ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University softball team takes on Dixie State University in a Tuesday doubleheader.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Tuesday, February 4
At Dixie State
12:00 p.m. / 2:00 p.m.
St. George, Utah
 
QUOTABLE
"We are excited to see new competition and take on Dixie State," CWU Head Coach Alison Mitchell said.  "We look forward to continuing to grow as a team and seeing what we are capable of on the field while competing against other high caliber teams.
 
SCOUTING DIXIE STATE
The Trailblazers went 42-13 in 2019, including a 31-9 mark in RMAC play.  They were nearly perfect at home, posting a 21-2 record in the confines of Karl Brooks Field.
 
Dixie State lost Bailey Gaffin, who led the Trailblazers in hitting with an average of .421, to graduation.  She hit three homeruns and drove in 32 runs.  Gaffin slugged .586 and posted an on-base percentage of .471.  She will be a tough player to replace atop the lineup for Dixie.
 
They also lost catcher Jessica Gonzalez to graduation.  Gonzalez hit .386 in 53 games.  She swatted 11 homeruns and drove in 46. 
 
Mikaela Thomson returns for her junior year after finishing her sophomore campaign with an average of .321.  She hit three round trippers and drove in 21 runners. 
 
Cambrie Hazel and Carissa Burgess return to the circle for the Trailblazers.  Hazel will be in her junior season after posting an 18-7 record last year.  She tossed 166 innings and posted an ERA of 1.98.  Hazel also struck out 215 hitters.  Burgess is a sophomore from Ellensburg, Washington.  She went 23-5 last season in 159 innings of work.  She started 23 games and posted an ERA of 2.46.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Wildcats went 3-2 at the Desert Stinger in Las Vegas, Nevada.  They opened the Stinger with an 11-3 loss against Oklahoma Christian, before winning three straight games against San Francisco State, Cal State San Bernardino, and Regis, before falling to Colorado Christian to close the tournament.
 
Paige Liikala, Alyssa Benthagen, Julia Reuble, and Maddy Zerr each went deep in the first weekend of regular season action.  Liikala added a diving stop in center field.
 
Samantha Stanfield went 2-0 in the circle for Central Washington. In 10.2 innings of work, she struck out 10 hitters, posted an ERA of 1.97, and held opposing hitters to an average of .237.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Following the doubleheader against Dixie State, the Wildcats will stay in St. George, Utah for the Dixie State Tournament.  They will play Hawaii Hilo, Colorado Mesa, St. Mary's, MSU Denver, and Western New Mexico from Thurdsay through Saturday.