Alycia Bannan.  Alyssa Benthagen lifted the first pitch she aw to right field, allowing Cruz to score on the sacrifice fly and cut the Coyotes' lead to 4-3.
 
San Bernardino stranded an insurance run at third in the top of the sixth inning.  The lead-off hitter spelled trouble for the Coyotes again, as Harlee Carpenter laced a single to right field.  Julia Reuble worked to a 2-0 count, before blasting an opposite field two-run homerun to put the Wildcats ahead 5-4.  Stanfield got a pair of ground outs, before striking out the final batter of the contest.
 
Stanfield (2-0) got the call-in game two.  She tossed five shutout innings and allowed just two hits.  She also struck out six hitters.  Taylor Williams earned her first save of the season, slamming the door in the seventh.  She struck out one hitter.
 
A one-out double from Benthagen gave way to Bannan, who sent the 1-0 offering into the seats for a 2-0 lead.  It was all the offense the Wildcats needed in the second game.
 
Central Washington kept Regis' bats in check through the first five innings. The Rangers' bats woke up in the sixth inning.  A lead-off walk, followed by a sacrifice bunt, put a runner in scoring position for the Rangers. After a five-pitch walk, the Rangers slapped a single through the right side to put runners on the corners.  A wild pitch allowed the runner at third to score, making it 2-1, but Isabel Womack got a ground out to avert any more danger.  Williams set down the Rangers in four batters to close out the game.
 
The Crimson and Black are back in action tomorrow (Feb. 2) at 11:30 a.m. in the final game of the Desert Stinger.  First pitch is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.