The Lady Blazers moved into a tie atop the NWAC West Region softball standings on Saturday, sweeping Pierce 8-0 and 9-7 at Fort Borst Park.
The Blazers and Raiders are currently tied for first in the West Region with 12-4 league records, though Centralia has won 3 of 4 games against Pierce.
Centralia got a dominant performance from pitcher Kiersten Smith in the opener. Smith worked all five innings of the mercy-rule shortened game, allowing four hits and striking out seven without walking a batter. She helped her own cause at the plate, going 1 for 2 with a double and an RBI.
Megan Levang went 3 for 3, Alexa McDaniel went 2 for 3 and knocked in 3 runs, and Abby Slorey had two hits and drove in a run for the Blazers, who didn’t commit an error in the win.
The Blazers managed 11 hits in the nightcap, but Pierce caught up to Smith, knocking 10 hits while striking out eight times.
Jessica Paxton was 2 for 2 with a double and drove in 3 runs, while Levang was 2 for 4, McDaniel was 2 for 2 with 2 RBIs, and Rachel Diaz De Leon was 2 for 4 with a double. Smith added a double and drove in 2 runs.
Centralia (18-20 overall) will wrap up the regular season on Tuesday with a doubleheader at Grays Harbor.
