TURLOCK, Calif. – On day one of the Tournament of Champions, Central Washington University softball split a pair of games with San Francisco State, 2-1, and Biola University, 1-0.
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"Rhaney was really good in game one," CWU Head Coach
Joe DiPietro said. "We played well overall. Alyssa came up big in the seventh. In game two, Izzy pitched a really good game against a talented team. Our inability to execute was the difference."
GAME ONE | SFSU 1, CWU 2
Alyssa Benthagen walked the Wildcats (13-16) off with a two-run single in the seventh.
Rhaney Harris (7-7) went the distance for the Crimson and Black. She allowed just one run on five hits. She struck-out three and did not allow a free pass. Kaitlyn Maddux (6-12) was charged with the loss. She went 6.2 innings, allowing 10 hits, two unearned runs, and had two strikeouts.
Harlee Carpenter,
Brooke Jordan, and
Jillian Hampson recorded two hits each.
The Gators' offense pushed a run across in the second inning, the only run production they saw in the contest. A one-out single gave SFSU their first runner of the inning. The single was followed by a throwing error, putting runners on second and third. Lexi Holihan laid down a sacrifice but to score the runner from third for a 1-0 lead.
Harris set the Gators down in three for the next three innings before they managed to extend the sixth. They managed to move runners to second and third but Harris forced a fly out to right to end the frame.
After Harris got the Gators in order in the top of the seventh, Central's bats went to work. Maddux retired the first two hitters of the inning before
Allie Thiessen reached on an error. She was lifted for
Riana Abeshima. A double from Jordan put runners on second and third for Benthagen. Benthagen pulled a 1-1 offering into left, scoring both Abeshima and
Keegan Wise – who ran for Jordan.
GAME TWO | CCWU 0, BU 1
Isabel Womack (5-5) went the distance in game two. She allowed just one run, unearned, on three hits. Womack struck out four hitters and did not issue a walk.
Makenna King and
Karsyn Decker each recorded a pair of hits. Benthagen finished 1-for-3.
Both offenses were held quiet through the first four innings. A two-out double from King in the second gave the Wildcats their first runner in scoring position. A looking strikeout ending the inning unceremoniously, however.
It wasn't until the top of the fifth before the Wildcats moved another runner into scoring position. Decker stole second after singling with two outs, but was stranded two batters later.
The Eagles scored the game's only run in the bottom of the fifth. After a flyout, Hailey Paull singled down the line in left and an error allowed her to advance to second. She advanced to third on a single, before scoring reaching on a fielder's choice as the Wildcats attempted a 6-4-3 double play. Jennifer Morinishi beat the throw to first, however, allowing the run to score.
Central went down in order in the sixth inning. King singled to lead-off the seventh but back-to-back strikeouts and a line out sealed the victory for Biola.
Raylene Roybal (7-7) picked up the win. She tossed a complete game, allowing just five hits and one walk. She recorded eight strikeouts.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats face Azusa Pacific at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow (April 2), before taking on Dominican (CA) at 4:30 p.m. on day two of the Tournament of Champions.
