Softball | 3/8/2011 6:56:15 PM

What's happening:
The Western Oregon softball team will continue its road trip with a single game at Corban on Wednesday (Mar. 9; 1:00 pm) before traveling to GNAC foe No. 18 Western Washington for doubleheaders on Saturday (Mar. 12; noon) and Sunday (Mar. 13; noon). Live stats for the games against WWU can be found here.

Recapping the Wolves:
WOU split four games with inaugural GNAC member Simon Fraser last weekend. The Clan took the first two games (5-3, 3-2) before the Wolves rebounded to win both games the following day (3-2, 6-5). Senior outfielder Jessica Hallmark (Salem, Ore./Sprague) went yard twice while freshman catcher Tia Misfeldt hit her first career home run. Hallmark and sophomore Bailey Rueck (Portland, Ore./Grant) both drove in three runs. Senior pitcher Jessica Wood (The Dalles, Ore./The Dalles-Wahtonka) struck out nine batters while giving up just ten hits in 50 at-bats. She pitched a complete game in Sunday's opener, her 30th career complete game. She also notched her 300th career strikeout in Saturday's nightcap.

Scouting Corban:
The Warriors are 7-7 on the season and 2-0 at home. Winners of five of their last six, Corban averages 5.6 runs and 7.6 hits per game. Sophomore outfielder Stephanie Nibbert (.457 avg, 7 hr, 21 rbi) and junior third baseman Emma Winckler (.400 avg, 7 rbi, 2 hr) lead the Warriors' batting attack. Senior Makenzie Marchbanks (4.58 era, 24 er, 15 so, .257 b/avg) has started eight games on the mound for Corban, winning three.

The Wolves are 5-2 all-time against Corban, but have never played the Warriors in a true road game. Western has not lost to Corban since 2006.

Scouting Western Washington:
WWU enters its series with the Wolves at 11-0 (6-0 GNAC) and ranked No. 18 nationally. The Vikings average 7 runs per game and bat .330 as a team. WWU is led by freshman outfielder Meghan Carrillo (.514 avg, 18 h, 10 rbi) and senior outfielder Michelle Wrigley (.389 avg, 14 h, 6 db). Senior Erika Quint (1.83 era, 11 er, 68 so, .196 b/avg) is the Vikings' stud pitcher, bringing an unblemished 7-0 record into the series.

WOU trails the Vikings 24-45 in the all-time series and are 11-20 at WWU.

The Wolves in the rankings:
Senior pitcher Jessica Wood's name is scattered throughout the GNAC statistical leader boards. She ranks first in RBI (10), second in doubles (4), and third in both batting average (.406) and hits (13). As a pitcher, Wood ranks second in complete games (4) and third in both opponent batting average (.224) and strikeouts (36).

Junior utility player Bailey Rueck ranks first in RBIs (11) and fourth in both hits (12) and total bases (20).

Senior outfielder Jessica Hallmark ranks second in home runs (3), fourth in runs scored (10) and walks (7), and seventh in total bases (18).

Sophomore infielder Andrea Bailey (Gresham, Ore./Barlow) ranks third in stolen bases (3), fourth in hits (12), doubles (3), and walks (7), and seventh in total bases (18).

Junior outfielder Kendra George (Roseburg, Ore./Roseburg) ranks second in stolen bases (4) while freshman catcher Ashley Worthey (Aloha, Ore./Century) ranks fourth in walks (7) and tenth in hits (10).

As a team, Western ranks first in stolen bases (15), second in hits (82) and doubles (15), and third in ERA (3.66) and opponent batting average (.247).