ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University softball team prepares to open their 2024 season traveling down to the Lone Star State to participate in the DII First Pitch Invitational this weekend. Following their participation in the DII First Pitch Invitational the Wildcats will head over to San Antonio for a three-game series at the 7^th-ranked NAIA program Our Lady of the Lake.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Friday, February 2
8:00 a.m.
Central Washington vs. Texas A&M International
Scrap Yard Sports (Stadium)
Conroe, Texas
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
 
2:45 p.m.
Central Washington vs. Angelo State
Scrap Yard Sports (Field 3)
Conroe, Texas
LIVE STATS TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
 
Saturday, February 3
9:30 a.m. (pushed back an hour and a half due to rain)
Central Washington vs. Midwestern State
Scrap Yard Sports (Stadium)
Conroe, Texas
LIVE STATS TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
 
11:45 a.m. (pushed back an hour and a half due to rain)
Central Washington vs. Saint Mary's (Texas)
Scrap Yard Sports (Field 4)
Conroe, Texas
LIVE STATS  TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
 
Sunday, February 4
8:00 a.m.
Central Washington vs. Washburn
Scrap Yard Sports (Field 1)
Conroe, Texas
LIVE STATS TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
 
Tuesday, February 6
10:00 a.m. & 12:00 p.m.
Central Washington at #7 NAIA Our Lady of the Lake
OLLU Softball Field
San Antonio, Texas
WATCH GAME 1 LIVE STATS GAME 2 LIVE STATS
 
Wednesday, February 7
8:30 a.m.
Central Washington at #7 NAIA Our Lady of the Lake
OLLU Softball Field
San Antonio, Texas
WATCH LIVE STATS
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH JOE DIPIETRO
 
"We're excited to start our season in Texas this weekend. We'll have an opportunity to play teams we haven't seen before and play the first weekend at an all-turf complex, which should help if we get some rain. The team has worked very hard to correct some of our shortcomings from last spring and we feel we're ready. Making this an extended trip allows us to play one of the top teams in the NAIA on Tuesday and Wednesday. Hopefully, we'll avoid major injuries and have a season to remember."
 
THE WILDCATS
 
The Wildcats will be looking towards the experience of a veteran team that features 11 seniors to improve upon the 21-27 record and a 9-15 GNAC record that landed the team in sixth place in the GNAC last season.
 
The Wildcats saw Myiah Seaton, Allie Thiessen, Janelle Gary, Harlee Carpenter, and Isabel Womack all graduate from a season ago. Womack will return to the team to take over duties as the new Graduate Assistant Coach.  
 
Highlighting the returners for CWU is two-time unanimous First Team All-GNAC catcher Alyssa Benthagen who finished the season batting a .351 batting average while nabbing 46 hits, seven homeruns, and 36 RBI while drawing 31 walks. Also, back to boost the bats for CWU is the trio of outfielders Karsyn Decker, Jillian Hampson, and Kate Hopkins who posted the next three best batting averages of the returning starters. Brooke Jordan, Makenna King, and Laney Kaysner will all be back for the infield this season with Kaysner looking to build upon her team-best 12 stolen bases from a season ago.
 
The Wildcats will welcome back their two lowest ERA pitchers from a season ago in Ashlee Laver (2.62 ERA) and Payton Kessler (3.82 ERA). Laver finished last season with the fifth-lowest ERA in the entire GNAC and posted four shutouts. Kessler was the sole pitcher from last season to finish with a winning record at 7-4 while only allowing 19 walks in 62.1 innings pitched.
 
DiPietro kept busy in the offseason adding six true freshmen to the roster and two sophomore transfer pitchers who will all be vying for playing time.
 
SCOUTING DII FIRST PITCH INVITATIONAL OPPONENTS
 
TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL
 
The Dustdevils were picked to finish 12^th in the Lone Star Conference after finishing 19-34 overall and 15-27 in LSC play a season ago. Highlighting the returnees for International is outfielder Kristy Alanis who earned the LSC Gold Glove Award as well as Third Team All-LSC. Alanis finished last season with a .310 batting average while making 35 hits and eight RBI while drawing 29 walks. Erika Cortez will be back to lead the pitchers once again after leading the team with a 2.97 ERA, five shutouts, and 110 strikeouts in 108.1 innings pitched.
 
ANGELO STATE
 
The Rambelles were picked to finish 7^th in the Lone Star Conference after finishing 29-25 overall and 21-21 in LSC play a season ago. ASU lost their Second Team All-American and New Balance/NFCA Golden Shoe Award winner as well as their two other top batters from a season ago, opening the door for junior outfielder Ashton McMillan to guide the Rambelles. McMillan finished last season with a .315 batting average, 41 hits, four home runs, and 17 RBI while drawing seven walks. Leading ASU in the circle will be junior Cheyenne Floyd who finished with a 2.43 ERA last season and pitched one shutout, four saves, and 114 strikeouts in 117.3 innings pitched.  
 
