MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Central Washington University softball team dropped both ends of its doubleheader against Western Oregon University.
QUOTABLE
"It's hard to win games when you can only elevate a ball," CWU Head Coach
Alison Mitchell said. "Our battery was fantastic all weekend and our defense, for the most part, was outstanding. We just couldn't come through at the plate when it counted. We will get back to it and make adjustments. I have no doubt we will improve."
GAME ONE | CWU 4 WOU 5
The Wildcats (4-6) fell behind in the second inning when a throwing error allowed a runner to score. Later in the inning, a double to left center field made it 2-0. Western Oregon (3-1) was held in check during the fourth inning, before a single through the left side made it 3-0 Wolves. A double to left center field in the fifth inning added another insurance run for WOU, 4-0.
Down four in the top of the sixth,
Theresa Moyle led off with a hit by pitch.
Maddy Zerr followed with a single, before
Sydney Brown roped a double down the left field line to score Moyle. After a 12-pitch walk by
Gracee Dwyer, Alycia Banna drove a sacrifice fly to right field to cut the Wildcats' to 4-2.
Alee Cruz then took a 2-2 offering to left, scoring Brown, and put Central back within one.
Allie Thiessen completed the scoring plays in the sixth for CWU, doubling home Dwyer to level the score at 4-4.
In the seventh, however, the Wolves notched a lead-off single gave Logan Carlos a chance at the plate. She doubled home the winning-run with a line drive to left, giving the Wolves a 5-4 victory.
Lexie Strasser (1-1) went the distance, allowing three earned runs. She walked just one and struck out four.
GAME TWO | CWU 1 WOU 2
The backend of the doubleheader was yet another one-run game and another gem from a Central starting pitcher.
Isabel Womack (1-2) tossed a complete game and allowed just two runs, on five hits, while striking out five. The right-hander did not issue a free pass.
Just one pitch made the difference. Sydney Bowers took a 1-0 offering over the fence for a two-run homerun in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Central threatened in the top of the third inning as they looked to break a 0-0 score. A one-out single from Thiessen was followed by a walk from
Harlee Carpenter. After a fielder's choice, Zerr wore a 2-2 pitch to load the bases. Jada Young (1-0) was able to clamp down, however, and retire the Wildcats without any damage.
The Crimson and Black found themselves on the brink of cashing in in the top of the sixth.
Myiah Seaton went opposite field for a single, before stealing second. She then stole third with two gone in the inning. Once again, however, the Wolves avoided any damage to keep the score at 2-0.
A one-out single from Thiessen gave the Wildcats a bit of life in the top of the seventh. After a line out to short, Moyle snuck a single through the left side of the infield and advanced Thiessen to second. Zerr came up clutch, cutting the deficit to 2-1 with an RBI-single to right. Western Oregon maneuvered around any additional damage as Maddie Mayer claimed her first save of the season.
