ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Softball Team is back in action this weekend as they head to familiar territory in Nampa, Idaho to participate in the Nighthawks Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
GAME INFORMATION:
Friday, February 20
9:00 a.m.
Central Washington vs. San Francisco State
11:00 a.m.
Central Washington at Northwest Nazarene
Bobby Welch Halle Field
Nampa, Idaho
Saturday, February 21
11:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.
Central Washington vs. San Francisco State
Bobby Welch Halle Field
Nampa, Idaho
WATCH:
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LIVE STATS:
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TICKETS:
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QUOTING CWU HEAD SOFTBALL COACH RONNIE LADINES:
"We're excited for another opportunity to grow, improve, and compete in Idaho this weekend!"
LAST WEEKEND:
The Wildcats stumbled at the Stan State Invitational last weekend, finishing the weekend 0-5.
They first took then 5th-ranked Cal State East Bay to eight innings after the Pioneers used a run in the top of the seventh to tie things up only to score and win the game 6-5 in the eighth.
Jadyn Holdren led the 'Cats with two hits while
Melise Brown had three RBI.
Brooke Baker pitched the final five innings allowing six hits, two runs with only one earned, and three walks while striking out two of 24 batters.
They then fell to the hosting Stanislaus State Warriors by a 6-1 score.
McKayla Cable led CWU with three hits and was the lone 'Cat to make it back home. Holdren drew two walks for CWU.
Reese Anderson pitched the final 4.2 innings allowing four hits, one run that wasn't earned, one walk, and earned two strikeouts against 19 batters.
CWU then fell to the Dominican Penguins to begin day two after holding a 4-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth when the Penguins rattled off four runs to tie it up and eventually win it in the bottom of the seventh. Seven different Wildcats earned a hit in the loss.
Kayla Brusseau had two RBI while Baker added one. Holdren and
Joelie Eder both drew one walk. Anderson pitched the first 5.2 innings allowing six hits, four runs, no walks, and eight strikeouts against 25 batters.
The Warriors then took the weekend sweep over the 'Cats in the rematch to end day two by a 9-1 score in five innings. Holdren and Brusseau each had two hits to lead CWU with Holdren being the only 'Cat to make it back home.
Mia Flores drew the only walk for CWU in the game.
Alex Flohr pitched two innings allowing four hits, two runs, no walks, and a strikeout against 10 batters while Baker pitched the final 1.1 innings allowing three hits, one run that wasn't earned, no walks, and a strikeout against eight batters.
The crimson and black then suffered a 17-5 five inning setback to Menlo to end the weekend. Cable led CWU with two hits. Eder had two RBI while Baker, Flohr, and
Lizzy Turpen all added one RBI. Holdren and Eder both drew two walks.
Zoey Theophilus pitched the final two innings allowing six hits, five runs, one walk, and three strikeouts against 15 batters.
SCOUTING THE GATORS:
San Francisco State is 6-3 on the season. They dropped their first two contests of the season at the Concordia Kickoff Classic, a 10-2 five inning decision to Biola and a 5-2 loss to hosting Concordia Irvine. They bounced back to rattle off wins in their final three games, a 3-2 win over Hawaii Hilo, a 12-3 five inning win over then 3rd-ranked Western Washington, and a 6-5 eight inning thriller over Western Oregon. They participated in the D2 West Coast Challenge in Lake Elsinore, Calif. where they went 3-1. They first defeated Lubbock Christian 11-10 in nine innings before taking down Simon Fraser 13-12 in eight innings. Their only setback on the weekend came against Northwest Nazarene by a 10-2 five inning setback. They bounced back to take down then 3rd-ranked WWU once more in five innings, this time by an 18-5 score.
Taylor Wilson leads the Gators with a .500 batting average this season. Shaunessy Cardwell (.455) and Olivia Mares (.414) are both also batting over .400 on the season. Mares and Wilson are tied with 12 hits piece, however Mares has made it back home the most for SFSU, making it home 15 times this season with her 16 for 17 stolen base attempts helping. Cardwell has the most doubles for SFSU with four while Ashley Rocha has the sole triple for the Gators. Cardwell and Malia Morreira both have one home run for SFSU. Cardwell has drawn the most walks this season with nine already.
Kharime Caratachea leads the pitching corps with a 4.64 ERA and a 2-2 record in five appearances with four starts. She has three complete games and a save in 25.2 pitched innings allowing 34 hits, 28 runs with 17 earned, 10 walks, an d10 strikeouts against 110 batters. Alexis Perez is the other starter for SFSU, owning a 7.25 ERA with a 4-1 record in five appearances with four starts. Perez has two complete games in 28 pitched innings allowing 40 hits, 31 runs with 29 earned, 11 walks, and 15 strikeouts against 119 batters.
SCOUTING THE NIGHTHAWKS:
NNU is 7-4 on the season. They opened their season at the Concordia Kickoff Classic where they went 3-1. They opened the season with a 3-1 victory over Cal Poly Humboldt but suffered a 4-1 defeat to Vanguard. On day two of the CUI Kickoff Classic they earned a sweep, first a 4-0 victory over Menlo before defeating Jessup 5-3. They fell to Colorado Christian 3-2 before earning a split at Concordia Irvine, first falling 6-5 before bouncing back to defeat the Golden Eagles 9-6. At the West Coast Challenge in Lake Elsinore, Calif. they went 3-1. They took down Regis 5-1 and Cal State Dominguez Hills 9-1 to open the weekend before earning a split in day two to conclude the weekend, defeating San Francisco State 10-2 but falling to Cal State San Marcos 3-2.
The Nighthawks are led by Emma Bumatay with a .375 batting average with Keana Bell and Ava Clark not far behind with a .344 and a .342 batting average, respectfully. Clark leads NNU with 13 hits while Jami Obringer has made it back home the most times at 11. Bell, Clark, Obringer, and Hailey Harris all have two doubles to their name while Bumatay and Bell lead the Nighthawks with four home runs. Bumatay has 13 RBI to lead NNU while Bell has drawn six walks. Clark and Obringer are both 6-6 on stolen base attempts this season.
The Nighthawk pitching corps has begun the season strong. Riley McGee has 12.1 pitched innings this season and has earned a 1.14 ERA and a 1-1 record in four appearances with three starts. She's allowed 11 hits, 10 runs with only two being earned, seven walks, and six strikeouts against 52 batters. Miah Lusk has a 1.75 ERA and a 3-2 record in seven appearances including five starts. She has two complete games, a shutout, and a save in 28 pitched innings allowing 10 hits, seven runs, 16 walks, and 23 strikeouts against 88 batters.
UP NEXT:
CWU will head back to California to participate in the NorCal Crossover in Tracy, Calif. from Friday, February 27 through Sunday, March 1. They will face Menlo and Cal Poly Humboldt in day one at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. On day two they will see another rematch against Stanislaus State at 9:00 a.m. before facing Cal State Dominguez Hills at 2:00 p.m. They conclude the weekend against 3rd-ranked Cal State East Bay at 9:00 a.m. with all five games happening at the Legacy Fields Sports Complex.