MIDWESTERN STATE
 
The Mustangs will look to prove the LSC Preseason Poll wrong after landing in 13^th. MSU finished last season with a 12-39 record including a 11-31 LSC record. Myranda Jimenez a transfer from NAIA Bethany College earned All-KCAC Honorable Mention last year after hitting a .313 batting average with 10 doubles, three triples, and three home runs while driving in 18 runs will be looking to lead the 'Stang hitting this season. Addison Lindemann comes to MSU after a stellar prep career that saw her earn the Red River Diamond Dozen MVP after guiding her team to the State Tournament. She also was a two-time Conference Pitcher of the Year and three-time All-State honoree. She notched a 1.19 ERA allowing only 23 runs in 112 innings pitched.
 
SAINT MARY'S
 
The Rattlers were picked eighth in the LSC Preseason Poll after making the NCAA Division II South Central Regional and earning a 32-27 record while going 21-21 in LSC play. Lauren Gonzales will be back to lead the Rattler bats after earning First Team All-LSC and a Gold Glove Award. Gonzales hit .355 last season including 54 hits, one home run, and 10 RBI while drawing 14 walks. Madeline Bloom will headline the pitching staff for SMU after throwing a 2.24 ERA, four shutouts and 43 strikeouts in 121.2 innings pitched last season.
 
WASHBURN
 
The Ichabods were picked to finish fourth in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association preseason poll. WU finished last season with a 37-16 record while going 15-11 in MIAA play. Headlining the hitting game for Washburn will be Marrit Mead who was a Second Team All-MIAA selection and MIAA Gold Glove selection a season ago after hitting a .385 batting average with 67 hits, 14 doubles, one triple, three home runs, and 30 RBI while drawing 19 walks and going a perfect 27 for 27 on stolen bases. Two-time Second Team All-Region and First Team All-MIAA honoree Jaycee Ginter will headline the Ichabod pitching after throwing for a 1.72 ERA and three solo shutouts a season ago. Ginter finished the season with 243 strikeouts in 208 innings pitched.
 
SCOUTING THE SAINTS
 
OLLU is coming off a 51-8 season while going 28-0 in Red River Athletic Conference play and earning a 35-game win streak in the process. The Saints went 4-1 in the San Antonio bracket of the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament with their sole loss coming in a 1-0 score against Hope International but getting revenge with back-to-back 2-0 victories over Hope International to advance to the NAIA World Series. The visit to the NAIA World Series was short as the Saints dropped their two games first a 6-3 setback against Marian (Ind.) before falling 6-5 to Midland (Neb.) in the elimination game.  
 
The Saints will start off their season in Alexandria, La. in a tournament where they'll see 8^th-ranked Central Methodist, Missouri Baptist, Central Baptist, and Central Christian before heading back to the Alamo City for the three-game series against CWU.
 
Eight seniors will be on the Saints roster this season, headlined by Cassandra Valdez who is the first softball player in OLLU history to earn NAIA First Team All-American honors. She also earned NFCA All-Southwest Region First Team, First Team All-RRAC, and RRAC Tournament MVP as well as earning her second-straight RRAC Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year.
 
Valdez hit a .372 batting average with 58 hits, 12 doubles, five triples, 14 home runs, and 47 runs batted in in 156 at-bats. She struck out 12 times and was walked 24 times while having 17 stolen bases. As a pitcher, Valdez threw 211.2 innings finishing with a 1.72 ERA and a 28-5 record while recording three saves. Valdez allowed 130 hits, 64 runs, 13 home runs 52 earned runs, and 54 walks but flamed 274 strikeouts.
Madison Garza is another player highlighting the returners for OLLU after earning First Team All-RRAC and NFCA All-Southwest Region Second Team. Garza hit for a .352 batting average nabbing 51 hits, 14 doubles, two triples, seven home runs, and 41 RBI in 145 at-bats. She drew 18 walks while only striking out seven times and also snagging 10 stolen bases.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Wildcats will have over a week off as they prepare for their home opening series, welcoming in the 24^th-ranked NAIA program the Eastern Oregon Mountaineers for a pair of double-headers. The Wildcats and Mountaineers are set for a noon first pitch on Saturday, February 17 and an 11:00 a.m. first pitch on Sunday, February 18 with game two starting approximately 30 minutes after game one ends each day.