ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University softball team will head to sunny California to participate in the annual Tournament of Champions, hosted by Stanislaus State in Turlock this weekend with a five-game slate.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Friday, March 22
11:30 a.m.
Central Washington vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills
Pedretti Sports Complex (Field 1)
Turlock, Calif.
LIVE STATS 
 
4:30 p.m.
Central Washington at Stanislaus State
Warrior Field
Turlock, Calif.
LIVE STATS
 
Saturday, March 23
11:30 a.m.
Central Washington vs. Cal State East Bay
Warrior Field
Turlock, Calif.
LIVE STATS 

3:00 p.m.
Central Washington vs. Sonoma State
Pedretti Sports Complex (Field 5)
Turlock, Calif.
LIVE STATS
 
Sunday, March 24
12:00 p.m.
Central Washington vs. Chico State
Pedretti Sports Complex (Field 1)
Turlock, Calif.
LIVE STATS

You can reach Tournament Central HERE
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH JOE DIPIETRO
 
"We're looking forward to our trip down to the Tournament of Champions this weekend. We are facing high-caliber teams, and that's exactly what we need right now. We've been playing solid softball and facing very good competition will only help us as we continue GNAC play when we get back."
 
LAST WEEK
 
The Wildcats had quite the week last week finishing a perfect 6-0. They first took down the Whitworth Pirates in a doubleheader winning game one 7-3 before Zoey Theophilus threw a one-hit shutout in game two helping CWU to the 8-0 victory in six innings.
 
The Wildcats then turned their attention to Montana State Billings as they swept the Yellowjackets, first 9-3 and 6-5 on day one, highlighted by Serena Perez drilling the 'Cats first home run of the season. They turned around and swept day two by scores of 6-0 and 11-8 with Ashlee Laver tossing the shutout for the crimson and black and GNAC Player of the Week Alyssa Benthagen drilling her first home run of the season.
 
SCOUTING THE TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS OPPONENTS
 
CAL STATE DOMINGUEZ HILLS
 
The Toros are 14-10 on the season and 11-7 in California Collegiate Athletic Association play. CSUDH opened their season with a pair of setbacks to Dominican (Calif.) and Northwest Nazarene before the weather canceled the next five games. The Toros then took a split against Azusa Pacific starting a 13-game win streak including four-game sweeps over Chico State and Stanislaus State. CSUDH came crashing back down to earth the past two weekends getting swept against Cal State San Bernardino and only taking one of four at Cal State East Bay.
 
Dominguez Hills is led in batting by Jay Ross with a .411 batting average and 30 hits on the season. Kaylee Hull has the most doubles with eight while Mariah Ramirez leads the Toros with nine home runs and 20 RBI. Alexis Aguado has drawn the most walks with eight. Ramirez also leads the Toros pitching squad with a 2.63 ERA and an 8-6 record. Ramirez has one shutout to her name this season and has allowed 89 hits, 41 runs 30 of which are earned, 22 walks, and has struck out 66 against 327 batters.
 
STANISLAUS STATE
 
The Warriors are off to a 7-15 start with a 6-9 record in CCAA play. Stan State opened their season going 0-5 with losses to Northwest Nazarene, Concordia Irvine, and Western Washington in the CUI Kickoff Classic before falling to St. Martin's and Dominican (Calif.) in the North Bay Challenge. They opened up CCAA play going 1-3 in a home series against fifth-ranked Cal State San Marcos before dipping out of conference play to split with Simon Fraser. The Warriors then were swept at Dominguez Hills before turning around to sweep Chico State and then go 1-2 at San Bernardino.
 
Stan State is led by Mikaela Ferreira who owns a .375 batting average, 24 hits, four doubles, two home runs, 15 RBI, and has drawn 12 walks. Lauryn Serda and Payton Applequist each have two home runs with Serda also owning four doubles and one triple. Sasha Martello owns a 3.99 ERA, a 6-4 record and has three complete games in 56.1 innings pitched. Martello has allowed 69 hits, 32 runs 25 of which are earned, no walks, and has struck out 11 against 236 batters.
 
