ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Softball Team will head back to California this weekend as they turn their attention to the NorCal Crossover this Friday through Sunday.
GAME INFORMATION:
Friday, February 27
11:30 a.m.
Central Washington vs. Menlo
2:30 p.m.
Central Washington vs. Cal Poly Humboldt
Tracy Sports Complex
Tracy, Calif.
Saturday, February 28
9:00 a.m.
Central Washington vs. Stanislaus State
2:00 p.m.
Central Washington vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills
Tracy Sports Complex
Tracy, Calif.
Sunday, March 1
9:00 a.m.
Central Washington vs. #2 Cal State East Bay
Tracy Sports Complex
Tracy, Calif.
QUOTING CWU HEAD SOFTBALL COACH RONNIE LADINES:
"We're excited for another opportunity to compete against quality teams and continue growing!"
LAST WEEKEND:
The Wildcats traveled to Nampa, Idaho to participate in the Nighthawks Invitational where they went 1-3.
The 'Cats suffered an opening-day sweep on Friday. They first fell to San Francisco State 12-6 where they saw
Jadyn Holdren lead the 'Cats with two hits, a home run, and was tied with
Hallie Sehlin with two RBI.
Lizzy Turpen and
Joelie Eder both drew two walks.
Reese Anderson pitched the first three innings allowing four hits, three runs with only two earned, no walks, and one strikeout against 13 batters.
The 'Cats concluded day one with a 6-4 setback to the hosting Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks after a comeback attempt fell short in the seventh.
McKayla Cable led the 'Cats with three hits and two RBI. Holdren, Cable,
Adriana Rodriguez, and
Izzy Vargas all drew one walk.
Zoey Theophilus pitched all six innings allowing eight hits, six runs with four earned, and five walks while striking out seven of 31 batters.
In day two the 'Cats saw a rinse and repeat in another 12-6 loss to San Francisco State.
Brooke Baker and Vargas led the 'Cats with two hits. Baker also led CWU with two RBI. Eder and Sehlin each drew one walk.
Ellie Gilbert pitched the first 3.1 innings, allowing six hits, seven runs, and one walk against 17 batters.
CWU wrapped up the weekend with a huge 18-2 victory over the Gators that saw Holdren nail her second home run of the weekend. Six different 'Cats recorded multiple hits with the 'Cats combining for 20 hits during the game. Rodriguez led CWU with four hits while Turpen, Cable, and Vargas all had three hits. Vargas led the crimson and black with five RBI while Turpen added three. Holdren and
Melise Brown drew two walks while Turpen, Baker, and
Mia Flores all drew one walk. Theophilus pitched all seven innings allowing six hits, two runs with only one earned, one walk, and one strikeout against 26 batters.
SCOUTING THE OAKS:
Menlo is 1-15 on the season and 0-4 in PacWest play. The Oaks' only win on the season came against the 'Cats at the Stan State Invitational where Menlo won 17-5 in five innings. Since their last meeting the Oaks lost 2-0 to Stanislaus State before getting swept by Cal State Monterey Bay on the road by scores of 13-5 in six innings and 8-0 in five innings. They began PacWest play this week getting swept by 16th-ranked Concordia Irvine by scores of 7-0, 13-2 in five innings, 19-4, and 10-3.
Gabrielle Rodriguez leads the Oaks with a .267 batting average, but Aleatha Buchner is the leader in hits with 13. Alina Perez, Lucy Brooks, and Makayla Mentzer all have two doubles to lead MC while Emma Medina and Sierra Pasco have the only triples for the Oaks on the season. Pasco and Tacia Kahalewai each have one home run to account for the only Oaks homers this season. Kahalewai leads Menlo with eight RBI while Grace Tuiteleleapaga has drawn seven walks. Medina is 2-2 on stolen base attempts this season while Sydney Costello is 3-4.
Rosaline Torralva leads the pitching corps for the Oaks with a 6.13 ERA and a 0-4 record in nine games with four started. Torralva has pitched 29.2 innings allowing 46 hits, 31 runs with 26 earned, and 26 walks while striking out eight of 128 batters. Lela Yslava has the most starts for the Oaks with six to pair with eight appearances and a 0-6 record. She's accumulated a 6.71 ERA in 32.1 innings pitched while allowing 38 hits, 43 runs with 31 earned, 28 walks, and 17 strikeouts against 142 batters.
