ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington softball team (12-11, 3-1 GNAC) will head back on the road to face a very familiar opponent in the Montana State Billings Yellow Jackets (8-15, 2-6 GNAC) this time in a four-game conference series this Thursday and Friday.
 
GAME INFORMATION:
 
Thursday, March 23^rd
Central Washington @ Montana State Billings
11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time)
Avitus Group Stadium
Billings, Mont.
WATCH LIVE STATS
 
Friday, March 24^th
Central Washington @ Montana State Billings
12:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m. (PST)
Avitus Group Stadium
Billings, Mont.
WATCH LIVE STATS
 
LAST TIME OUT:
 
The Wildcats opened GNAC play against their arch-rivals the Western Washington Vikings. CWU took the 3-1 series victory notching 1-0 and 14-5 in five innings wins on day one followed by a 0-3 setback and an 8-4 victory on day two.
 
"The team played well this weekend and I'm very proud of them," head coach Joe DiPietro said. "Hopefully we're able to maintain this momentum next week when we take our trip to MSUB."
 
SCOUTING THE YELLOW JACKETS:
 
The Wildcats and Yellow Jackets have already squared off in a four-game nonconference series earlier this season with the Wildcats taking the series 3-1 in Ellensburg. The Yellow Jackets started their conference slate following that series by dropping both series 1-3 on the road at Northwest Nazarene and at Saint Martin's. This will be the Yellow Jackets first official home games this season after their home series against Saint Martin's was cancelled.
 
The Wildcats and Yellow Jackets have squared off 82 times in their history with the Wildcats holding the 53-29 advantage in the series.
 
Marin Penney and Teagan Seeton are the leaders on the offensive front for the 'Jackets as they are each batting over .300 with Penney batting .333 and Seeton batting .317. Penney has the most hits so far this season with 22 as well as adding seven home runs to her resume this season, which has pushed her RBI numbers to 16 so far this season in 50 at-bats to lead the 'Jackets in all the respective areas.
 
Alyssa Etheridge has been the go-to ace for MSUB posting a 3.21 ERA and a 5-8 record. Etheridge has pitched 12 complete games including one shutout and one save in 76.1 innings pitched. Etheridge has allowed 86 hits, 46 runs, 35 earned runs, and 26 walks while getting 66 strikeouts against 311 batters. Julia Qualteri and Shelby Martin are the other staring pitchers for the 'Jackets. Qualteri has posted a 5.49 ERA and a 2-3 record while pitching one complete game in 44.2 innings pitched. Qualteri has allowed 62 hits, 42 runs, 35 earned runs, and 19 walks while getting 16 strikeouts against 190 batters. Martin has an 8.87 ERA and a 1.4 record on the season in 23.2 innings pitched. Martin has allowed 46 hits, 36 runs, 30 earned runs, and seven walks while getting 12 strikeouts against 122 batters.
 
UP NEXT:
 
The Wildcats will take a brief break from GNAC play with their participation in the 2023 Tournament of Champions hosted by Stanislaus State in Turlock, Calif. from Friday, March 31^st through Sunday, April 2^nd.