Sunday, May 8, 2016
by Central Washington Athletic Communications

AZUSA, Calif. - For the first time in program history, Central Washington will play in the NCAA Division II Super Regional after defeating Azusa Pacific 9-6 Sunday afternoon to win the West Regional 2 Tournament at the Cougar Softball Complex.
 
The Wildcats won four of five games in the regional tournament, including three while facing elimination.  Dating back to the GNAC Tournament the Wildcats have won six straight games while facing elimination.
 
"We have a team that doesn't know how to give up," CWU Head Coach Mike Larabee said.  "They refuse to give in and fight until the last out.  I am not at all surprised that we are heading to the Super Regionals, but I am beyond excited."

With the win, Central Washington also earns the distinction of becoming the first GNAC to advance past the West Regional championships since Division II moved to the Super Regional format of play in 2009.
 
Central Washington will now travel to Arcata, Calif. to play top seeded Humboldt State with the best of three series currently slated to start next Wednesday, May 11 at 3 p.m. "We have faced Humboldt before and I am confident our girls can compete with anyone," Larabee said.  "We are going to rest up, get a good game plan in place and be ready to compete for a trip to the world series."
 
The Wildcats improve their school record with a 42-15 record and have won nine of their last 11 games.
 
The Cougars scored first, piecing together a pair of hits including a run scoring single, leading 1-0 in the top of the second inning. Central Washington threatened in the second inning with a leadoff double by Austin Wilkerson and, after a walk to Brielle Copodonna, the Wildcats had two runners on with no out.  Unfortunately, the next three batters went down in order to end the inning.
 
Azusa Pacific got a solo homerun by second baseman Nicki Sprague to up the APU lead to 2-0 in the third inning.  The Cougars tacked on another in the third on an infield single before Kailyn Campbell made a dent in the Cougars' lead with a screaming two-run home run off a change-up, allowing CWU to cut the deficit to one run in the third inning.
 
"Kailyn's homer was exactly what we needed and when we needed it," Larabee said.  "She has been a consistent bat for us and gave us a huge lift."
 
The Wildcat bats stayed hot in the fourth inning, adding four runs two of which came on bases loaded hit by pitches.  Another came on a sacrifice fly by Alexa Olague that scored Rachael Johnson.
 
The Cougars loaded the bases with one out in the sixth inning and starting pitcher Kiana Wood was relieved by freshman Kayla Smith.  Azusa Pacific drew a walk to add a run, then a two out wild pitch allowed two more runs to come across and tie the game up at 6-6.
 
Central Washington came back with a vengeance, scoring three runs on a RBI single by Wilkerson and a two-run single by Copodonna, to go up 9-6.
 
Smith picked up the victory for the Wildcats in relief, improving to 9-1 on the season by allowing just one walk in 1.2 innings of work. Narissa Garcia took the loss for Azusa Pacific, allowing nine runs, six earned, on eight hits with three walks and three strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work.

Campbell led Central Washington offensively, going 2 for 3 with two runs and three RBI. Wilkerson and Ferleman also had two hits. Sprague and Janelle Eccles each had two hits to lead Azusa Pacific, which saw its season end with a 40-12 record.

CAT SCRATCH: Central Washington finished the tournament with a .341 batting average with 46 hits, three doubles and five home runs. They were the only team in the tournament to hit better than .300 ... Campbell and Wilkerson each hit .500 in the five games, with Campbell going 9 for 18 with four runs and four RBI and Wilkerson going 7 for 14 with four runs and three RBI. Four Wildcats hit .400 or better and six hit .300 or better.