Friday, April 29, 2016

LACEY, Wash. – With a six-run explosion in the fifth inning, Central Washington advanced to the championship round with an 8-0 victory over Saint Martin’s on Friday in the GNAC Softball Championships at the Saint Martin's Softball Field.

The Wildcats’s offense combined for 14 hits in the five-inning game, with five players reaching two hits each. Central Washington will play Western Oregon in the championship round on Saturday at noon. Should the Wildcats win, the two will play in a winner take all game at 2:30 p.m.

Third baseman Alexa Olague drove in the game’s first run with a RBI single in the first inning to bring home outfielder Celine Fowler. Olague later started the Wildcats’ offensive barrage in the fifth inning with a solo home run to left field.

Central Washington starting pitcher Kayla Smith pitched a five inning shutout, allowing three hits while striking out three to advance to 7-0 on the season.

Second baseman Andrea Hamada drove in three runs, including two in the Wildcats’ six run fifth. She also drove in the second run of the game in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly to score shortstop Taylor Ferleman.

The Wildcats (37-14) finished the ball game with a string of six straight hits, capped off by first baseman Kailyn Campbell’s walk-off single that scored Fowler. Pinch hitter Taylor Griffin and Fowler also had RBI hits in the inning.

Fowler, Campbell, Olague and Ferleman each finished with two hits to lead the Wildcats with Ferleman finishing with two RBI.

The Saints’ season ends with a 35-20 overall record. Loryn Williams took the loss for Saint Martins, allowing one run on three hits while facing four batters in the first inning. She dropped to 12-7 on the year.