LACEY, Wash. – A pair of late rallies from Saint Martin's University doomed Central Washington University softball by scores of 7-2 and 7-5.
 
QUOTABLE
"Not a good day for us," CWU Head Coach Joe DiPietro said. "One inning in the first game was the difference but we also didn't hit. In game two, we took a lead but walks and errors were the difference. We have to make routine plays and throw strikes to win."
 
GAME ONE | CWU 2, SMU 7
The Wildcats' (16-20, 7-9 GNAC) were held hitless through the first five innings before Harlee Carpenter knocked a single into right field in the sixth after a 45-minute rain delay.
 
Carpenter's single gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead after Jillian Hampson opened the inning by reaching on a hit by pitch. A sacrifice bunt from Keegan Wise moved Hampson into scoring position. Two batters later, she slid in safely at the plate on Carpenter's hit. 
 
The Saints (21-14, 8-3) responded in the very next frame. Back-to-back doubles opened the bottom of the sixth, scoring pinch runner Janell Williams.
 
 Rhaney Harris (9-9) had allowed just three hits prior to the sixth. Britney Patrick then laced a single down the right field line to drive in the go-ahead run. Another single put two runners aboard, before Harris produced a looking strikeout. Destiny Conerly drew a six-pitch walk to load the bases. A fielding error and sacrifice fly on consecutive hitters brought in two, before another single plated one. The ball was misplayed in left, allowing a second run to score on the single for a 6-1 lead. Malia Pinder singled up the middle, driving in the seventh run of the inning. 
 
Only three of the Saints' seven runs were earned. Makayla Miller stopped the bleeding, getting the first batter she saw to fly out and end the Saints' offensive.
 
Tia Ridings (7-6) earned the win. She went six innings and allowed just two runs on three hits.
 
GAME TWO | CWU 5, SMU 7
Another late rally from the Saints sank the 'Cats in game two. They scored one in the fourth, four in the fifth, and two in the sixth.
 
Central opened the scoring with a crooked number in the third. Wise reached on a one-out walk, and advanced on a single from Carpenter. Allie Thiessen loaded the bases with a single, before Jordan drove in two with a double. After a popup and a walk, which loaded the bases again, a single from Makenna King drove in a pair for a 4-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, the Saints got a run back. A bases loaded walk scored SMU's first run of the game.
 
Back-to-back walks opened the bottom of the fifth inning. After a throwing error, the Saints had the bases loaded and nobody out. After the Wildcats cut down a runner at the plate on a fielder's choice, a wild pitch scored the first run of the inning. Another walk re-loaded the bases. Pinder then singled up the middle, scoring two. A lineout, and possible double play, could have ended the inning, but a throwing error allowed the fourth run to score and give SMU a 5-4 lead.
 
The Wildcats tied the game in the sixth on a fielder's choice from Wise, which scored Hampson.
 
Saint Martin's opened the sixth inning by drawing a lead-off, four-pitch walk. A sacrifice bunt should have been the inning's first out, but a throwing error allowed both the hitter to reach and advance the runner to third. A sacrifice fly and a single plated the final two runs of the game for a 7-5 lead.
 
Isabel Womack (6-6) was charged with the loss. She went five innings and allowed six runs, two earned, on three hits and 10 walks. Chloe Leverington (6-2) earned the victory in relief. She went 4.1 innings and allowed one run on two hits.
 
UP NEXT
Central Washington heads to Western Washington for a four-game series on Friday (April 15) and Saturday (April 16). First pitch is scheduled for noon both days.