The Yakima Valley softball team is holding steady in the NWAC playoff hunt after winning its third conference game in the past four on Wednesday at Wenatchee. The Yaks (4-8 NWAC East, 13-21 overall) currently sit at No. 15 in the conference's RPI rankings and would miss a postseason berth if it started today, as the top 12 teams earn a spot.

The Yaks dropped the first game against Wenatchee 8-0, but rebounded in the nightcap to claim an 11-7 victory. After going up 3-0 in the second on RBI hits by Abbygale Sheridan and Kylee Bradley, YVC surrendered four runs in the bottom of the inning. But they responded with four more runs in the fourth and tallied three in the ninth to hold off the Knights. Riley Eckhardt and Arissa LeBaron each went 3-for-4, Sheridan was 2-for-4 with three RBI, and Rillee Huber added a pair of RBIs as the Yaks pounded out 12 hits. Kassidy Van Soest picked up the win in the circle, striking out six over 5 2/3 innings while allowing eight hits and three earned runs.

YVC also played four non-league contests last weekend at Kiwanis Park, scoring a pair of wins over Douglas and Grays Harbor, and falling to Centralia and Mt. Hood. The Yaks started the weekend with a 3-1 win over Grays Harbor, notching one run in the first inning and two in the third. Addison Flynn drove in all three runs, going 2-for-4, while Van Soest added a pair of base hits and earned the pitching victory, striking out seven and allowing only four hits over seven innings.

On Saturday afternoon, four players collected multiple hits, but it wasn't enough in a 12-9 loss to Mt. Hood. Sheridan went 3-for-4 with two RBI, LeBaron 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, Madalyn Telles went 2-for-4 with two RBI, and Cheyenne Justice finished 2-for-5. Kathryn Prest took the pitching loss, allowing 15 hits and eight earned runs over six innings.

The Yaks returned to the win column on Sunday with an 11-6 triumph over Douglas, plating five runs in the bottom of the sixth to break a 6-6 deadlock. Justice, Telles, Bradley and LeBaron each delivered RBI hits in the decisive frame. LeBaron finished the game 3-for-4 with four RBI, Justice went 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Bradley and Huber each recorded a pair of hits. Van Soest earned the pitching win in relief allowing seven hits and two earned runs over 4 2/3.

YVC fell to Centralia 7-2 in the weekend finale after being outhit 12-4. Justice had an RBI single and Flynn delivered a sacrifice bunt to account for the lone YVC runs. Prest struck out five and allowed six hits over four innings before Van Soest pitched the final three frames, striking out six and giving up six hits and three runs.

The Yaks are off until Friday, April 24, when they visit Spokane for two.