ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University softball team will claw back into conference play with a big four-game series at 22nd-ranked Northwest Nazarene this weekend.
GAME INFORMATION
Friday, March 29
Central Washington at #22 Northwest Nazarene
1:00 & 3:00 p.m.
Bobby Welch Halle Field
Nampa, Idaho
WATCH LIVE STATS
Saturday, March 30
Central Washington at #22 Northwest Nazarene
11:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.
Bobby Welch Halle Field
Nampa, Idaho
WATCH LIVE STATS
QUOTING HEAD COACH JOE DIPIETRO
"We have a very big weekend coming up. NNU is not only one of the top teams in the GNAC, but also in the country. We need to be ready for the challenge and play our best."
LAST WEEK
The Wildcats went 1-3 during their time in Turlock, California participating in the Tournament of Champions.
The Wildcats first suffered a 5-1 setback at the hooves of the Toros of Cal State Dominguez Hills. CWU then fell in game two of the opening day by a 7-5 score to Stanislaus State.
Central fell 2-0 to Cal State East Bay to open day two of the Tournament of Champions with game two against Sonoma State canceled due to rain. The Wildcats capped off their time in California with a big 5-4 victory over Chico State with
Alyssa Benthagen hitting her second home run of the season and
Brooke Jordan earning two RBI in the game.
SCOUTING THE #22 NIGHTHAWKS
The Nighthawks have started their season 23-6 and own a 6-2 record in GNAC play. CWU and NNU met in a nonconference series back at the end of February with the Nighthawks walking away with the sweep. NNU won day one by scores of 6-0 and 5-1 before backing it up on day two with another pair of victories by scores of 3-0 and 6-2.
NNU has three different players batting over .300 so far this season led by Clarissa Moreno with a .326 batting average. Joining Moreno in the over .300 batting average club is Emma Bumatay with a .319 batting average and Sidney Booth batting a .301 average. Moreno leads the Nighthawks with 30 hits and nine doubles while Bumatay owns six home runs and 24 RBI to lead NNU. Booth has drawn 16 walks while Emma Mulligan has successfully stolen 11 bases on 12 attempts.
Northwest Nazarene is still led by their one-two punch in pitching in Booth and Gina Skinner. Booth currently owns a 1.19 ERA, a 15-3 record, and five shutouts in 100 innings pitched. Booth has allowed 57 hits, 22 runs 17 of which are earned, and 23 walks while striking out 90 against 353 batters. Skinner has a 1.43 ERA, a 6-1 record, two shutouts, and one save in 54 innings pitched. Skinner has allowed 43 hits, 14 runs 11 of which are earned, and seven walks while striking out 14 against 207 batters.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will have a week off before welcoming the Western Oregon Wolves (15-12, 3-1 GNAC) for a four-game series starting on Friday, April 12 at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. The series will continue into Saturday, April 13 with both games being the annual Gold Star Family Game. The Gold Star Games are set for 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. and will honor fallen members of the military and their families.
