Baseball | 3/24/2016 11:00:00 AM

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Mar. 24) – The Central Washington University baseball team heads on the road for the first time since February 27 for a Great Northwest Athletic Conference series against Northwest Nazarene University.
 
"You know, we've been good on the road so far," CWU Head Coach Desi Storey said. "We were one play from taking the game at Lewis-Clark and one swing from taking three at Corban.  We need to play tighter defensively and we will be alright."
 
The Wildcats went 8-3 during their 11-game home stand over the course of a month, including an 8-2 GNAC record. 
 
The home stand included Reid Martinez winning GNAC Player of the Week and Ryan Atkinson lifting his average to .368.
 
Atkinson has notched two hits in each of his last four games, including a grand slam and six runs batted in against Saint Martin's University on Mar. 19.
 
Central is now hitting .309 as a team with Martinez leading the way, among qualified players, at .391.  Justin Adams is hitting .467 in 30 at-bats this season.  The Wildcats have an on-base percentage of .371 as a unit and have swiped 20 bags on the base path.  Christopher Dalto is 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts.
 
"We've been swinging it well lately and I think that will carry over," Storey added.  "We have some guys who have gotten on a hot streak and I look forward to seeing what they can do this weekend."
 
On the mound, CJ Gettman continues to sit down hitters in the back end of the bullpen for Central.  The right hander has worked in seven games and recorded four saves. 
 
The Wildcats will turn to the rotation they used last weekend against Saint Martin's University including Kyle Blankenship, Justin Adams, Travis Cook, and Jake Levin.
 
"We had strong outings against Saint Martin's," Storey noted.  "So we will go back to that rotation and see what the righties can do for us."
 
The Wildcats' staff has a team earned run average of 3.96.  They have allowed 166 hits over 159 innings, with 116 strikeouts.  Central's arms have allowed just nine home runs, compared to the 19 Wildcat hitters have blasted off of opposing hitters.
 
Northwest Nazarene enters the weekend with a 13-9 record, including a 5-3 mark at home.  In GNAC play the Crusaders are 8-4.

"They're a good team," Storey noted.  "We need to make sure we execute well and get things done."
 
Andrew Helmstadter leads the Crusaders' offensively, posting a .368 average and 12 runs batted in.  He has an on-base percentage of.451 with five walks and seven hit by pitches.
 
As a unit, the Crusaders are hitting .257.  Northwest Nazarene has hit 18 long balls and has a team on-base percentage of .338.
 
The pitching staff is led by Colton Loomis.  He has a 4-2 record over six appearances, five of which have been starts.  In 40.2 innings Loomis has notched 36 strikeouts and posted an ERA of 1.33. He has baffled opposing hitters, holding them to a .181 average.  Loomis has tossed four complete games and two shutouts. 
 
The Crusaders have a team ERA of 4.25. In 180 innings of work they have combined for 152 strikeouts, while holding the opposition to a 2.47 average. 
 
First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday.