ST. GEORGE, Utah – The Central Washington University softball team dropped both games in the Dixie State Courtyard Classic to Hawaii Hilo, 9-1, and Colorado Mesa, 6-4.
 
In game one, the Wildcats fell 9-1 to Hawaii Hilo.  The Vulcans scored their first run in the opening frame.  A single up the middle from Markie Okamoto brought home Kiarra Lincoln for a 1-0 advantage.  A fielding error in the top of the second allowed a run to score for a 2-0 lead for the Vulcans.  Vevessi Liilii doubled to left field in the third inning, driving in a run.  An errant throw allowed Liilii to score on the play as well.  Later in the inning, a 2-0 single from Skylar Thomas brought the fourth Vulcans' run around.
 
Julia Reuble was the Wildcats' lone offense.  She crushed a 1-0 offering over the wall in left, bringing the score to 5-1.
 
Hilo's offense plated a trio of runs in the fourth on one swing from Brinell Kaleikini.  She sent sent a 3-2 offering to seats for an 8-1 advantage. 
 
Okamoto ended the contest early, singling to right field and driving Brandee Chinen. 
 
Taylor Williams (1-1) was charged with the loss.  She went 2.1 innings of work, allowing six hits, five runs, three earned, and one walk. 
 
Central managed just three hits at the plate.  Alee Cruz and Mikayla Kopacz both recorded singles.
 
"We just didn't come out ready to play," CWU Head Coach Alison Mitchell said.  "We have to be better on the next one."
 
Samantha Stanfield took to the circle in game two for the Wildcats.  After a lead-off fly out to Keegan Wise in right field, Tayah Gerber singled through the left side and advanced to second on a fielder's choice.  She later scored from third on a single to right field. 
 
Central responded with a sacrifice fly from Gracee Dwyer scored Mikayla Kopacz from third in the bottom of the second inning, tying the game at 1-1.  After a quiet third inning, both bats went back to work in the fourth. 
 
A lead-off walk was followed by a single through the left side.  After a sacrifice bunt, Hailey Hinson singled to drive in a run for the 2-1 lead.  Another single from Brooke Doumer a batter later drove in Kaley Barker.  AnnMarie Torres then laced a single up the middle, scoring Hinson, and giving Colorado Mesa a 4-1 lead. 
 
The Wildcats responded in the bottom half of the inning.  Paige Likkala sent an 0-2 offering back from whence it came, before Dwyer launched a two-run shot.  It was Dwyer's first career homerun.
 
Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Allie Thiessen led off with a double to left center.  Reuble then reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, sending Thiessen to third.  Alee Cruz entered the game as a pinch runner and stole second.  While Cruz was attempting her thievery of second, Thiessen slipped home to tie the game at 4-4.
 
Colorado Mesa put the go-ahead run aboard with two outs, and moved her into scoring position with a walk, but Stanfield worked her way out of the jam. 
 
A lead-off single in the top of the seventh chased Stanfield from the contest.  Williams came on in relief and immediately forced Barker into a groundball back to the circle.  Williams fired to second, retiring the lead runner.  An infield single put the go-ahead run in scoring position, before Hinson slapped a single through the right side to score Barker.  Doumer then reached on a single off a 1-0 offering, scoring Ashley Bradford for a 6-4 advantage.
 
The first two Wildcats were set aside in the bottom of the seventh.  Alyssa Benthagen smoked an 0-1 pitch up the middle, bringing the tying run to the plate.  Adriana Lomeli-Smith entered as a pinch runner and immediately swiped second.  Kopacz drove a ball back up the middle, but it was snagged in the circle.
 
"Second game was better than game one and we limited our mistakes," Mitchell said.  "Sam was fantastic again in the circle with Alyssa behind the plate.  Our defense had some really bright moments and our bats stayed scrappy.  Mikayla had a great day at the plate today.  Mesa just got some hits that fell in early in the game and they capitalized on the runners.  We are still growing a lot as a team and will continue to focus on ourselves.  We are getting more confident in what we are capable of each game and that's what we, as a staff, are looking for."
 
Central Washington is back in action tomorrow for a pair of games at the Courtyard Classic.  They take on St. Mary's (TX) and MSU Denver at 10:00 a.m. MT and 3:00 p.m. MT, respectively.