Wildcats set for final home series

Apr. 22—ELLENSBURG — The Central Washington Wildcats (9-29) return to the diamond Friday for their final home weekend series of the regular season against Montana State-Billings. Their last time out, they went 1-3 in a four-game series against the Saint Martin's Saints on April 12.

Despite the shortcomings, Head Coach Ronnie Ladines was complimentary of player Zoey Theophilus, according to a statement by CWU Athletics.

"Zoey had an outstanding weekend and was a huge reason we stayed competitive in every game, giving our offense the chance to do its job. This team continues to improve each weekend, and it's exciting to see the progress," Ladines said.

CWU earned their sole win in game three of the series. They overcame Saint Martin's 6-2 in game one of Sunday's doubleheader.

Brooke Baker got things started in the first inning with a single to center field to score Kayla Brusseau and Jadyn Holdren which was followed by Lizzy Turpen singling down the right field line to score Izzy Vargas and make it 3-0 CWU. Kaylee Walker earned a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the first to score Haley Agena and make it 3-1 in favor of CWU.

Brusseau hit a sacrifice fly to the center fielder which scored Jessica Reitz-Eaton in the fourth inning to make it 4-1 CWU. Heather Ebner added another for SMU in the bottom of the sixth with a single to center field to score Elissa Dewees and cut it to a 4-2 game in favor of the crimson and black. Turpen singled to first base on a bunt in the seventh to score Holdren followed by Reitz-Eaton singling to first base to score Baker and give the Wildcats the 6-2 victory.

Holdren, Baker, Turpen, and Reitz-Eaton all had two hits while McKayla Cable and Brusseau each added one. Baker and Turpen had two RBI while Brusseau and Reitz-Eaton had one each. Cable, Vargas, Baker, Ashlyn Cook, and Melise Brown all drew one walk.

Ebner and Dewees led the Saints with two hits while Agena, Shelby Lawson, Taylor Oregeles, and Layla Royle all had one hit. Ebner and Walker each had an RBI. Amanda Peterson drew two walks while Agena, Walker, Ava Heston, and Faith Prosch all drew one walk.

Theophilus pitched all seven innings allowing eight hits, two runs, six walks, and struck out five of 36 batters. Bridget Johnson pitched 3.1 innings allowing five hits, four runs, three walks, and a strikeout against 18 batters.

Keagan Norfleet pitched the next three innings allowing three hits, one run, one walk, and a strikeout against 14 batters. Peterson pitched the final 0.2 innings allowing two hits, one run, and one walk against five batters.

In their second game, they suffered a 15-7 loss to the Saints. Reitz-Eaton put the Wildcats on the board first in the top of the second with a double to left center field which scored Baker and Vargas to make it 2-0 CWU.

The Saints responded in the bottom of the third when Oregeles singled to left field to score Lawson, Walker, and Agena followed by Jennessy Lopez singling to center field to score Royle and Oregeles to make it 5-2 in favor of the Saints.