Softball | 5/1/2013 11:56:00 AM

2013 GNAC SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - BILLINGS, MONT. - TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
ALL TIMES PACIFIC

Thursday, May 02, 2013
Game 1: Western Oregon vs Simon Fraser - 12:00 p.m. 
Game 2: Saint Martin's vs. Central Washington - 2:30 p.m. 

Friday, May 03, 2013
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs Winner Game 2 - 10:00 a.m. 
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs Loser Game 2 - 12:30 p.m. 
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs Loser Game 3 - 3:00 p.m. 

Saturday, May 04, 2013
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs Winner Game 5 - 12:00 p.m. 
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs Loser Game 6 (if necessary) - 2:30 p.m.

LIVE AUDIO: GNAC TV
LIVE VIDEO: GNAC TV
LIVE STATS: GNAC TV

MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Oregon softball team returns to action this week as the second-seeded Wolves begin their bid for a berth at the NCAA West Regional Softball Championship when they face third-seeded Simon Fraser in the opening round of the double-elimination GNAC Softball Championship on Thursday, May 2, at 11:00 a.m., in Billings, Mont.

WOU enters the contest with a mark of 27-24 overall and is the second-seed in the tournament as the Wolves have won seven-of-eight contests, including sweeps over Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington last week.

Amanda Evola leads the Wolves after earning first-team all-conference honors for the second straight year as the sophomore outfielder ranks among the league's best in a number of categories. The centerfielder ranks fifth in the conference in hitting (.384), second in slugging percentage (.660), third in RBI (43), second in home runs (9) and first in total bases (105).

Hannah Pomeroy and Jourdan Williams also earned first-team honors this week as Pomeroy leads the Wolves with a 14-7 record and 3.55 ERA. Meanwhile, Williams enters the tournament hitting .323 on the season while establishing a new school record with 44 RBI. The sophomore also posted a 9-9 record in the circle with a 3.87 ERA.

Desiree Villegas (Sr., INF, .313 BA, 1 HR, 14 RBI) and Melanie Pfeiffer (Jr., C/INF, .263 BA, 34 Runs, 11 RBI) have also had strong seasons for the Wolves as WOU looks to qualify for the NCAA Softball Championship for the second time in school history (2008).

WOU opens the tournament ranked second in the league with 255 runs scored while batting .271 as a team while the Wolves pitching staff ranks fifth in the league with a 3.94 ERA.

Simon Fraser enters the postseason with a mark of 25-21 overall, 15-9 in league action, as the Clan rank second in the league in pitching with a 3.25 ERA. Kelsie Hawkins leads SFU in the circle, posting a 14-8 mark and 2.57 ERA while Cara Lukawesky is 9-11 with a 3.24 ERA for the Clan.

Carly Lepoutre leads the SFU attack, hitting .338 on the season with 24 runs scored while Alex Baylak leads the Clan with five home runs.

Earlier this season, WOU captured three-of-four meetings against SFU, including two wins at Simon Fraser on April 20.

The winner of the contest will advance to face the winner of top-seeded Saint Martin's and fourth-seeded Central Washington on Friday, May 3, at 9:00 a.m. The losing squads will meet in an elimination game on Friday at 11:30 a.m.