SCOUTING THE LUMBERJACKS:
Cal Poly Humboldt is 5-9 on the season. They began the season with a 2-2 weekend at the Concordia Kickoff Classic, posting victories over Hawaii Pacific and Jessup while falling to Northwest Nazarene and Azusa Pacific. They then went 1-3 at the West Coast Challenge, first defeating then 3rd-ranked Western Washington but fell to Western Oregon, Biola, and once again Azusa Pacific. They then traveled to Hawaii where they went 2-4. They were swept by Hawaii Hilo by scores of 5-4 and 7-6 in eight innings, then split with Hawaii Pacific by an 18-2 in five innings victory and a 5-4 setback. They then split against Chaminade first defeating the Silverswords 8-2 then falling 9-5.
Marisa Brody leads the 'Jacks with a .512 batting average, 21 hits, eight doubles, one home run, and 23 RBI with five drawn walks. Katlyn Gifford and Shelby Shanks are both earning over a .400 batting average at .442 and .435, respectfully. Shanks has 20 hits, four doubles, two triples, and three home runs to pair with 17 RBI and 11 drawn walks while Gifford has 19 hits, five doubles, two home runs, 14 RBI, and 12 drawn walks. Haille Moore and Alyssa Ramirez have both added two triples as well with Moore leading the 'Jacks with four stolen bases out of five attempts.
Lily Fournier leads the pitchers with a 2.93 ERA, a 3-4 record, and four complete games in eight appearances with seven starts. She's pitched 43 innings allowing 48 hits, 20 runs with 18 earned, and six walks with 35 strikeouts against 176 batters. Mason Hatton adds a 3.85 ERA with a 1-2 record in nine appearances and one start. She's pitched 20 innings allowing 24 hits, 17 runs with 11 earned, and 15 walks while striking out 20 of 83 batters faced.
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS:
Stanislaus State is 8-3 on the season. The 'Cats and Warriors faced off twice at the Stan State Invitational on February 13 and 14 where the Warriors won both clashes by a 6-1 and a 9-1 in five innings scores. Since the two teams met the Warriors wrapped up the Stan State Invitational with victories over Saint Martin's and Menlo, then fell to Simon Fraser 11-2 in five innings.
Katelyn Bridgeman and Ava Montesdeoca lead the Warriors with a .382 and a .379 batting average, respectfully with Malia Babasa not far behind with a .345 batting average. Bridgeman has 13 hits while Montesdeoca has 11 and Babasa has 10. Babasa has four doubles and the only triple on the season for the Warriors. Nat Camarena has the only two home runs on the year for Stan Stateand leads the Warriors with 11 RBI. Babasa and Camarena have each drawn six walks to lead the Warriors. Montesdeoca leads the Warriors with five stolen bases out of six attempts.
Alexandria Himes leads the pitching staff with a 2.07 ERA, a 3-1 record, three complete games, and one shut out in four started games. She's pitched 23.2 innings allowing 23 hits, nine runs with seven earned, one walk, and five strikeouts against 93 batters. Alexis Camberos has accumulated a 2.24 ERA with a 3-0 record, one complete game, and one save in six appearances with three starts. She's pitched 25 innings allowing 29 hits, 14 runs with eight earned, 10 walks, and 12 strikeouts against 108 batters.
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS:
Cal State East Bay is 16-1 on the season and on a 15-game winning streak. The 'Cats and Pioneers met at the Stan State Invitational on February 13 where the Pioneers came back for a 6-5 eight inning victory. They then had a double-header against 16th-ranked Concordia Irvine where they won 2-0 and 4-3 in 10 innings.
Jeslyn Cuellar leads the Pioneers with a .410 batting average, 25 hits, four doubles, three triples, one home run, 10 RBI, and four drawn walks. Rylee Gomez isn't far behind with a .410 batting average, 25 hits, a team-high nine doubles, one home run, four drawn walks, and is tied with Jasmyn Morales for a team high 13 RBI. Sarissa Block leads CSUEB with nine drawn walks and is three for three on stolen bases.
Marissa Quintero has been one of the best pitchers in NCAA Division II, posting a 0.22 ERA with a 11-0 record, seven complete games, and three shutouts in 11 appearances and eight starts. She's pitched 63.1 innings allowing 26 hits, five runs with only two earned, 21 walks, and 61 strikeouts against 216 batters. Jaidyn Gamble has a 2.31 ERA with a 4-1 record, two complete games, and one save in nine appearances with seven starts. She's pitched 33.1 innings allowing 29 hits, 19 runs with 11 earned, seven walks, and 20 strikeouts against 129 batters.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats will head back to Ellensburg for a nonconference series against the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks. The 'Cats and Nighthawks faceoff on Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7 on Gary and Bobbi Frederick Field. Both days will see first pitch at noon with game two to follow.
