ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Samantha Stanfield led the Central Washington University softball team in game two (9-9, 5-3 GNAC) as they split with Saint Martin's University (10-10, 2-6 GNAC).
 
QUOTABLE
"I'm happy the bats came alive today," CWU Head Coach Alison Mitchell said. "We're still looking for consistency in at least two and a half facets of the game.  I thought our pitchers did a great job all weekend."
 
GAME ONE | Saint Martin's 6, Central Washington 5
Saint Martin's opened the scoring in the second inning with an RBI single and took a 6-0 lead before the Wildcats responded.
 
Another RBI single in the third pushed SMU's advantage to 2-0. An infield single, groundout, and double in the fourth inning each drove in at least one run, with the double bringing around two for a 6-0 advantage.
 
Central would not go quietly in game one, however, scoring five runs in the final two innings.
 
Maddy Zerr led off the sixth with a double down the left field line, before she was lifted for pinch runner Makenna King. King advanced to third on a single by Alyssa Benthagen, before scoring on an obstruction call. A productive out from Gracee Dwyer scored Kegan Wise, who ran for Benthagen, Lexie Strasser then took the first pitch she saw to the gap in right center, tripling in her first collegiate at-bat. Alee Cruz brought around Sasha Mitchell, who re-entered to run for Strasser, with a single up the middle for the inning's final offense. After six, Central trailed 6-3.
 
Strasser set the Saints' down in order in the top of the seventh. She tossed 3.2 innings of shutout relief, allowing just one hit. After a ground out to open the seventh inning, and Theresa Moyle reaching via an error, Zerr launched her first home run of the season to make it 6-5. Abby Runyon (5-4) was able to retire the next two Wildcats to secure the victory for the Saints.
 
Zerr finished with three hits in the contest.
 
GAME TWO | Saint Martin's 0, Central Washington 8 (5 Innings)
Stanfield (2-3) threw a one-hitter as the Wildcats blanked Saint Martin's 8-0 in game two. The Saints managed just three baserunners against the right-hander during the back end of the doubleheader.
 
The Wildcats' offense started early. Myiah Seaton laced a three-run home run down the left field line in the first inning, spurring the Crimson and Black to a 3-0 lead.
 
Brown added two more runs with a single in the second, scoring Moyle and Thiessen. In the third inning, Harlee Carpenter brought around Thiessen for a 6-0 lead with a triple down the right field line. She then scored on a sacrifice fly by Brown. Central's eight and final run came on a single from Seaton, driving in Moyle, to give CWU an 8-0 in the third.
 
Stanfield retired the first six hitters she faced before issuing a walk in the third. A one-out single was the only offense the Saints mustered as Central's defense took care of all 15 outs. Stanfield forced eight ground outs and seven fly outs, while facing just 18 batters. She also notched her first career hit, singling in her first at-bat of the season.
 
UP NEXT
Central Washington is home for a five-game series against Humboldt State University next weekend (Apr. 9, 10, & 11). First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday, while Sunday's contest is scheduled for 9:00 a.m.
 
SPECTATORS PROHIBITED
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.