ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University softball team swept its 2021 opening day doubleheader over the University of Puget Sound by scores of 13-5 and 18-6.
 
QUOTABLE
"It's feels good to be back on the field and playing again," CWU Head Coach Alison Mitchell said. "It was much needed to shake the rust off and play someone other than ourselves. We have shown major growth over the last 11 months, but we have yet to scratch the surface of our talent."
 
GAME ONE
Central wasted no time finding the scoreboard in game one. Harlee Carpenter swiped second and Allie Thiessen made her way home as the throw went through to second. Alyssa Benthagen then roped a single down the left field line, scoring Carpenter, for a 2-0 lead. The Loggers scratched five across in the second inning, staking out a 5-2 lead.
 
In the third inning, Theresa Moyle laced a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Thiessen.  Later in the inning, Maddy Zerr came through with a double to left center to bring around Carpenter.
 
Carpenter wasn't done at the dish, tripling home Alee Cruz in the fourth inning.  Moyle followed with an RBI ground out, taking the lead 6-5. In the fifth, Gracee Dwyer notched a double to right center to score Keegan Wise. The Wildcats took an 8-5 lead on a single by Alee Cruz.  The Crimson and Black struck again in the sixth inning.
 
Another first and third situation for Central saw Carpenter steal second and the throw escaped into center field, allowing Thiessen to score. Moyle followed with a triple to right, bringing home Carpenter before Zerr laced a single to left to bring around Moyle. Sydney Brown pushed the Wildcats' lead to 12-5 with a sacrifice fly before Cruz reached on a fielding error, allowing Alycia Bannan to score for a 13-5 walk-off victory.
 
Rhaney Harris picked her first victory as a Wildcat, hurling three innings of shutout relief. She struck out a trio of hitters on the afternoon.
 
GAME TWO
In the backend of the doubleheader, the second inning gave the Wildcats all the runs they needed for the victory. Central sent 13 runners across in the second inning.
 
During the second inning, The Crimson and Black chased a pair of pitchers from the game.  After scoring two in the first on a single from Zerr and a double from Myiah Seaton, the 'Cats offense could not be stopped. The parade of runs started with Moyle singling home Thiessen. Two batters later, Seaton walked with the bases loaded to force home a run. Sydney Brown then singled to center field to drive in a pair. Dwyer followed suit with a single to right center, scoring Seaton. Cruz notched a bases loaded walk, before Thiessen slapped a single through the right side. Next was Carpenter, who doubled to right center to drive in a pair. A triple from Moyle sent Carpenter across the plate.  The final run for the Wildcats' came on a Benthagen grounded.  After the second inning, Central held a 16-0 advantage.
 
The Loggers pushed across four in the fourth, only to have Central respond in the bottom half of the frame. Benthagen roped a double, scoring Jillian Hampson, before Seaton brought around Benthagen for an 18-4 lead. Puget Sound brought around a pair on the double, bringing the score to the final line of 18-6.
 
Lexie Strasser (1-0) earned her first victory of the season. She went four innings and allowed just five hits and three earned runs.
 
UP NEXT
Central takes on Western Washington University in a four-game series on March 6 and March 7.