SAN ANTONIO – The Central Washington University softball team used a six-run sixth inning to secure the first win of the season in the concluding game of their season-opening trip to Texas.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
- Final: Central Washington (6), Our Lady of the lake (4)
- Records: CWU (1-7), OLLU (4-1)
- Location: OLLU Softball Field, San Antonio, Texas
QUOTING HEAD COACH JOE DIPIETRO:
"We were disappointed in the way we approached our at-bats on the trip. We couldn't get a hit when we needed it. We'll work extensively on situational hitting when we get back. Looking forward to our home-opener in 10 days."
SCORING:
- In the bottom of the second inning Kayla Dreese drew a walk which scored Marissa Bradley for the 1-0 lead for OLLU.
- Later in the second inning Cassandra Valdez drilled a double to left field which was enough to score Celina Wilharm, Madison Garza, and Dreese for the 4-0 lead for the Saints.
- In the top of the sixth inning Alyssa Benthagen put the 'Cats on the board when she hit a single to right field which would score Karsyn Decker, making it 4-1 OLLU.
- TK Kai would cut the Saints lead in half when she singled to center field bringing home Reese Schimmel in the process making it 4-2 OLLU.
- In the next at-bat Jillian Hampson would bring home Ashlee Laver with a single out to left field to make it 4-3 OLLU.
- In her home state Serena Perez would tie it up in the next at-bat hitting a single to left field which would score Makenna King making it four apiece.
- Laney Kaysner would put the 'Cats on top with a single to the pitcher which would score Kai making it 5-4 CWU.
- The Saints pitcher would walk Decker which brought home Hampson to make it 6-4 in favor of the Wildcats.
PITCHING:
- Olivia Ross pitched the full seven innings for the 'Cats allowing eight hits, four runs, and one walk while getting one strikeout against 31 batters.
- Valdez started the game for OLLU lasting three innings allowing one hit and two walks while getting five strikeouts against 11 batters.
- Valeria Vielma came in to relieve Valdez, pitching for two innings allowing three hits while getting one strikeout against eight batters.
- Ava Hernandez pitched the final 0.1 innings allowing six hits, six runs, and two walks while getting one strikeout against 10 batters.
HITTING:
- The Wildcats finished with 10 hits.
- Benthagen, King, and Perez led the way with two hits apiece.
- Kaysner, Schimmel, Kai, and Hampson all recorded one hit apiece.
- Decker drew two walks while Kaysner and Kate Hopkins each drew one walk.
- The Saints finished with eight hits with all eight hits belonging to different players.
UP NEXT:
- The Wildcats will head back to Ellensburg for their home-opening series against the 24th-ranked NAIA program, the Eastern Oregon Mountaineers.
- The Mountaineers come to town for a four-game series Saturday, February 17 and Sunday, February 18.
- First pitch is set for noon on Saturday and 11:00 a.m. on Sunday with game two for each day to start approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one with all four games happening at Gary and Bobbi Frederick Field.