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ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Freshman pitcher Ashley Boek equaled a career-high with 10 strikeouts to lead the top-seeded University of Washington to a 4-1 win over fourth-seed Central Michigan in an NCAA regional softball tournament game on Friday.
The Huskies advance to face second-seeded Michigan – which defeated Ohio State 3-0 – in a regional semifinal game today at 1:30 p.m.. Central Michigan was eliminated with its second loss of the tournament.
Boek (19-2) bailed out a Husky defense that committed a season-high four errors. The freshman pitched seven innings, allowing seven hits, one unearned run and walked none. Boek held the Chippewas to just 3-for-13 hitting with runners in scoring position.
Junior Jaime Clark, an All Pacific-10 Conference first-team selection at shortstop, was charged with two errors but atoned for her defensive lapses with a 2-for-3 showing at the plate, including a team-high two RBI.
The Chippewas (39-16) threatened in the first when leadoff hitter Becky Manson singled hard to left, one of three hits for the senior in the game. Manson advanced to second on the first of two passed balls by Huskies’ catcher Kristen Rivera, and to third on a groundout by Lindsey Horvath. Boek then struck out Karly McCormack and left fielder Jen Skuta to end the threat.
Washington (46-16) scored in the second inning when Courtney Jeffries singled home Amanda Oleson, who had doubled to left-center. Megan Owen then singled to right, but Jeffries was thrown out at the plate trying to score on the hit.
The Chippewas tied it in the bottom of the second when Sarah Hamilton doubled, went to third on an infield hit and scored on an error by Clark.
Washington took a 2-1 lead in the third when Clark singled to drive in senior Becky Simpson. The Huskies added two more runs in the fifth on two singles and an error.
The Chippewas threatened in the sixth inning by putting runners on first and second with no outs after a single and an error. The Huskies got out of the jam by picking off the runner at second base and getting two ground outs.
Boek retired the Chippewas in order in the seventh for her second-career complete game.
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