Homer-Happy Huskies Take Fall Classic Finale
October 12, 2015 | Softball
Site: Seattle, Wash. (Husky Softball Stadium)
Event: Husky Fall Classic (Day 3)
Score: Washington 9, Central Washington 0
SEATTLE -- Headlined by four Husky home runs and commanding performances from the pitching circle, the University of Washington softball team earned another shutout win, cruising past Central Washington, 9-0, in the finale of the Husky Fall Classic on Sunday (Oct. 11) at Husky Softball Stadium. Washington did not give up a single run in the Classic, outscoring opponents 41-0.
“We learned a lot about ourselves this weekend," said head coach Heather Tarr. "We saw a lot of positives, especially with our newcomers. We also saw which areas we need to spend time working to improve. We have 15 underclassmen to build our future off of and our upperclassmen will lead them this season. They know what to expect, they know what it takes for our team to reach its goals and they hold each other accountable to that standard. You have to learn from experience and we know we will go through some highs and lows this season to get to where we want to be."
Junior Casey Stangel led the 13-hit attack with two home runs and four RBI. She launched a two-run homer in the second inning, giving Washington an early two-run lead, and then hit another two-run shot in the third. Sophomore Krystal Aubert and freshman Tannon Snow also hit solo laser beams in the fourth and sixth innings.
Freshman Taran Alvelo earned the win in the circle, striking out six and combining for the shutout with Stangel and sophomore Madi Schreyer. Stangel recorded a pair of strikeouts in two innings worked while Schreyer closed out the game, tossing the final two frames and ending the contest with back-to-back strikeouts. The Husky pitching staff did not allow a hit until the final frame.
Washington used five runs in the bottom of the third to build a lead that was never relinquished. Senior Kimberlee Souza ripped an RBI double and junior Ali Aguilar tripled down the right field line in the next at-bat to give the Huskies a 4-0 lead. After Van Zee singled, Stangel smacked her second homer of the night and an RBI groundout by senior Courtney Gano scored the fifth run of the inning.
Central Washington attempted a comeback in the seventh, hitting back-to-back singles, but a pair of strikeouts by Schreyer ended the game to preserve the shutout and the Huskies seventh win of the fall season.
