ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington University softball is taking part in the 2022 Tournament of Champions, hosted by Stanislaus State University.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Friday, April 1
v San Francisco State
10:30 a.m.
Pedretti Park/Field 5
Turlock, CA
 
Friday, April 1
v Biola
2:00 p.m.
Pedretti Park/Field 5
Turlock, CA
 
Saturday, April 2
v Azusa Pacific
9:00 a.m.
Pedretti Park/Field 5
Turlock, CA
 
Saturday, April 2
v Dominican
4:30 p.m.
Pedretti Park/Field 2
 
Sunday, April 3
v Cal State East Bay
9:00 a.m.
Stanislaus State/Warrior Field
 
QUOTABLE
"Getting away to the Tournament of Champions is an exciting time for the team," CWU Head Coach Joe DiPietro said. "Getting the opportunity to play some very good competition should help us as we play the back end of our schedule. We're looking forward to the trip."
 
TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
This year marks the 19^th edition of the Tournament of Champions. The field is split over three venues: Atch Pedretti Park, Turlock Regional Sports Complex, and the Warrior Softball Field.
 
For all tournament locations, ticket prices are as follows: $10 single day, $25 for a three-day pass. Children 5-10 and seniors aged 65+: $7 single day, $20 for a three-day pass. Children under the age of four are free.
 
Due to the pandemic, the Tournament of Champions has not been held since 2019.
 
Central Washington opens play against San Francisco State University. The Gators enter the week with a 14-18 record, including a 7-13 mark in CCAA play. They have lost their last four outings. Offensively, the Gators are hitting a clip of .283 and have scored 147 runs. Brylynn Vallejos leads the Gators in average (.435), OBP (.498), OPS (1.209), doubles (10), triples (4), home runs (4), stolen bases (26), and is second in RBI (15). Lehua DeLeon leads San Francisco State with 20 RBI. In the circle, the Gators have posted an ERA of 4.21 and a WHIP of 1.71. Kaitlyn Maddux has assumed the majority of the duties in the circle. She is 6-11 on the year, with an ERA of 4.68 and a WHIP of 1.71.
 
The Wildcats conclude Friday against Biola. The Eagles are 18-13 on the year. In PACWEST play they have posted a 13-9 record. In their last five outings, the Eagles are 4-1. Biola is hitting .276 as a team with an OPS of .694. Jennifer Morinishi leads the Eagles with an average of .396. Brie Nowak leads BU in RBI with 24, while Bridgette Trujillo leads the Eagles with three home runs. In the circle, Paige Austin and Raylene Roybal have handled the majority of the pitching duties. Austin is 10-3 with 11 complete games, one save, an ERA of 1.00, and a WHIP of 0.72. Roybal, meanwhile, is 6-7 with an ERA of 3.77, a WHIP of 1.47, and five complete games. As a unit, the Eagles hold an ERA of 2.98 and a WHIP of 1.19. They have allowed just six home runs.
 
Saturday opens with an outing against Azusa Pacific. The Cougars sit at 24-13 overall and 18-6 in PACWEST play. They are currently riding an eight-game winning streak. The Cougars' offense has posted an average of .306 and scored 178 runs. Olivia Smith is hitting .464 to pace APU's offense. Despite having just five extra base hits, Smith has swiped 21 bases in 22 attempts. Aly Montesino leads the Cougars in both home runs (6) and RBI (25), though Caitlin DeCanio is close behind in both categories with five home runs and 24 driven in. In the circle, the Cougars have an ERA of 2.74 and a WHIP of 1.38. Katie Korstrom is 11-2 on the season over 86.1 innings. She has an ERA of 1.70 and a WHIP of 1.16 in 18 appearances. Korstrom has tossed nine complete games and tallied one save. Sydnie Sahhar has also made 18 appearances. She has thrown five complete games and has a record of 6-5, alongside an ERA of 2.81 and a WHIP of 1.47.
 
The Wildcats close Saturday with a matchup against Dominican (CA). The Penguins are 12-23 on the season and 9-15 in PACWEST play. They are hitting just .218 on the season. Leeading the Penguins' offense is Lauren Lapinid with an average of .306. Alicia Garcia leads Dominican in both home runs (3) and RBI (12). The Penguins have scored 82 runs on the year and are 38-for-47 in stolen bases. In the circle, Dominican has posted an ERA of 2.94 and a WHIP of 1.34. Shelby Keltner leads the Penguins with an ERA of 1.62 over 125.1 innings of work. She is 7-13 on the season with nine complete games, three shutouts, and three saves.
 
Central's final game of the TOC is against Cal State East Bay. The Pioneers are 16-13 overall and 10-10 CCAA play. They are 2-3 in their last five contests. The Pioneers hold an average of .280 as a team with an OBP of 357. They have scored 128 runs and hit 14 home runs. Leading the offense is Annelise Garcia with an average of .403. She is 8-for-9 in stolen bases, has hit one home run, and driven in 16. Madeline Ramirez leads East Bay with 24 runs batted in. Sarah Fukushima boasts a team-high five home runs. In the circle, the Pioneers have posted an ERA of 2.97 and a WHIP of 1.24. Anamaria Beard and Abby Greer have handled the majority of the pitching duties. Beard is 8-5 on the year with a team-leading 2.21 ERA and a WHIP of 1.14. She has thrown seven complete games, one shutout, and recorded one save in 77.1 innings. Greer is 4-7 on the season with an ERA of 3.74 and a WHIP of 1.36 over 77 innings. She has thrown six complete games in 15 starts.
 
THE WILDCATS
The Wildcats took three games against Simon Fraser, including a pair of five-inning games to open the series.
 
Senior pitcher Rhaney Harris tossed a one-hitter against the GNAC's best offense and allowed just three total baserunners in the series' third game. In her first start of the series, Harris allowed three hits, two walks, and just one earned run. She now has an ERA of 3.88 over 79.1 innings.
 
Allie Thiessen hit .615 in the series against Simon Fraser. She is hitting .425 on the year and leads the Wildcats in average, OBP (.500), and OPS (1.063. Thiessen has one home run, one triple, and seven doubles. She has driven in 17 runs and scored a team-high 26. Thiessen has recorded a hit in her last five games.
 
Alyssa Benthagen's hitting streak came to an end at 17 games, though the Wildcats' catcher is still hitting .337 on the year. She has clubbed a team-high seven home runs and driven in 24.
 
Brooke Jordan hit her first home run of the season against Simon Fraser. She is hitting .305 and has driven in a dozen.
 
Central is hitting .291 as a unit with an on-base percentage of .363. The 'Cats have scored 135 runs, tallied 53 extra base hits, and stolen 26 bases.