ELLENSBURG, Wash. – A pair of big innings downed the Central Washington University softball team. They fell to Simon Fraser 16-7 and 9-8.
 
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"Offensively, we were better today but our pitching wasn't what it has been," CWU Head Coach Joe DiPietro said. "Too many walks as well as pitching behind in counts. We need to figure ourselves out."
 
GAME ONE | CWU 7, SFU 16 (6 INNINGS)
Simon Fraser (5-5) scored 10 runs in the sixth inning to take a walk-off victory over Central Washington (4-7).
 
Ashlee Laver took the circle for the Wildcats. She went 2.2 innings before being relieved by Rhaney Harris (1-5). Laver allowed five earned runs, on four hits, and three walks. Harris was charged with the loss. She tossed three innings and allowed three runs, one earned, on seven hits. She walked one and struck out three. Harris also roped a double in her first plate appearance of the season.
 
Simon Fraser collected 15 hits in total. The Wildcats recorded 10 hits.
 
In the bottom of the first, Simon Fraser opened the scoring. A first and third play allowed Alex Ogg to beat the throw home after Hanna Finkelstein stole second. The Wildcats got the run back in the top of the third with a sacrifice fly from Allie Thiessen. Alyssa Benthagen then singled home Harlee Carpenter for a 2-1 lead.
 
Central's lead was wiped away in the bottom of the inning. An RBI double from Chelsea Hotner tied the game, before Janique Balcaen singled up the middle to score Hotner. A two-run home run from Kristen Davyduke gave SFU a 5-2 lead.
 
An error in the fourth inning allowed a run to score to make it 6-2.
 
The Wildcats chipped away at Simon Fraser's lead in the fifth and sixth innings. An RBI double from Brook Jordan scored Thiessen in the fifth. Makenna King then singled in the sixth to score Benthagen from third. Karysn Decker scored on a wild pitch before Carpenter scored on a fielding error, tying the game at 6-6. Thiessen came around to score on a throwing error for a 7-6 CWU lead.
 
The one-run advantage disappeared in the bottom of the sixth. A two-run double from Finkelstein gave SFU an 8-7 lead. They added another eight runs, including a game-ending three-run double.
 
Carpenter, Thiessen, and Decker all notched two hits and scored twice.
 
GAME TWO | CWU 8, SFU 9
After the Wildcats put up four runs in the sixth for a 8-3 lead, a six-run response from Simon Fraser befell the 'Cats.
 
Isabel Womack got the nod for Central Washington. Her scoreless innings streak was halted in the third inning, giving Womack 22.1 innings of scoreless pitching. She tossed 4.1 innings against Simon Fraser and allowed three earned runs on seven hits and six walks. She struck out a pair. Laver (0-2) was charged with the loss. She threw an inning of relief and allowed one earned run on three hits and a walk.
 
Central started the scoring in the top of the first. An RBI single from Jordan scored Seaton and Carpenter, giving the 'Cats a 2-0 lead. Simon Fraser got one run back in the third; a bases loaded walk forced a run in.
 
Benthagen hit the Wildcats' first home run of the season, a two-run shot to give the Crimson and Black a 4-1 lead in the fifth.
 
Simon Fraser responded by driving in a pair of runs in the bottom half with a double from Hotner and a single from Balcaen.
 
In the sixth inning, an infield single from Thiessen scored Decker and King. A bases loaded infield single from Seaton scored Carpenter. On the play, Thiessen advanced to second and bolted towards an unmanned third base. She slid in safely as the throw from the pitcher went wide and careened into foul territory down the left field line, allowing Thiessen to score for 8-3 CWU lead.
 
Like in game one, it took just a single frame for SFU to take the lead. A two-run double from Finkelstein made it 8-5 and was followed by an RBI double from Hotner. After Baelcan reached base to put a pair of runners aboard, Hannah Boulanger hit a three-run blast to give SFU a 9-8 lead.
 
The Wildcats managed a walk in the final inning, but could not bring the tying run around.
 
Thiessen and King each recorded two hits. Thiessen, Benthagen, and Jordan each drove in two runs. Carpenter scored twice.
 
UP NEXT
Central Washington hosts Northwest Nazarene University on Friday (Mar. 4) and Saturday (Mar. 5). First pitch is scheduled for noon both days.