LACEY, Wash. – The Central Washington University softball team took a split on the opening day of GNAC play at Saint Martin's Friday afternoon.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 
GAME 1
 

• Final: Central Washington (2), Saint Martin's (4)
• Records: CWU (2-14, 0-1 GNAC), SMU (10-7, 1-0 GNAC)

 
GAME 2
 

• Final: Central Washington (4), Saint Martin's (3)
• Records: CWU (3-14, 1-1 GNAC), SMU (10-8, 1-1 GNAC)
• Location: Saints Field, Lacey, Wash.

 
GAME 1
 
SCORING:
 

• Heather Ebner put the Saints up in the first inning doubling to right center field to score Britney Patrick and Shelby Lawson for the early Saints 2-0 lead.
• Alyssa Benthagen would get the 'Cats on the board in the top of the third inning when she'd single to center field to score Laney Kaysner to make it 2-1 SMU.
• The Saints would add to their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning when Ebner homered to left field scoring Patrick in the process, making it 4-1 SMU.
• Kate Hopkins sacrificed herself in the top of the sixth to score Cady Wilton to make it 4-2 SMU.

 
PITCHING:
 

• Ashlee Laver pitched the full six innings for CWU allowing seven hits, four runs, and two walks while striking out three against 28 batters.
• Bridget Johnson pitched the first five innings for the Saints allowing five hits, two runs one of which was earned, and two walks while striking out five against 23 batters.
• Chloe Leverington earned the save pitching the final two innings for SMU allowing two hits while striking out two against eight batters.

 
HITTING:
 

• The Wildcats connected on seven hits, led by Benthagen with two.
• Makenna King, Brooke Jordan, Jillian Hampson, Sasha Mitchell, and Kaysner all recorded one hit apiece.
• Benthagen and Hopkins each recorded one RBI.
• Serena Perez and Benthagen accounted for the two walks for Central.
• The Saints finished with seven hits led by Patrick and Ebner each with two.

 
GAME 2
 
SCORING:
 

• In the bottom of the third, Destiny Salamanca reached on an error by the shortstop giving enough time to Ashley Goodale to score to make it 1-0 in favor of SMU.
• Brooke Blocker would tie things up in the top of the fourth inning, singling to center field to score Perez.
• The Saints would retake the lead in the bottom of the fifth as Ebner sacrificed herself to score Patrick and make it 2-1 Saints.
• Ashtyn Falor drilled a single to left field in the top of the sixth to score Hampson and tie things up once more.
• In the top of the seventh, Brooke Jordan singled up the middle to score Kaysner and give the 'Cats their first lead of the day.
• Still in the top of the seventh, Hampson would follow suit and single to left field to score Jordan and make it 4-2 'Cats.
• The Saints wouldn't go quietly as Ebner doubled to left center to score Goodale and make it 4-3 Central.

 
PITCHING:
 

• Payton Kessler pitched all seven innings allowing six hits, three runs two of which were earned, and two walks while striking out three against 32 batters.
• Tia Ridings pitched the first four innings for SMU allowing three hits and one run while striking out two against 18 batters.
• Leverington pitched the final three innings allowing five hits and three runs while striking out five against 15 batters.

 
HITTING:
 

• The Wildcats finished with eight hits, led by Hampson with two.
• Kaysner, Jordan, Benthagen, Blocker, Falor, and Karsyn Decker all earned one hit apiece.
• Jordan, Hampson, Blocker, and Falor all recorded on RBI apiece.
• SMU finished with six hits as six different Saints recorded one hit apiece.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• The Wildcats are 96-55 against SMU all-time.
• Central owns a 43-23 record over the Saints in Lacey.
• CWU is now 79-49 in conference matchups.
• The win in game two busted the Saints four-game win streak over the Wildcats.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• Both teams will move the party to Ellensburg for a Sunday double-header from Gary & Bobbi Frederick Field.
• First pitch is set for noon with game two to start approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.