BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Central Washington University softball team (16-13, 8-6) split its penultimate doubleheader with Western Washington University (19-11, 10-8), 2-1 and 4-0.
QUOTABLE
"We made too many mental mistakes in game two after coming from behind in game one," CWU Head Coach
Alison Mitchell said. "The pitching staff was solid all day, but we had a hard time making adjustments at the plate."
GAME ONE | Central Washington 2, Western Washington 1
Samantha Stanfield (5-4) and Anna Kasner (9-3) were lights out in the circle. Kasner had a non-hitter through five innings, while Stanfield allowed just five hits. Kasner walked four and struck out nine, while Stanfield struck out three and did not allow a free pass.
Despite taking a no-hit bid deep into the sixth inning,
Harlee Carpenter sullied a bid at perfection in the top of the first by drawing a six-pitch walk. A hit from Western to lead-off the bottom of the first did not amount to a run, as Stanfield retired the next three hitters.
It took until the bottom of the fourth for either offense to register another hit. Lauren Lo knocked a single into right, but Stanfield forced Kasner to fly out to right to end the inning.
Alycia Bannan came to the plate with one out in the top of the fifth inning. She worked a 13-pitch walk, fouling off seven pitches to earn the base on balls. Kasner buckled down and forced a lineout, which turned into a double play, to end the inning.
A one-out double from Riley Wales set the table for the Vikings in the bottom of the fifth inning. After Kira Doan flew out to right, advancing the runner to third, Chantelle Shimabukuro slipped a single through the left side for an RBI and a 1-0 lead.
The first two batters in the top of the sixth were cast aside by Kasner, before
Allie Thiessen worked a five-pitch walk. Carpenter then worked her second walk of the game, putting runners on first and second. After going down in the count 1-2,
Theresa Moyle dropped two-run double into left field to put the Wildcats ahead.
Stanfield retired the first two hitters of the sixth but a single from Lo extended the inning. Undeterred, Stanfield struck out Kasner on just three pitches to retire the side.
After the Wildcats went quietly in the top of the seventh, Stanfield struck out the first two hitters she saw in the game's final frame. She then forced Doan to ground out to Carpenter at second to secure the victory.
GAME TWO | Western Washington 4, Central Washington 0
The Vikings got the better of the 'Cats in game two. Doan and
Lexie Strasser got the nods in the circle.
It was scoreless through two innings, before Lo tallied an RBI single to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead. Another single from Dakota Brooks brought a second run around, as the Vikings staked out a 2-0 lead.
The bats went quiet again until the fifth inning. The Vikings loaded the bases with nobody out. Lo came through again for the Viks, singling down the right field line for an RBI and a 3-0 lead.
Rhaney Harris came out of the bullpen facing the bases loaded and retired the first two hitters she faced, but a free pass pushed the Vikings' edge to 4-0. Harris forced Shimabukuro to ground out to end the fifth and avoid any additional damage.
A lead-off walk from
Keegan Wise gave the Wildcats life in the sixth inning, but they were unable to scratch across a run. In the seventh inning, a one-out walk from Bannan was the only runner the Wildcats' managed.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats and Vikings square-off again tomorrow (May 2) for the final two games of GNAC play prior to the conference tournament. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM.
