ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University softball team opens Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) play with a pair of doubleheaders against Concordia (Ore.) and Western Oregon
 
FIXTURE INFORMATION
Saturday, March 7
Vs Concordia (Ore.)
1:00 p.m. / 3:00 p.m.
Gary and Bobbi Frederick Field
Ellensburg, WA

Sunday, March 8
vs Western Oregon
12:00 p.m. / 2:00 p.m.
Gary and Bobbi Frederick Field
Ellensburg, WA
 
QUOTABLE
"We are starting GNAC play with some really tough competition," CWU Head Coach Alison Mitchell said.  "We know we will see some quality pitching, so it'll be a good test for our bats. We have to work counts and be consistent with our locations as pitchers. I'm looking forward to seeing continued growth out of our team. Western Oregon has always played us really well and are very scrappy. We are expecting two really competitive games with them and welcome the challenge."

SCOUTING CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY (ORE.)
The Cavaliers enter the weekend having lost their last four games, snapping a four-game winning streak.  Concordia is just a game above .500 at the moment with a record of 11-10.  Away from home, the Cavs' are 4-6 on the young season.  A year ago, the Cavaliers posted an 18-10 record in GNAC play.
 
Through 21 games this season, the Cavaliers have found plenty of success offensively.  They are hitting .334 as a team, with 23 homeruns, and 111 runs batted in.
 
Leading the lineup is Hannah Self.  She is hitting .426 through 14 games.  She has hit five pitches deep and driven in 18 runs.  Self has also scored a dozen times and holds an on-base percentage of .442.
 
Karley Yoshioka leads the Cavs' in runs batted in with 19.  She has legged out seven doubles already on the season, tying the team lead.
 
Kennedy Jantzi has provided the long ball for Concordia.  Through 56 at-bats, Jantzi has swatted seven homeruns and driven in 18.  She has posted a slugging percent of .935 through 18 games.
 
In the circle, the Cavaliers hold an earned run average of 3.78.  They have struck out 55 hitters and are holding the opposition to a batting average of .301.
 
Sally Bowles has started 11 games, compiling 64.2 innings thus far.  She has tossed seven complete games and struck out 27.  Opposing hitters have posted an average of .288 against her and she has a record of 6-3.
 
Kate Gillum has made eight starts in 11 appearances.  Over 40 innings, opponents are hitting a respectable .284.  Gillum has racked up 22 strikeouts and posted a record of 3-4.
 
SCOUTING WESTERN OREGON
Western Oregon enters the weekend with a 10-8 record.  In their last five games, the Wolves are 2-3.  Most recently, WOU was at the PFX Athletics tournament in Clearwater, Florida.  They finished the tournament with a 3-3 record.  The Wolves will play at Saint Martin's before they head to Ellensburg on Sunday.
 
Western Oregon has posted a .312 batting average so far on the season, with 12 homeruns, and 86 runs batted in. 
 
Leading the Wolves' offense is Ayanna Arceneaux, who is hitting .435.  She has eight extra base hits and has driven in seven runs.  She has also swiped three bases. 
 
Sydney Bowers leads WOU in homeruns with three.  She is hitting .370 on the year and has driven in 11, behind Tyler Creach with 16 RBI.
 
In the circle, Western Oregon has an ERA of 4.65 with two shutouts.  Maddie Mayer has posted a 5-2 record through 10 appearances, seven starts, and tossed 47.2 innings.  She has struck out 29 hitters. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
Central Washington swept Pacific Lutheran in a doubleheader last weekend.  The Wildcats sent five pitches into the seats in the opening game, taking it 20-7.  The Wildcats then took game two in a much closer affair, 5-4.
 
Mikayla Kopacz launched a pair of homeruns, while Alyssa Benthagen, Maddy Zerr, and Paige Liikala all went deep as well.