ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University softball team earned a huge weekend sweep over the visiting Montana State Billings Yellowjackets Saturday afternoon.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 
GAME 1:
 

• Final: Central Washington (6), Montana State Billings (0)
• Records: CWU (8-16, 4-3 GNAC), MSUB (7-19-1, 1-6 GNAC)

 
GAME 2:
 

• Final: Central Washington (11), Montana State Billings (8)
• Records: CWU (9-16, 5-3 GNAC), MSUB (7-20-1, 1-7 GNAC)
• Location: Gary & Bobbi Frederick Field, Ellensburg, Wash.

 
GAME 1:
 
SCORING:
 

• Kate Hopkins nabbed the first score of the day after singling to center field to score Alyssa Benthagen to make it 1-0 CWU in the bottom of the second inning.
• Still in the second inning, Karsyn Decker singled to right field to score Laney Kaysner which was followed by Makenna King singling to left field to score both Decker and Hopkins making it 4-0 Wildcats.
• Benthagen tacked on in the bottom of the fifth inning as she drilled the second home run of the season for CWU, as it cleared past the scoreboard in left-center field to make it 5-0 crimson and black.
• Decker added on once more in the bottom of the sixth inning when she reached on a fielding error by the second baseman allowing enough time for Kaysner to score and make it 6-0 Wildcats.

 
PITCHING:
 

• Ashlee Laver pitched the full seven innings allowing six hits while striking out two against 26 batters.
• Caitlyn James pitched the full six innings allowing 10 hits and six runs five of which were earned against 29 batters.

 
HITTING:
 

• The Wildcats were led by Benthagen with three hits while King and Decker each recorded two.
• Brooke Jordan, Jillian Hampson, and Hopkins all recorded one hit apiece.
• King made two RBI while Benthagen, Hopkins, and Decker all had one RBI.
• MSUB was led by Alexis Tovar and Lauren Blaschak each with two hits, accumulating six as a team.

 
GAME 2:
 
SCORING:
 

• Kilee Imada was walked in the first inning with the bases loaded to score Teagan Seeton and make it 1-0 MSUB.
• Blaschak singled to the pitcher to score Tovar followed by Ashley Akers drawing a bases loaded walk to score Marin Penney and make it 3-0 MSUB.
• Still in the first inning, Riley Warden reached on a fielder's choice to score Imada and make it a 4-0 Yellowjacket lead to end the first inning.
• The Wildcats would earn one run back in the bottom of the first when TK Kai singled to left field to score Serena Perez and make it 4-1 MSUB.
• MSUB added on in the top of the second inning after Blaschak reached on a fielder's choice and Seeton scored on a throwing error by the shortstop, followed by Akers drawing another bases loaded walk to score Tovar and Warden sacrificing herself to the center fielder to score Imada and make it 7-1 Yellowjackets.
• King started the rally for the Wildcats in the bottom of the second when she doubled to left center to score Decker which was followed by Perez singling to right center field to score King and cut it to a 7-3 MSUB lead.
•  In the bottom of the third inning, Hopkins doubled to left center to score Hampson and make it 7-4 MSUB.
• Later in the third inning, Perez sacrificed herself to the left fielder to score Hopkins which was followed by Benthagen singling to center field to score Decker, King, and Sasha Mitchell and give the 'Cats the 8-7 lead.
• Decker added on an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth inning when she reached on a fielder's choice to score Hampson and make it 9-7 CWU.
• Still in the fourth inning, King singled to left field to score Decker and put the crimson and black in double-digits, 10-7.
• In the bottom of the fifth, Hampson would reach on a fielder's choice to score Mitchell and increase the lead to 11-7.
• In the top of the sixth the Yellowjackets saw Blaschak single up the middle to score Penney and cut it to an 11-8 lead for CWU.

 
PITCHING:
 

• Payton Kessler started the game for CWU lasting one inning allowing five hits, six runs five of which were earned, and three walks against 12 batters.
• Zoey Theophilus came in for the next five innings allowing four hits, two runs one earned, and three walks while striking out one against 24 batters.
• Laver earned the save pitching the final inning and facing three batters.
• Shelby Wasilewski pitched the first three innings for MSUB allowing eight hits, eight runs seven of which were earned, and six walks while striking out two against 23 batters.
• James relieved Wasilewski pitching the final three innings and allowing six hits and three runs two of which were earned and struck out one against 15 batters.

 
HITTING:
 

• The Wildcats finished with 14 hits, led by King who went a perfect five for five.
• Hopkins recorded three hits while Benthagen tacked on two.
• Perez, Mitchell, Kai, and Hampson all recorded one hit apiece.
• King, Perez, and Benthagen all finished with two RBI.
• Kai, Hampson, Hopkins, and Decker all had one RBI.
• Mitchell drew three walks while Benthagen, Hampson, and Decker all drew one.
• The Yellowjackets finished with nine hits led by Seeton, Tovar, and Blaschak each with two.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• The Wildcats now own the 58-32 series lead all-time.
• CWU is 27-11 over MSUB in Ellensburg.
• The Wildcats are now 48-28 in conference games against MSUB.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will head down to Turlock, California to try and ride this momentum wave into the Tournament of Champions.
• CWU will take on Cal State Dominguez Hills and Stanislaus State on Friday, March 22 at 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
• The Wildcats will then prepare for showdowns against Cal State East Bay and Sonoma State on Saturday, March 23 at 11:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
• The Crimson and Black will prepare for the Battle of the Wildcats on Sunday, March 24 as they face Chico State at noon.