Softball | 3/13/2013 2:04:00 PM

SOFTBALL - WESTERN OREGON AT NORTHWEST NAZARENE (DH)
Friday, March 15, 2013 - 12:00 p.m. - Nampa, Idaho

LIVE STATS: None

SOFTBALL - WESTERN OREGON AT CENTRAL WASHINGTON (DH)
Sunday, March 17, 2013 - 12:00 p.m. - Ellensburg, Wash.

LIVE STATS: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/cwu.portal#

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Winners of six in a row, the Western Oregon softball team returns to Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) play this week when the Wolves travel to Northwest Nazarene for a doubleheader on Friday, March 15, at 12:00 p.m. before facing Central Washington in Ellensburg, Wash., on Sunday, March 17 at 11:00 a.m.

The Wolves enter the week 13-12 overall and 4-0 in GNAC play  after sweeping their doubleheaders last week against Montana State Billings and Saint Martin's.

The Wolves continue to put up strong offensive numbers as they lead the GNAC with 112 runs scored and are batting .280 as a team to rank fifth in the league.

Sophomore outfielder Amanda Evola continues to be the leader at the plate, leading the Wolves with a .388 batting average. Evola ranks near the top of the league in a number of categories, including slugging percentage (3rd, .716), runs scored (1st, 18), hits (1st, 28), RBI (3rd, 17), doubles (1st, 10), home runs (1st, 5) and total bases (1st, 53).

Desiree Villegas is also off to a strong start for the Wolves, hitting .349 to rank second on the squad while Jourdan Williams is batting .329 while ranking second in the league with 18 RBI.

Hannah Pomeroy continues to lead a balanced pitching staff as she enters the week with a 6-3 mark and 3.91 ERA to lead the Wolves. The right-hander has 32 strikeouts in 62.2 innings pitched and earned GNAC Player of the Week honors after tossing a pair of complete games, including a shutout against MSU Billings, while hitting three home runs last week. As a team, the Wolves rank third in the GNAC in ERA (3.74), strikeouts (72) and opponent's batting average (.280).

Northwest Nazarene opens the week at 5-16 overall and 0-6 in GNAC play. The Crusaders have lost 10 in a row following doubleheader sweeps at the hands of Western Washington and Simon Fraser last week.

The Crusaders, who are currently hitting .241 as a team, are lead by Brianna Kinghorn as she leads the team with a .317 average and four home runs. Noelle Wright leads the Crusaders in the circle as she has posted a 5-12 record and 4.55 ERA in 103 innings of work.

Meanwhile, CWU enters the week 2-8 overall and 1-3 in GNAC play after splitting a doubleheader at WWU on Saturday.

The Wildcats are third in the GNAC in batting average (.278) and are lead by Cassi Ellis, who is currently hitting .346 this season. CWU's pitching staff boasts an overall ERA of 5.66 and is lead by Maria Gau, who is 1-4 with a 3.72 ERA in 32 innings pitched.

Last year, WOU won the series against the Crusaders and Wildcats as the Wolves went 4-2 against NNU and 5-1 against CWU.

Following this week's action the Wolves will return home for a doubleheader against Simon Fraser on Saturday, March 23 at 1:00 p.m.