TUCSON, Ariz. – Central Washington University softball dropped both of its contests to Metropolitan State University of Denver (4-3), 5-2, and Concordia University Irvine (10-0), 9-6.
 
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"We didn't really compete in the first game," CWU Head Coach Joe DiPietro said afterward. "When we did compete, in the second game, we played well. We hit Concordia's ace, we just couldn't get that one big hit when we needed it. Credit to CUI, they hit really well today. Even though we got down I liked how we kept fighting back. Hopefully, we can come out tomorrow and close this trip with a win."
 
GAME ONE: MSUD 5, CWU 2
Rhaney Harris took to the circle for the Wildcats (1-3) in her second start of the season. The senior right-hander threw 6.2 innings and allowed three earned runs on nine hits. She struck out a pair and did not issue a free pass. Isabel Womack pitched 0.1 innings of relief.
 
Harlee Carpenter recorded the Wildcats' only RBI, going 2-for-3. Allie Thiessen and Makenna King scored the Wildcats' runs.
 
Central opened the scoring in the third inning. A bases loaded wild pitch allowed Thiessen to cover the 60 feet from third to home. An inning later, the Roadrunners struck. A two-run home run vaulted Metro State on top, 2-1. Another single later in the inning gave the Roadrunners a bit of breathing room.
 
In the top of the sixth, a passed ball with a runner on third allowed the fourth fun to cross the plate for Metro State Denver. The Roadrunners added one more run for a 5-1 lead.
 
A one-out walk from Makenna King gave the Wildcats' a baserunner in the bottom of the sixth. Two batters later, Carpenter roped a 1-0 double to score Seaton and cut the deficit to 5-2. After holding the Roadrunners scoreless in the top half of the seventh inning, Myiah Seaton reached on a one-out single in the bottom half. Brooke Jordan reached on a fielder's choice, advancing Seaton to second as the Roadrunners' failed to retire the Wildcats' runner – bringing the tying run to the plate for Central. Sarah Norton retired the next two Wildcats to secure the victory.
 
GAME TWO: CWU 6, No. 10 CUI 9
A three-run rally in the seventh inning brought Central within three, but the Eagles (11-0) held on for the win. The Crimson and Black put together 10 hits.
 
Ashlee Laver (0-1) got her first start of the season. She tossed 5.1 innings and allowed nine runs, eight earned, on 12 hits. Makayla Miller made her debut in the circle with 0.2 innings of work in relief.
 
The Eagles found the scoreboard first with RBI-single bringing in a run in the bottom of the first.
 
Central got the run back two innings later. Karsyn Decker reached on an infield single, before stealing second, and came around to score when Alyssa Benthagen roped a 3-2 pitch for a base hit.
 
Back-to-back solo home runs in the bottom of the fourth inning gave CUI a 3-1 advantage. They added another run with an RBI-single later in the inning.
 
Decker came around to score for the 'Cats in the top of the fifth on a single by Thiessen and an error by the Eagles' center fielder. In the bottom of the frame, the Eagles utilized back-to-back singles to drive in a run for a 5-2 lead.
 
Central responded a half inning later. After a pair of strikeouts opened the inning, Reese Schimmel reached on an error, advancing to second. Riana Abeshima pinch ran for the 'Cats backstop and scored on a double down the left field line by Makenna King, making it 5-3 in favor of CUI.
 
The Eagles put together a four-hit, four-run inning – extending their lead to 9-3.
 
A lead-off double from Carpenter set the table in the top of the seventh. Thiessen took the very next pitch deep to center for an RBI-double. After a foul out, Thiessen advanced to third on a wild pitch. Seaton drew a walk, putting runners on the corners with one out. Brooke Jordan laced the first pitch she saw into left center for a single, driving in Thiessen. The Eagles were able to quell the comeback, however, recording a strikeout and a fly out in the final three batters for the victory.
 
UP NEXT
Central Washington closes their trip to Tucson tomorrow. The Wildcats take on Cal State Dominguez Hills at noon.