ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Softball Team will dive into GNAC play with a four-game series at Western Oregon this weekend.
GAME INFORMATION
Friday, March 7
1:00 & 3:00 p.m.
Central Washington at Western Oregon
WOU Softball Field
Monmouth, Ore.
WATCH LIVE STATS TICKETS
Saturday, March 8
12:00 & 2:00 p.m.
Central Washington at Western Oregon
WOU Softball Field
Monmouth, Ore.
WATCH LIVE STATS TICKETS
QUOTING CWU HEAD SOFTBALL COACH JOE DIPIETRO
"This is an important weekend for us. We need to play with more consistency and get off to a good start as we begin GNAC play to help set the tone for the rest of the season."
LAST OUTINGS
The Wildcats traveled down to Northwest Nazarene to participate in a four-game weekend that saw the 'Cats face Montana State Billings and NNU in two games each. The Wildcats fell to MSUB 9-4 in the first game then were shutout by NNU 3-0 in game two of the day. On day two the Yellowjackets overwhelmed CWU 13-5 in five innings. The crimson and black wrapped up the weekend with a 9-2 setback to NNU in game two of day two.
SCOUTING THE WOLVES
WOU is 6-13 on the season with this weekend serving as their GNAC-opening weekend as well. The Wolves opened their season going 1-4 at the CUI Kick-Off Classic falling 14-5 to Hawaii Hilo, 9-1 to Cal State Monterey Bay, 11-2 in five innings to Cal State San Marcos, and 3-1 to Chico State but ending the weekend on a high note in a 1-0 victory over Dominican (CA). Western Oregon then fell in a pair of double-headers in SoCal, first 8-0 in five innings and 9-2 to Cal State Dominguez Hills, then 10-2 in six innings and 4-3 to Concordia Irvine.
The Wolves then were swept in three games by Western Washington by 10-4, 13-1, and 11-4 scores before bouncing back for a 4-3 victory over Simon Fraser in their home-opening weekend. Last weekend WOU was down in Clermont, Fla. participating in The Spring Games where they swept day one over Sioux Falls 7-5 and Concordia-St. Paul 9-7. They split on day two defeating St. Anselm 8-2 before falling to Grand Valley State 11-1. They also split on day three falling 9-0 to Sothern New Hampshire before defeating Clarion 3-0.
Aaliyah Gaboriault and Victoria Zimmerman pace the Wolf bats with .333 and .309 batting averages, respectfully. Kate Ronning, Sydney Conklin, Brooklyn Schneidt, and Jenna Bixler all lay claim to a homerun this season while Isabelle Lewis leads the way with 12 RBI. Madelynne Hommel has drawn the most walks with 10 and is a perfect 4/4 on stolen bases while Gaboriault is a perfect 7/7 on stolen bases. Kennedy Abbas leads the pitching corps with a 4.41 ERA, a 3-6 record, four complete games, and one shutout in 54 innings pitched. Abbas has allowed 75 hits, 44 runs with 34 being earned, and nine walks while striking out 28 of 241 batters.
The Wolves took a 2-1 victory in a nonconference game in Monmouth last season that was reduced to four and a half innings due to weather. In the GNAC series last season the Wildcats swept WOU on day one 2-1 and 6-2, but the Wolves got revenge on day two by a 10-2 score in six innings and a 4-1 score.
UP NEXT
CWU will turn their attention to their home-opening series against Northwest Nazarene on Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15. First pitch each day is set for noon with game two set to start approximately at 2:00 p.m. with all the action happening from Gary & Bobbi Frederick Field in Ellensburg.
