Warden sweeps Kittitas by way of walk-off

Warden benefited from a pair of walk-offs against Kittitas to complete its sweep.

However, one was slightly more dramatic than the other.

A six-run first inning keyed a lopsided 10-0 win in the opener. Julianna Pruneda hit a two-run single to end things in the sixth inning.

The Cougars were three outs away from their first loss, trailing 5-4 in the seventh inning of Game 2, before Bailey Whitney scored on a wild pitch and Amanda Contreras drove in Allycia Gonzales on a sacrifice fly in a 6-5 come-from-behind win.

“We needed it. I’m glad we had this,” head coach Wes Richins said. “They’re a good team. They’re well-coached... Like I’ve said, they’ve had a lot of success. I was glad we had an opportunity to play situations like this. We did some hit and running and a lot of bunting. We’ve got to be able to advance runners and we got an opportunity today to do that.”

In a meeting between two unbeaten teams, Saturday’s doubleheader served as an unofficial league championship series. Warden (4-0, 8-0) and Kittitas will be heavy favorites in the final six Central Washington 2B South games.

Aaliyah Enriquez cruised in Game 1, finished with 16 strikeouts in six innings.

Up 7-0 in the sixth inning, Contreras smacked a RBI single and Pruneda drove in two more runs to enact the 10-run rule. Pruneda was 3-for-4 with three RBI in the opener, while Lexi Gonzalez was a catalyst for the Cougars with a three-run double in the first inning.

Warden built an early lead 3-1 in Game 2 after a two-run double by Contreras and a RBI double by Pruneda in the first inning.

But the Coyotes avoided allowing a big inning and got to Jizelle Pruneda in the fourth. Kittitas loaded the bases before Enriquez relieved Pruneda.

However, a wild pitch and RBI single tied the game 3-3.

Kittitas regained the lead in the fifth inning on a bases-loaded walk. Warden answered in the home half when Gonzales scored on a fielder’s choice.

In a game filled with punches and counter-punches, Kittitas landed one more blow in the sixth inning. With runners on second and third, a sharp hit back to Enriquez was bobbled and the go-ahead run scored for the Coyotes.

After some shaky innings defensively, Enriquez retired the side in order in the seventh to keep the deficit at one run.

“We’ve got to do everything we got to do to help her (Enriquez) out,” Gonzales said. “If we get a ball we’re going to get an out. Basically our mentality was really high.”

Bailey Whitney began the rally, reaching on a soft hit into the infield. Next, Gonzales walked to put runners on first and second base. Two wild pitches in a row allowed Whitney to score the game-tying run and moved Gonzales to third base.

With no outs, Contreras connected on a pop up into deep right field and Gonzales tagged up before racing home for the game-winning run.

“Coach (Randy) Wright had just told me, ‘Tag on a pop and you win the game,’” Gonzales said.

Moses Lake stays unbeaten in CBBN

YAKIMA — Moses Lake swept a doubleheader at Davis 17-0 and 16-1.

Marnie Skinner struck out 11 and allowed one hit. In nine games, Skinner has 69 strikeouts with one walk, 11 hits and no earned runs.

Mikaela Francisco led the Chiefs with three triples and five RBI. Aubrey Rowland also drove in five runs.

Tia Radach homered and Nikea Holman recorded three RBI.

Moses Lake (9-0, 9-1) begins a series with second place Eastmont on Wednesday.

“We’ve got to realize that the two tough ones are coming up,” head coach Dave Gregory said.

Ephrata swept by East Valley

YAKIMA — Ephrata moved into a tie for fifth place in the Central Washington Athletic Conference after a pair of losses to East Valley.

East Valley struck for nine runs in the first inning to take the opener 13-2. Ephrata (5-5, 5-7) scored one run each in the second and third inning.

Mikayla Wood, Aliyah Derr, Brooke Bazaldua and Haley Chapman had one hit each.

East Valley scored eight runs in the third inning and won the nightcap 12-0. Wood was 2-for-2 with a stolen base.

Othello perfect against Grandview

OTHELLO — Madison Martinez and Dominique Martinez both pitched perfect games against Grandview.

Othello improved to 8-0 in the CWAC with a 14-0 and 18-0 win.

Dominique Martinez struck out 12 batters and homered twice in the second game for the Huskies (8-0, 9-1)

Kirsten Quigley had five hits in the doubleheader.

Quincy earns first win of the year

QUINCY — Quincy earned its first win of the season, picking up a split against Prosser

Prosser won the opener 10-4 before Quincy took the nightcap 12-7.

Quincy (1-9, 1-11) will have a shot at two more wins when the team hosts winless Toppenish April 23.

Soap Lake drops a pair to Mabton

MABTON — Soap Lake struggled on the road against Mabton, losing 20-5 and 22-4.

Soap Lake hosts White Swan April 26.