ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington University softball picked up a pair of come from behind wins over Northwest Nazarene University with scores of 7-6 and 9-8.
 
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"We got down in the first game and it was great to see us come back and show a little character," CWU Head Coach Joe DiPietro said. "We carried the momentum into the second game by jumping ahead. Then we gave up a couple home runs and, I told Alee Cruz, we had them right where we want them. Very proud of them today for their efforts and the way they came out today. Hopefully it proves to them how could they can be if they believe in themselves a bit more."
 
GAME ONE | CWU 7, NNU 6
Ashlee Laver (1-2) nabbed her first win of the season after throwing 4.2 innings of shutout relief in the opener. She allowed just three hits and struck out three. The Wildcats (5-7) utilized a six-run fifth inning to overtake the Nighthawks (10-8).
 
Northwest Nazarene plated five runs in the opening frame, a grand slam from Maia McNicoll brought around four. Later in the inning, a fielding error allowed the fifth run to cross the plate. In the second inning, an RBI single from Sidney Booth gave the Nighthawks a 6-0 lead.
 
Booth (6-3) was tagged with the loss. She tossed all six innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits. She struck out six and only one of the runs allowed was earned.
 
Central drove in its first run in the bottom of the third. A triple down the right field line from Harlee Carpenter scored Ashtyn Falor.
 
In the fifth inning, Myiah Seaton drove in a pair with a two-out single to center to cut NNU's lead to 6-3.
 
Alyssa Benthagen stepped to the plate with Seaton and Carpenter aboard and drove a pitch over the fence in right center for her second home run of the season. The three-run shot levelled the game at 6-6.
 
Following Benthagen's blast, Brooke Jordan roped a double to keep the offense going. Makenna King dropped an infield single just behind the circle, advancing pinch runner Cady Wilton to third. Falor followed King with a single up the middle, driving in Wilton, and giving the 'Cats a 7-6 lead.
 
Laver allowed just one hit over the next two innings, securing the victory for Central Washington.
 
GAME TWO | CWU 9, NNU 8
Rhaney Harris (2-5) went the distance in the backend of the twin bill and recorded her second win of the year. The senior allowed eight runs, six earned, nine hits, two walks, and struck out five over seven innings of work.
 
Tori Hensley got the nod for NNU; she was relieved after 3.2 innings of work, allowing six runs on seven hits. She walked a pair and struck out six. Gina Skinner (1-2) was charged with the loss. She threw 2.1 innings of relief and allowed three unearned runs.
 
It was the Crimson and Black who opened the scoring in game two. An RBI double from Seaton in the bottom of the drove in Thiessen and gave CWU a 1-0 lead. Jordan drove around Seaton with a single, doubling Central's advantage.
 
Harris held the Nighthawks scoreless in the opening two innings, before Booth notched an RBI double in the top of the third. Hensley then took her counterpart deep, giving NNU a 3-2 edge.
 
A bases loaded single in the fourth extended the lead to 4-2, before a pair of runs crossed on an RBI single from McNicoll. Hensley nabbed another RBI with a groundout for a 7-2 lead before the 'Cats were able to halt the inning.
 
Central responded immediately, however, with a four-run fourth. Karysn Decker laced a triple down the left field line, scoring King. Thiessen followed by singling home Decker. A fielding error later in the inning allowed two to cross the plate, cutting the Nighthawks' lead to 7-6.
 
The pitchers held the offenses quiet in the fifth and sixth, before the bats became noisy again in the final inning.
 
A solo home run from McNicoll gave NNU an 8-6 lead, but it was the only insurance Northwest Nazarene mustered.
 
After King reached on a throwing error, Jillian Hampson notched a pinch-hit single to put runners on the corners. Decker dropped down a bunt single, loading the bases. Carpenter then singled and cut the deficit to one, driving in King.
 
Charlotte Forness relieved Skinner with the bases loaded and nobody out. She got the first hitter she faced to lineout. She then rolled a groundball to third; the throw to the plate, intending to cut down the tying run, was dropped as the Wildcats tied the game at 8-8.
 
Benthagen walked the Wildcats off, lacing a pitch into right center for a single and the game-winning RBI.
 
UP NEXT
The Wildcats and Nighthawks have another doubleheader scheduled for noon on Saturday (March 5).