ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington University softball dropped both ends of their doubleheader against Western Oregon University, 5-4 and 10-2.
 
QUOTABLE
"It was a rough day for us," CWU Head Coach Joe DiPietro said. "Western came out ready and we didn't respond. Tomorrow will be a big day with our Gold Star game and needing one win to secure the final spot in the GNAC Championships."
 
GAME ONE | WOU 5, CWU 4
The Wolves (23-25, 8-14 GNAC) scored in three consecutive innings to slip past the Wildcats (18-24, 9-13 GNAC) in the series opener.
 
A single, sacrifice bunt, and double opened Central's offense in the bottom of the first. Harlee Carpenter scored on Brooke Jordan's double, after a sacrifice bunt from Allie Thiessen. The next batter, Alyssa Benthagen, took the very next pitch over the scoreboard in left field for a 3-0 lead.
 
Rhaney Harris (10-11) held the Wolves scoreless through the first two innings. Sophie Franklin led off the third with a single and then stole second. After a sacrifice bunt, Franklin scored on a ground out. Harris recorded a swinging strikeout to end the inning with a 3-1 lead.
 
The first two Wolves reached in the fourth on a walk and a double, putting runners on second and third. After a ground out, consecutive singles brought in both runners. A fielding error allowed the go-ahead run to score for Western Oregon, 4-3. The Wolves added another run in the fifth. A two-out single extended WOU's lead to 5-3.
 
Central's bats went quiet after the first with a smattering of Wildcats reaching. Maddie Mayer (9-9) managed her way through the game and escaped a jam in the seventh.
 
Ashlee Laver led off the final frame with a walk. She was lifted for pinch runner Keegan Wise. Karsyn Decker singled, putting the tying run on first. Wise and Decker advanced on a ground out. Mayer rolled another ground ball, forcing the Wildcats' runners to retreat. With two outs, Jordan worked a seven-pitch walk to load the bases. Benthagen then drew a four-pitch free pass, bringing Wise in from third and making the game 5-4. Myiah Seaton worked a 15-pitch appearance, fouling off 10 pitches – seven consecutively. Mayer rolled another ground ball, however, securing the 5-4 victory.
 
Benthagen finished three RBIs. She has a team-leading 11 home runs. Jordan and Decker both finished with two hits.
 
GAME TWO | WOU 10, CWU 2 (6 INNINGS)
A pair of crooked innings sank the Wildcats in game two. A three-run second and six-run fourth propelled the Wolves over the Wildcats.
 
Isabel Womack (7-8) was charged with the loss. She threw 3.1 innings and allowed just three earned runs. Reilly Tidwell (4-6) recorded a complete game victory, allowing two earned runs, six hits, and two walks.
 
A throwing error in the top of the second allowed the Wolves' first run to score. Another scored on a fielder's choice, before a single brought around the second's third run. In the fourth, a wild pitch and three RBI singles brought in six for a 9-0 lead.
 
Both runs for the Wildcats came in the bottom of the fourth. Laver drove in Seaton with a ground ball, before Carpenter drove in Makenna King on a sacrifice fly.
 
An RBI double gave the Wolves an eight-run lead in the top of the sixth. Grace Godfrey reached on a hit by pitch in the Wildcats' half of the inning. Two batters later, Wise singled off the pitcher. Tidwell regrouped and forced a pop up to end the game.
 
UP NEXT
Central Washington and Western Oregon square-off tomorrow (May 1) in the regular season finale doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm. Prior to the game, the Wildcats will recognize Gold Star Families and wear an alternate jersey bearing names of service members.