ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University softball team fell in the final games of the 2024 regular season to the visiting Red Leafs of Simon Fraser Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats honored the following nine seniors after the conclusion of game two: Alyssa Benthagen, Jillian Hampson, Kate Hopkins, Brooke Jordan, TK Kai, Laney Kaysner, Makenna King, Ashlee Laver, and Sasha Mitchell.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 
GAME 1
 

• Final: Central Washington (1), Simon Fraser (3)
• Records: CWU (17-27, 12-11 GNAC), SFU (10-31, 5-18 GNAC)

 
GAME 2
 

• Final: Central Washington (0), Simon Fraser (1)
• Records: CWU (17-28, 12-12 GNAC), SFU (11-31, 6-18 GNAC)
• Location: Gary & Bobbi Frederick Field, Ellensburg, Wash.

 
GAME 1:
 
SCORING:
 

• Kristen Davyduke put the Leafs on the board first in the top of the third inning when she singled to left field to score Megan Duclos and make it 1-0 SFU.
• Kaysner tied the game up in the bottom of the fourth inning singling up the middle to score Jordan.
• The Leafs took the 3-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning when Cassidy Affeldt hit a homer to right field to score Makena Simmons in the process.

 
PITCHING:
 

• Ashlee Laver pitched the full seven innings for CWU allowing seven hits, three runs two of which were earned, and two walks while striking out five against 30 batters.
• Nevada Johnson pitched the first five innings for the Red Leafs allowing five hits, one run, and three walks while striking out one against 23 batters.
• Julia Hansen pitched the final two innings allowing one walk but getting one strikeout against seven batters.

 
HITTING:
 

• The 'Cats finished with five hits, led by Kaysner with two.
• Mitchell, Benthagen, and Jordan all recorded one hit apiece.
• Kaysner had the sole Wildcat RBI.
• Mitchell, Benthagen, Hopkins, and Brooke Blocker all drew one walk.
• The Red Leafs finished with seven hits, led by Duclos, Affeldt, and Janique Balcaen each with two.

 
GAME 2:
 
SCORING:
 

• Caitlin Zagari notched the lone score of the game in the top of the seventh inning when she singled to left field to score Affeldt and put SFU up 1-0.

 
PITCHING:
 

• Zoey Theophilus pitched all seven innings for CWU allowing five hits and one run while walking no batters and striking out three against 26 batters faced.
• Shaneika Hollingworth pitched all seven innings for SFU allowing four hits while striking out one against 27 batters.

 
HITTING:
 

• The 'Cats finished with four hits, led by King with two.
• Hampson and Blocker each notched one hit.
• The Leafs finished with five hits led by Affeldt with two.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• Simon Fraser owns the 55-47 record in the series.
• The Red Leafs now own a two-game win-streak.
• SFU has the 41-38 conference record and is 28-22 over the 'Cats in Ellensburg.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will head back to Bellingham, Wash. to partake in the GNAC Tournament hosted by Western Washington.
• The GNAC Tournament will be held Thursday, May 2nd through Saturday, May 4th with the matchups still to be determined, but the Wildcats are slated into the fourth seed in the tournament.