ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Central Washington University softball hosts Simon Fraser University in a four-game GNAC series at Frederick Field on Saturday (March 26) and Sunday (March 27). First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm both days.
QUOTABLE
"This is a very important series for us this weekend," CWU Head Coach Joe DiPietro said. "We need to play four complete games against SFU to keep pace in the standings."
SCOUTING SIMON FRASER
Simon Fraser is 9-10 overall and 4-4 in GNAC play. They dropped all four of their games against Saint Martin's last weekend, including a 7-6 nine-inning affair.
Seven runs in the first two innings for the Saints in the opener set the tone for last weekend. They added two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings, after Simon Fraser responded with four in the second and three in the fourth. SFU cut their deficit to two with a pair of runs in the seventh, but SMU held on. Simon Fraser was blanked in game two, 9-0, over five innings. Game three went to nine innings with SMU pulling out a 7-6 walk-off victory. Simon Fraser scored two in the third, as did Saint Martin's. SFU then scored three in the seventh - so did Saint Martin's. After SFU put up one in the ninth to pull ahead, SMU resounded with a pair for a walk-off victory. In the final game, Saint Martin's jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first two innings and never looked back, 6-2.
Simon Fraser boasts the hottest offense of the GNAC, putting up an average of .361. Leading SFU is Alex Ogg, hitting .479. She is reaching base at a clip of .519, slugging .589, and is 13-for-13 in stolen bases. Earlier this season against CWU, in a non-GNAC matchup, Ogg finished 5-for-9 over two games. She has struck out just five times in 73 at-bats. Hanna Finkelstein leads SFU with four round trippers and 23 runs driven in. She is slugging a team-high .672, with an average of .377. Simon Fraser has scored 133 runs on the season, driving in 117. They have sent 13 pitchers into the grandstands and stolen 34 bases on 36 attempts.
In the circle, however, SFU has struggled. Anissa Zacharczuk has handled the majority of the work for Simon Fraser's pitching staff. In 14 appearances, 10 starts, Zacharczuk is 6-5 over 53.2 innings of work. She has posted an ERA of 6.39 and a WHIP of 1.90. Opponents are hitting .337 against her, just a touch below the mark of .355 - which is what opponents are currently hitting against SFU's entire staff. Zacharczuk has struck out 24 and walked 17. As a staff, Simon Fraser holds an ERA of 6.96 and a WHIP of 2.01.
THE WILDCATS
Central dropped three of its last four games to Northwest Nazarene University. The Wildcats enter the week at 9-14, with a 3-5 record in GNAC play.
Bonus softball was required in game one. A two-run eighth inning double from Myiah Seaton lifted the 'Cats over the Nighthawks in the series opener, 6-4. CWU scored two runs in the fourth, fifth, and seventh innings for the victory. NNU opened a 5-0 lead in the first inning of game two and never looked back, taking a 7-1 victory. On day two, a three-run first inning for NNU gave way to a 6-2 victory. The Wildcats managed just one hit, a home run from Alyssa Benthagen. The final game of the series went by the wayside after a seven-run fourth inning from the Nighthawks. They claimed the finale, 10-4.
Allie Thiessen and Benthagen remain red hot at the dish. Thiessen leads the 'Cats with an average of .392 and an OBP of .471. She clubbed her first home run of the season in the series finale against NNU. Benthagen, meanwhile, is hitting .351 and riding a 14-game hitting streak - dating back to February 26. She also leads the Wildcats with five home runs and 19 runs driven in. The Crimson and Black are hitting .269 as a team. They have scored 102 runs, driving in 79, and have stolen 22 bases in 25 attempts.
Rhaney Harris and Isabel Womack have amassed the majority of innings in the circle for Central this season, throwing 69.1 and 50.2 innings respectively. Harris is 4-7 in 12 appearances, 10 of which have been starts. She has thrown six complete games and one shutout, while striking out 33. Opponents are hitting .318 against the right-hander. Womack is 4-3 through 11 appearances. She has made nine starts and thrown two shutouts. She has recorded 31 strikeouts and opponents are hitting a paltry .241 against her.
Central dropped both non-conference meetings against Simon Fraser, 15-7 and 9-8.
