CONROE, Texas – The Central Washington University softball team suffered a pair of season-opening setbacks with both coming in the eighth inning on day one of the DII First Pitch Invitational.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUPS:
 
Game 1

• Final: Central Washington (1), Texas A&M International (2) 8 innings
• Records: CWU (0-1), TAMIU (1-0)
• Scrap Yard Sports (Stadium)

Game 2

• Final: Central Washington (4), Angelo State (7) 8 innings
• Records: CWU (0-2), ASU (2-0)
• Scrap Yard Sports (Field 3)

 
VS. TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL
 
SCORING:
 

• Both teams went scoreless through regulation until in the top of the eighth when Kate Hopkins drilled a double to left center field allowing Sasha Mitchell time to get home to give the 'Cats the 1-0 lead.
• TAMIU would respond in the bottom of the eighth as Katelyn Luera singled into right field bringing Ebony Garza home to tie the game.
• With two outs in the eighth, a costly error by the Wildcats allowed Kristy Alanis to reach first and bring Luera home to secure the victory for the Dustdevils.

 
PITCHING:
 

• Ashlee Laver pitched all 7.2 innings for the Wildcats allowing five hits, two runs, and two walks while striking out five of the 28 batters faced.
• Erika Cortez pitched the full eight innings for the Dustdevils allowing four hits, one run, and one walk while striking out four of the 29 batters faced.

 
HITTING:
 

• Laney Kaysner, Karsyn Decker, Jillian Hampson, and Hopkins all recorded a hit.
• Hopkins earned the Wildcats first run batted in of the season.
• Alyssa Benthagen drew the sole walk for CWU.
• The Dustdevils finished with five hits led by Luera with three.

 
VS. ANGELO STATE
 
SCORING:
 

• The Rambelles struck early as Keilei Garcia singled up the middle bringing home Layni Tanner in the first inning.
• ASU added two more when Zoey De Baca singled up the middle bringing home Erin Plunkett and Tatiana Trotter in the process for the 3-0 lead in the fourth inning.
• In the fifth, the Rambelles added one more when Averie Gunther tripled to left center bringing home Ashton Dirner for the 4-0 lead.
• The Wildcats responded in the bottom of the seventh when Brooke Blocker nailed her first collegiate hit, a double down the right field line which allowed pinch runner Serena Perez to score.
• Reese Schimmel sacrificed herself to allow Makenna King to come home dicing the Rambelle lead to 4-2.
• Kaysner tied things up with a single through the left side which gave enough time for Hopkins and Blocker to make it home and to tie things up at four apiece.
• The Rambelles opened up extra innings with a bang as Garcia hit a homerun down the left field line brining Gunther home in the process making it 6-4 ASU.
• Trotter would add one more as she would steal home making it 7-4 Angelo State.

 
PITCHING:
 

• Payton Kessler pitched six innings allowing nine hits and four earned runs while striking out four of 26 batters faced.
• Zoey Theophilus made her collegiate debut pitching two innings allowing four hits, three runs, two earned runs, and one walk while striking out one of 10 batters faced.
• Gunther pitched six innings for Angelo State allowing two hits, three earned runs, and three walks while striking out six of 24 batters faced.
• For the Rambelles Cheyenne Floyd allowed one hit, one run, and two walks in one inning pitched while getting two strikeouts against six batters.
• Angelo State pitcher Torrey Hogan allowed one walk while getting two strikeouts against four batters in one inning pitched.

 
HITTING:
 

• The Wildcats finished with three hits with Kaysner, King, and Blocker all recording one apiece.
• Kaysner recorded two RBI while Blocker and Schimmel each notched one RBI apiece, Blockers first collegiate RBI.
• Benthagen led the Wildcats in walks with two while Brooke Jordan, King, Hampson, and Hopkins all drew one apiece.
• The Rambelles finished with 13 hits, led by Plunkett with three.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• This was the first meeting between the Wildcats and both teams played today.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will be back in action for day two of the DII First Pitch Invitational tomorrow.
• Game one is now scheduled at 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time (pushed back an hour and a half due to rain) against Midwestern State in the stadium.
• Game two is now set for first pitch at 11:45 a.m. Pacific Time against Saint Mary's (Texas) on field four with both games at Scrap Yard Sports.