ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University softball team split a doubleheader with Western Oregon by scores of 6-4 and 3-1.
 
QUOTABLE
"We barreled up a lot of ball, but just seem to keep finding Western Oregon jerseys and not gaps," CWU Head Coach Alison Mitchell said today. "I was happy with Izzy's [Womack] performance today and our defense in the second game. "I'm excited to see what we do tomorrow as we continue to grow and come back from quarantine."
 
GAME ONE | Western Oregon 6, Central Washington 4
Samantha Stanfield (3-4) got the nod in game one. She went five innings and allowed four earned runs, while racking up six strikeouts.
 
A throwing error in the bottom of the second inning allowed Chandler Bishop to score for a 1-0 WOU lead. The bats were held quiet until the top of the fourth, when the Wildcats struck for a pair on two-run triple from Alycia Bannan. Alyssa Benthagen then laced a 2-2 offering through the right side to score Bannan, giving CWU a 3-1 lead. The Wolves managed to level the score with a ground out and help from a fielding error in the bottom half of the inning.
 
In the fifth inning, Western Oregon struck again. Bishop singled down the right field line, scoring Isabelle Lewis, before Baylie Kahele singled up the middle for a pair of RBI and a 6-3 advantage. Central scratched across a run in the sixth, on a single from Benthagen, but Maddie Mayer was able to shut the door for the Wolves.
 
Benthagen finished 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs batted in.
 
GAME TWO | Central Washington 3, Western Oregon 1
Isabel Womack (3-3) tossed a complete game in the backend of the doubleheader. She allowed just three runs on seven hits. Womack also struck out three hitters.
 
The scoring started in the top of the third for the Wildcats. Myiah Seaton brought Harlee Carpenter around to score with a single up the middle for a 1-0 lead. The Wolves got the run back in the fourth, hitting into a double play which brought around the runner from third.
 
Theresa Moyle doubled home a run in the top of the fifth inning, roping a 2-1 pitch into the gap to score Allie Thiessen. The insurance marker came in the sixth inning when Alee Cruz drove in Sasha Mitchell, making it 3-1 Wildcats.
 
Womack forced the Wolves to hit into a trio of double plays in the contest, two coming on the ground. She retired nine of the last 10 hitters she faced and did not allow a hit in the final three inning, finishing with 91 pitches.
 
Central turned a double play in each of the first three innings of play.
 
Reilly Tidwell (2-5) was charged with the loss. She went 4.1 innings and allowed two earned runs on three hits. Erica Soliz tossed 1.1 innings of relief for Western Oregon and allowed one unearned run.
 
UP NEXT
The Wolves and Wildcats are slated to play another doubleheader tomorrow (Apr. 29). First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM.