TACOMA, Wash. – The Central Washington University softball team utilized the long ball to maximum effect in a pair of victories over Pacific Lutheran University, 20-6 and 5-4.
"I thought our pitching was great today," CWU Head Coach
Alison Mitchell said. "Sam has been steady all year and Taylor got out of a couple tough spots in game two. Lexie [Strasser] and Izzy [Womack] did great things coming in in relief. Our bats started pretty quiet, but once we made those adjustements and did what we have done in practice, good things happened. It was nice to see Mikayla [Kopacz] get rewarded today. She was seeing beach balls at the plate."
Central's (9-7, 0-0 GNAC) offense sent five pitches into the seats during the opening game.
Mikayla Kopacz launched a pair of long balls and recorded five runs batted in.
Alyssa Benthagen followed Kopacz in the fifth with a solo homerun in the fifth.
Maddy Zerr also got in on the long ball action with a two=run shot in the sixth.
Paige Liikala swatted her second homerun of the season, a two-run shot in the sixth.
It was Pacific Lutheran, however, who found the scoreboard first. A two-run blast in the bottom of the first from Mari Foster put the Lutes ahead 2-0.
Julia Reuble cut the Lutes' lead in half in the top of the third inning. She drove in
Allie Thiessen, who led off the inning with a three-bagger. With two runners aboard later in the inning, Kopacz launched her first homerun of the contest, a three-run blast to give Central Washington a 4-2 lead.
Both offenses went quiet in the fourth, but Kopacz went back to work in the fifth. She gave the 'Cats a 6-2 lead with her second round-tripper of the game. The next batter, Benthagen, followed suit with a solo homerun to make it 7-2.
Zerr sent a souvenir to the fans in attendance in the top of the sixth, bringing in a trio of runs. The Crimson and Black were nowhere near done in the inning. Benthagen roped a two-run double to make it 12-2, before
Adriana Lomeli-Smith did the same later in the inning. With two outs in the sixth, Zerr was at it again. This time she reached on an error and brought around Lomeli-Smith.
Teresa Moyle was next up, lacing a single to center field and bringing around Zerr.
Alycia Bannan then scored on a passed ball. It was Liikala's turn next. She launched a two-run blast to make it 20-2 in favor of the Crimson and Black.
Pacific Lutheran managed to five runs across in the bottom of the sixth, but they could not overcome the Wildcats' offensive onslaught in game one.
Samantha Stanfield (5-1) earned the win in the circle. She went four innings and allowed just five hits. She struck out six hitters.
Central's offense erased the zero in the runs column in the top of the second. A two-out single from Bannan brought around
Katie Cunningham and gave the Crimson and Black an early 1-0 lead.
The Lutes answered in the bottom of the third, taking a two-run lead off the bat of Erin McGrath made it 3-1 in favor of PLU. The Lutes added an insurance marker in the fifth, extending their lead to 5-1.
Bannan jumpstarted the Wildcats' offense with a solo homerun. With nobody out and two on
Gracee Dwyer connected on an 0-1 offering, sending into the cheap seats for a 5-4 CWU lead.
Samantha Stanfield was called on to slam the door shut in the seventh. Pacific Lutheran managed to put the tying and winning runs on-base with one out in the final frame. Mother Nature intervened and turned off the sunlight, prompting the umpires to call the game.
Stanfield earned her first save of the season, while
Isabel Womack (1-3) earned the win. Womack tossed two innings of shutout relief and struck out one.
Taylor Williams got the nod in the circle. She went four innings, allowed five hits, and three earned runs. She struck out one hitter.
As today's games were exhibitions for Pacific Lutheran, the game was finalized and does not need to be completed.
Central Washington opens GNAC play on Saturday (March 7) when the Wildcats welcome Concordia (Ore.) for a pair of games. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
