Baseball | 3/27/2013 10:29:00 AM

BASEBALL - CENTRAL WASHINGTON AT WESTERN OREGON
Friday, March 29, 2013 - 1:00 p.m. - Monmouth, Ore. - (DH)
Saturday, March 30, 2013 - 12:00 p.m. - Monmouth, Ore. - (DH)

LIVE STATS: http://athletics.wou.edu/live/xlive.htm

MONMOUTH, Ore. – After an 11-game road trip, the Western Oregon baseball team returns home this week to host Central Washington in an important four-game series, beginning with a doubleheader on Friday, March 29, at 1:00 p.m.

The Wolves (15-11, 10-2) are the 11-time GNAC defending champions and hold a narrow one-game lead over the Wildcats (15-11, 9-3) as the series concludes with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 30, at 12:00 p.m.

Western Oregon leads the conference in pitching, allowing just 3.83 earned runs per nine innings pitched.  Spenser Watkins is 4-3 and has a conference-leading 2.87 ERA while Kody Stone leads a solid bullpen.  In 10 appearances, Stone has seven saves and one victory and has a 1.64 ERA.
Stone earned GNAC Pitcher of the Week honors last week after recording three saves during the four-game series against Saint Martin's as he now ranks third in the nation in the category.

Daniel McNabb has been WOU's top hitter, batting .365.  He also leads the Wolves in runs scored (17) and RBIs (19).  Matt Nylen is the team's only other .300 hitter.  He is batting .329.  As a team, WOU ranks fourth in the conference with a .258 average.

Central Washington is second in ERA (4.03) and has a healthy lead in the team batting race hitting .305.

CWU freshman left fielder Kramer Ferrell leads the conference in batting with a .393 average and is riding a GNAC season-best 13-game hitting streak.   Right fielder Ethan Sterkel is hitting .346. Catcher Kyle Sani provides the power for the Wildcats.  He leads the team in doubles (10), home runs (6) and RBI (23).

Skye Adams leads the Wildcats' pitching staff with a 4-1 record and a 3.04 ERA.

Admission to the weekend series is $6 for adults and $4 for non-WOU students and seniors. WOU faculty, staff and students are free with a  valid identification card.

Following the weekend series, WOU will return to action on Saturday, April 6, when the Wolves travel to Billings, Mont., to open a four-game series with Montana State Billings at 12:00 p.m.