ELLENSBURG, Wash. – On the eve of the GNAC Championships, Central Washington University softball controls its own destiny in the final weekend of regular season play. The Wildcats host Western Oregon University on Saturday (April 30) and Sunday (May 1) with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 pm both days.
 
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"This weekend is a very important weekend for many reasons," CWU Head Coach Joe DiPietro said. "First, we will honor our two seniors, Keegan Wise and Rhaney Harris. These two have made a lasting impression on the softball program at Central Washington University.  Rhaney has been someone that I have leaned on to lead us in the circle as well as her leadership with the team. Keegan is an amazing person. She is so well respected and always brings a confidence and a smile every day. Every team needs someone like her. We are going to miss both of these amazing women next year!"
 
"Secondly, on Sunday, we are honoring Gold Star families prior to the start of the games," DiPietro continued. "We have 17 families that have had a family member make the ultimate sacrifice so that we get to do whatever it is we do daily. That will be a very emotional ceremony for all." 
 
Lastly, we are playing to secure the final spot in the GNAC Conference Championships next week at Saint Martin's," DiPietro finished. "We'll need to play complete games to beat a quality opponent in Western Oregon."
 
SENIOR DAY
Prior to first pitch on Saturday (April 30) the Wildcats will recognize two seniors who are playing in their final home games, Rhaney Harris and Keegan Wise.
 
Harris joined CWU from Concordia-Portland, following the school's closure. In two seasons, she has been a critical piece of the Wildcats' pitching staff. Harris earned Honorable Mention All-GNAC honors in her first season with the 'Cats. This season, Harris served as the starter in games one and three. In 21 appearances, 19 starts, she has compiled 123 innings, two shutouts, 13 complete games, a record of 10-10, an ERA of 3.36, and a WHIP of 1.47.
 
Wise is in her fourth season with the Crimson and Black. She joined the team in 2019 from Banks High School. She is hitting .273 this season in 20 games. In her four seasons with the Wildcats, Wise has posted an on-base percentage of .333 or higher in each season.
 
GOLD STAR FAMILY GAMES
Sunday (May 1), Central Washington softball will wear jerseys honoring servicemembers who died in the line of duty and their families.
 
During World War I, US Army Captain Robert L. Queisser had two sons serving on the front line. He designed and patented the Blue Star Service Flag, which quickly became the unofficial symbol of having a child in service. In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson authorized a suggestion by the Women's Committee of the Council of National Defenses, that mothers who had lost a child who served in the war could wear a traditional black mourning armband with a gold gilt star. The authorization led to the tradition of a gold star covering the blue star on the Service flag to show the service member had passed.
 
A ceremony will be held approximately an hour prior to first pitch on Sunday, where CWU players will meet with Gold Star Families and present them with a ceremonial jersey. Central players will be playing in honor of the service members, with their rank and name displayed on the back of each player's uniform.
 
GNAC STANDINGS
Central is currently fourth in the GNAC standings at 9-11. Simon Fraser is a game behind the Wildcats for the spot in the Championship at 8-12. Western Oregon University needs a four-game sweep of CWU to overtake the Wildcats as they are 6-18. The Wolves would also need a bit of help from Northwest Nazarene University. The Nighthawks host Simon Fraser on Friday and Saturday. NNU is currently second but a strong weekend could propel them over Saint Martin's for the top spot.
 
SCOUTING WESTERN OREGON
The Wolves enter the week with a record of 21-25, including a 6-14 mark in GNAC play. They most recently split a four-game series with Western Washington University. Western Oregon captured a 5-4 11-inning win in the opener, before dropping game two 7-2. The Wolves took game three 2-0, but fell 4-1 in nine innings in the finale.
 
Maddie Mayer, Reilly Tidwell, and Chelsea Smith have handled the majority of the pitching duties for the Wolves. Mayer has tossed a team-high 109 innings, while compiling a record of 8-9, in 22 appearances. She boasts an ERA of 2.63 and a WHIP of 1.31. Mayer has recorded 81 strikeouts and 33 walks, while opponents are hitting .251 against her. Tidwell is 3-6 in 16 appearances. She has completed 73 innings and holds an ERA of 2.63. Opponents are hitting just 2.44 against her and her WHIP stands at 1.31. Smith leads the Wolves with 102 strikeouts. She is 9-6 on the year, in 18 appearances, with an opposing average against of .238. In 93 innings, Smith has posted an ERA of 3.84 and a WHIP of 1.47. The Wolves' pitching staff has accumulated an ERA of 3.76 and a WHIP of 1.53.
 
Offensively, Western Oregon is hitting .272 as a team. They've hit 26 home runs, driven in 187 runs, and scored a total of 202 runs. Logan Carlos leads the Wolves with an average of .369. She has hit nine home runs, driven in 32 runs, and holds an on-base percentage of .453. Carlos boasts an OPS of 1.109. Natalie Willoughby leads Western Oregon in both home runs (11) and runs batted in (34). Her OBP is also eclipses .400 at .428, while her OPS is .346. Zoie Recolan is the only other player hitting above .300 for the Wolves. She currently sits at .336 with an OBP of .415.
 
THE WILDCATS
Central Washington had the past weekend off. Most recently, the Wildcats split a four-game series with Western Washington. The Wildcats took both games on day one, 2-1 and 3-2, before the Vikings returned the favor on day two, 4-2 and 3-1.
 
Allie Thiessen leads the Wildcats with an average of .382. She also leads the 'Cats with an OBP of .446 and has scored a team-high 33 runs. Makenna King is hitting .327, Harlee Carpenter (.302) and Myiah Seaton (.301) are also over the .300 plateau. Alyssa Benthagen leads the Wildcats in home runs (10) and runs batted in (32). Karsyn Decker leads the Wildcats in stolen bases, swiping 13 bases on 14 attempts.
 
In the circle, Harris and Isabel Womack continue to split duties. Harris is 10-10 over 123 innings. She has recorded 61 strikeouts, an ERA of 3.36, a WHIP of 1.47, and an average against of .294. Womack is 7-7 over 95.1 innings. Opponents are hitting just .236 against her. She currently holds an ERA of 3.97 and a WHIP of 1.72. Womack has recorded a team-high 70 strikeouts.