ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington Wildcats had a hard fight against the Western Oregon Wolves today falling short twice Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats welcomed gold star families who were honored in a pregame ceremony.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUPS:
 
Game 1
 

• Final: Central Washington (2), Western Oregon (10).
• Records: CWU (13-23, 8-7 GNAC), WOU (19-19, 7-8 GNAC)

 
Game 2
 

• Final: Central Washington (1), Western Oregon (4).
• Records: CWU (13-24, 8-8 GNAC), WOU (20-19, 8-8 GNAC)
• Location: Gary & Bobbi Frederick Field, Ellensburg, Wash.

 
Game1:
 
SCORING:
 

• WOU started off the day with Isabelle Lewis reaching on a throwing error by the pitcher and Bella Valdes scoring in the top of the third inning making it 1-0 WOU.
• Maddie Doig reached on a fielder's choice earning an RBI when Kate Ronning scored also in the top of the third making it 2-0 WOU.
• Still in the top of the third, Lexi Carlos singled to left field allowing Lewis to score and make it 3-0 WOU.
• Karly Tiedeman was walked with the bases loaded allowing Doig to score still in the top of the third making it 4-0 Wolves.
• Still in the top of the third, Valdes reached again but on a fielder's choice which allowed Sophie Franklin to run on home and Carlos to follow making it 6-0 Western Oregon.
• Makenna King smoked one to right center which allowed Laney Kaysner and Kate Hopkins to score in the bottom of the fourth, cutting the Wolves lead to 6-2.
• WOU did not mess around as Natalie Willoughby homered to right field and bringing home Lewis and Ronning with her in the top of the sixth ballooning the WOU lead to 9-2.
• Carlos reached on a fielding error by third baseman and allowing Sydney Conklin to score putting the Wolves up 10-2.

 
PITCHING:
 

• Ashlee Laver started off pitching for the Wildcats, getting pulled after three innings. Laver allowed five hits, six runs four of which were earned, two walks, and two strike outs against 20 batters faced.
• Olivia Ross came in for the Wildcats and pitched the final three innings allowing five hits, four runs, one walk, and struck out one out of 16 batters faced.
• Alivia Holden pitched all six innings for the Wolves allowing six hits, two runs one of which was earned, four walks, and struck out four out of the 27 batters faced.

 
HITTING:
 

• The Wildcats finished with six hits total, Kaysner leading with two.
• King, Jillian Hampson, Sasha Mitchell, Alyssa Benthagen, and Hopkins each had one hit.
• The Wolves finished with ten hits total with Sophie Franklin leading with three hits. Two hits apiece from Doig and Carlos, and one each from Valdes, Willoughby, and Conklin.

 
GAME 2:
 
SCORING:
 

• WOU took control of the game starting with Ronning singling down the left field line having Valdes and Victoria Zimmerman score in the top of the third to put the Wolves up 2-0.
• Conklin was walked with the bases loaded allowing Chelby Smalley to score in the bottom of the third and put WOU up 3-0.
• Doig shot one down center field with Aaliyah Gaboriault score on a throwing error made by second baseman in the top of the fifth to increase the Wolves lead to 4-0.
• TK Kai took advantage of her at bat in the bottom of the fifth inning, singling down right center allowing Mitchell to run on home and cut the Wolves lead to 4-1.

 
PITCHING:
 

• Zoey Theophilus started the Wildcats off pitching four full innings and allowing six hits, four runs, three walks, and struck out two of the 23 batters faced.
• Payton Kessler finished up the last three innings for the Wildcats allowing one hit, no runs, three walks, and two strike outs against the 12 batters faced.
• Mackenzee Collins pitched seven full innings for WOU allowing four hits, one run, four walks, and struck out seven of the 32 batters faced.

 
HITTING:
 

• The Wildcats had four total hits and one each from Mitchell, Benthagen, Kai, and Kaysner.
• The Wolves had seven hits total with Ronning and Doig leading with two and Valdes, Smalley, and Zimmerman all finished with one.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• The Wildcats and Wolves have now met 143 times with WOU still owning the series 73-70.
• The Wildcats are now 35-25 at home.
• WOU now barely holds the conference record of 59-58.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will head up on to rivalry territory and take on #11 Western Washington University Vikings (34-4, 14-2 GNAC) in a four-game series starting on Friday April 19th at 12:00 and 2:30 p.m. The series will continue Saturday, April 20th 12:00 and 2:30 p.m.