ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University softball team splits its non-conference doubleheader against Western Washington University with scores of 6-5 and 5-4.
The Wildcats (3-1) and the Vikings (4-2) relied on their pitching and timely hitting in their first two meetings of the season, scoring 10 runs each. Western and Central meet again tomorrow for a doubleheader at Gary and Bobbi Fredrick Field.
QUOTABLE
"I was happy to see how my team responded to adversity today," CWU Head Coach
Alison Mitchell said. "We are continuing to work on making our own adjustments in the box. We have yet to have our best offensive game, but are getting better each time we face an opponent. We need to be better with executing the short game.
Sam [Stanfield] did well in the circle today and did a great job keeping us in the first game. I was happy with our relief battery overall and our defense showed some of their capabilities in the second game by making some tough plays look easy."
GAME ONE
Central utilized the long ball for the first time in the 5-4 victory.
Alyssa Benthagen hit a two-run blast in the bottom of the fourth inning after Dakota Brooks' first inning solo shot gave the Vikings a 1-0 lead.
Samantha Stanfield took to the circle in the opening game one. She went four innings and allowed three runs on six hits, while striking out three.
Isabel Womack came on in relief, earning her first win of the season. She allowed just one run on four hits, the run coming unearned. Womack also struck out three.
Sydney Brown,
Alycia Bannan, and
Alee Cruz each notched an RBI in the win.
After tying the game 2-2, the Wildcats fell behind 4-2 after a pair of RBI singles from the Vikings. A bases loaded hit by pitch in the sixth inning from Brown made it 4-3, before Bannan went opposite field for a single and an RBI to tie the game at 4-4. Cruz then hit a grounder to shortstop, allowing
Sasha Mitchell to score from third for a 5-4 lead.
GAME TWO
The Wildcats went down 4-0 in the first three innings as
Lexie Strasser took the ball to the backend of the doubleheader.
Central scored four runs in the third to level the score line.
Theresa Moyle laced a two-RBI single through the left side. She was followed by Benthagen, who singled up the middle for an RBI.
Myiah Seaton reached on a fielding error, allowing
Maddy Zerr to score.
The Vikings struck again in the fourth, drawing a bases load walk to force home a run. Central responded in kind in the bottom half of the inning. Zerr reached on a fielding error, allowing
Harlee Carpenter to score, tying the game at 5-5.
Western Washington picked up an RBI groundout in the fifth inning, giving them a 6-5 advantage. The Vikings retired six of the last seven Wildcat hitters to secure the victory. Kira Doan earned the win, tossing a complete game.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats and Vikings play again tomorrow (Mar. 7) in a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.
COVID DISCLAIMER
Per Washington state, Kittitas County Health Board, and the GNAC spectators will not be allowed at events. Schedules are subject to change at any time pending decisions from the health board and other local and regional authorities.