CAL STATE EAST BAY
 
The Pioneers are off to a 13-7 start to their season with a 9-5 record in CCAA Play. CSUEB opened their season with back-to-back victories over Montana State Billings and Azusa Pacific before falling to 21st-ranked Colorado Christian in eight innings at the CUI Kickoff Classic. East Bay then took a 9-2 decision over Academy of Art at home before splitting against 23rd-ranked Concordia Irvine. The Pioneers dove into conference play going 1-3 against Cal Poly Humboldt but bouncing back with a sweep over San Bernardino. East Bay has gone 3-1 the past two weekends at Monterey Bay and at home against Dominguez Hills.
 
Annelise Garcia has led East Bay with a .438 batting average and 28 hits, five doubles, two triples, seven home runs, and 17 RBI. Adriana Martinez is tied with Garcia with five doubles while Cynthia Carillo and Kyana Elder each have seven walks. Marissa Quintero and Ashlee Toy have had great starts to their season with Quintero leading with a 2.05 ERA compared to Toy's 2.17 ERA. Quintero has a 7-4 record, five complete games, and one shutout in 61.1 innings pitched. Quintero has allowed 43 hits, 19 runs 18 of which are earned, and 28 walks while striking out 47 against 226 batters. Toy has a 6-3 record with five complete games pitched, two shutouts, and one save in 61.1 innings pitched. Toy has allowed 63 hits, 21 runs 19 of which are earned, four walks, and 21 strikeouts against 238 batters.
 
SONOMA STATE
 
Sonoma State is 12-9 on the season and 9-5 in CCAA play. The Seawolves opened their season at the CUI Kickoff Classic where they fell to Colorado Christian before bouncing back for victories over Chaminade and Western Oregon. SSU then hosted the North Bay Challenge where they went 1-3. The Seawolves then went 3-1 over fourth-ranked Cal State San Marcos to open CCAA play before getting swept by Dominguez Hills. Sonoma State then went 2-2 at Chico State before sweeping Monterey Bay at home.
 
The Seawolves are led by Anna Zoia-Buescher who owns a .400 batting average, 26 hits, and has drawn 13 walks. Lauren Mirtoni has the most doubles with seven and triples with three for SSU while Giana Hays leads the Seawolves with four home runs and is tied with Taylor Rapp with 14 RBI each. Zoia-Buescher is also 20 for 20 on stolen bases. Bailee Reed is leading the pitching corps for SSU with a 2.32 ERA, a 5-4 record, six complete games, two shutouts, and one save. Reed has allowed 64 hits, 28 runs 21 of which are earned, and 22 walks while striking out 34 against 241 batters.
 
CHICO STATE


The Wildcats are 5-14 on the season and 5-11 in CCAA play. They opened their season falling to St. Martin's, Western Washington, and Academy of Art. Chico State opened CCAA play by getting swept by Dominguez Hills. The Wildcats earned their first win when they went 3-1 against San Bernardino at home but then got swept by Stanislaus State on the road. Last weekend the Wildcats split with Sonoma State.
 
Chico State is led by Tayler Berens with a .365 batting average, 23 hits, three doubles, and seven RBI. Ali Lewis leads the Wildcats with two home runs and eight walks drawn while Elisa Haas has the sole Wildcat triple. Katelyn Oldwin has been stellar in the circle for Chico State owning a 1.94 ERA, a 2-4 record, three complete games pitched, and one save in 61.1 innings pitched. Oldwin has allowed 55 hits, 19 runs 17 of which earned, 31 walks and 51 strikeouts against 223 batters.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Wildcats will dive back into GNAC play with a big series as they head to 16th-ranked Northwest Nazarene for a four-game series. CWU and NNU will square off on Friday, March 29 with first pitch times at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. They'll continue the action into Saturday, March 30 at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. with all times in Pacific Standard Time.