Central Washington University Athletics

ELLENSBURG, Wash.- The Central Washington University softball team captured its third-straight Great Northwest Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship last weekend as they prepare to travel to Portland, Ore. this Thursday (May 3) to compete at the GNAC Tournament.
 
The Wildcats earned the second seed in the tournament with Northwest Nazarene holding on to the top spot after edging the Wildcats in the teams four-game series last month. 
 
Central plays third-seeded Simon Fraser at 4:30 this Thursday (May 3), with the winner advancing to play either NNU or Western Oregon.  The Wildcats went 3-1 against the Clan this season and outscored the Clan 27-15 in the contests.
 
The Wildcats finished the regular season with the second highest batting average in the conference at .313 and led the GNAC in earned run average (2.97).  Central also led in stolen bases with 80, 15 more than the next highest team.
 
Individually, Savannah Egbert finished second in the GNAC in batting average (.458), on base percentage (.503), and hits (70), while leading the conference with 29 stolen bases.
 
Freshman pitcher Lexie Strasser led the GNAC in total wins with 18, setting a new CWU record for wins by a freshman.
 
The Wildcats will be playing for much more than a GNAC Championship as they came into the week ranked ninth in the NCAA Division II West Regional poll, with the top eight teams earning a berth in the national postseason tournament.  The victor of the GNAC Championships will earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament as one of the eight participants.
 
TOURNAMENT INFO
TICKETS | Live Stats and Video  -- Reminder that all ticket purchases made in person this weekend will need to be made in cash.
 
Schedule
May 3-5 at Porter Park, Portland, Ore.
 
THURS., MAY 3
Game 1: No. 3 Simon Fraser vs. No. 2 Central Washington, 4:30 p.m.
Game 2: No. 4 Western Oregon vs. No. 1 Northwest Nazarene, 7 p.m.
 
FRI., MAY 4
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 2 p.m.
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 4:30 p.m. (Loser Out)
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 7 p.m. (Loser Out)
 
SAT., MAY 5
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, Noon
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary), 30 minutes following conclusion of Game 6