ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University softball team (2-12) will head to Western Oregon (7-7) for a four-game nonconference series this Saturday and Sunday.
GAME INFORMATION
Saturday, March 2 & Sunday, March 3
11:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.
Central Washington at Western Oregon
WOU Softball Field
Monmouth, Ore.
WATCH LIVE STATS
QUOTING HEAD COACH JOE DIPIETRO
"We played better last weekend against a very good NNU team, and I'm hopeful that we'll continue that trend this weekend at Western Oregon."
LAST WEEKEND
The Wildcats fell victim of a 0-4 weekend at home against the now 22nd-ranked Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks in a nonconference series. CWU fell 6-0 and 5-1 in the day one double-header before falling 3-0 and 6-2 in the double-header on day two.
Jillian Hampson led the way for the Wildcats offensively connecting on five hits and earning one RBI without striking out once the whole weekend. She finished a perfect 13 for 13 on catches defensively, making at least one diving catch in almost every game over the weekend.
Payton Kessler faced 61 batters in 14 innings pitched allowing 17 hits, 11 walks, and one wild pitch. Kessler struck out nine while only throwing one walk in the two games pitched.
SCOUTING THE WOLVES
WOU has started their season 7-7 but is currently riding a four-game win streak. The Wolves opened their season at the Concordia Kickoff Classic where they finished 2-2 taking victories over Biola (4-0) and Chaminade (3-2) but falling to host Concordia Irvine (6-1) and Sonoma State (9-1). The Wolves then fell in their home-opening double-header to the reigning NAIA National Champions Southern Oregon 5-2 and 7-5.
The Wolves then traveled to Hawaii earning a split at Chaminade falling 4-3 but bouncing back for the 7-5 victory in game two. WOU then got swept by Hawaii Hilo by scores of 5-4 and 4-3 before earning the sweep over Hawaii Pacific 6-3 and 5-1. Last weekend WOU traveled to St. Martin's where they defeated 16th-ranked Western Washington 2-1 giving the Vikings their first loss of the season, and then defeating host St. Martin's 3-1.
The Wolves have four batters that are hitting over a .300 batting average, led by Victoria Zimmerman with a .488 batting average. Kate Ronning (.361), Chelby Smalley (.348), and Bella Valdes (.340) are all also hitting over .300 so far on the season. Zimmerman leads WOU in hits with 21 while Ronning and Sophie Franklin each have two doubles while Sydney Conklin has two triples to lead the Wolves, respectively. Natalie Willoughby has the lone home run for the Wolves this season while Smalley has the most RBI with seven. Zimmerman and Valdes have each drawn five walks this season.
In the mound for the Wolves, Alivia Holden and Mackenzee Collins have led the charge with Holden holding a 1.50 ERA and Collins owning a 1.88 ERA. Collins has pitched four complete games earning the shutout victory over Biola while also posting two saves in 41 innings pitched. Holden has allowed 14 hits, six runs four of which earned, and 10 walks while striking out seven against 70 batters in 18.2 innings pitched. Collins has allowed 29 hits, 14 runs 11 of which are earned, and 25 walks while striking out 39 against 147 batters.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will open GNAC play with a four-game road series at Saint Martin's on Saturday, March 9, and Sunday, March 10 with a noon first-pitch in game one each day and game two to follow approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
