MONMOUTH, Ore. – Almost a year to the date later, the Western Oregon University softball team will be making their much-anticipated return to the field this weekend when they host Central Washington in non-conference action at the WOU Softball Field Saturday and Sunday.
The Wolves last played on March 12, 2020 at home against MSU Billings closing what would turn out to be the final games of the season strong sweeping the Yellowjackets. WOU finished the year 13-10 overall and 3-2 in GNAC play as the rest of the season was then suspended due to COVID-19.
WOU did get a chance to play Central Washington last year with the teams playing in Ellensburg (Mar. 8) and the teams split the doubleheader with WOU winning the first game (10-6) and CWU the nightcap (8-4).
In last year's small sample size, the Wolves had the offense going posting a .314 batting average with 207 hits, 29 doubles, 12 home runs, nine triples and 113 RBI. Leading the way was Tyler Creach with a .405 average, posting eight doubles, a pair of home runs and 21 RBI. Ayanna Arceneaux followed with a .402 average along with five doubles, three triples, a home run and 10 RBI. Returner Sydney Bowers added a .353 average starting all 23 games, coming away with 24 hits, two doubles, two triples, three home runs and 15 RBI. Fellow returner Kiley Lynn added a .333 average with 22 hits, three doubles, a triple and seven RBI in playing all 23 games that included 22 starts. Zoie Recolan had a .341 average in 13 games, posting 15 hits, while Allyson Drury added a .292 average with 14 hits, two doubles, a triple, a home run and 11 RBI.
In the circle, Chandler Bishop returns after leading the team with a 3.80 ERA in 42.1 innings worked. She went 4-2 in 10 total appearances that included six starts. Bishop also collected a save. Maddie Mayer is also back in the circle after logging the most innings with 70.1 in 13 appearances that included 10 starts. She went 6-4 with a 4.28 ERA, collected eight complete games and also had a save. Reilly Tidwell is also back for the pitching staff after seeing time in nine games that included seven starts and 40 total innings. She finished with a 3-4 record that included three complete games. All three pitchers tossed a shutout in 2020.
Of the roster this season, five return as seniors with Aleya Turner transferring in after playing at Concordia (OR) this past season. Bishop is back for her senior season and is joined by Bowers, Drury and Lynn. Five juniors all return for this season in Mayer, Tidwell, Logan Carlos, Baylie Kahele and Maddie Brandner. Four sophomores are on the roster in returners Recolan, Sadie Chipley and Kirah McGlothan, while Sage Barnes joins the team as a transfer from Harding (Ark.). Eleven are on the roster this year as freshmen in Isabelle Lewis, Erica Soliz, Hannah Stewart, Natalie Willoughby, Mariah Hyre, Alivia Eastman, Jada Young, Nicki Derrick, Sophie Franklin, Karly Tiedeman and Bella Valdes. Hyre is also a transfer playing last year at Corban.
This will be the first of two different meetings between Central Washington and Western Oregon this year and both will take place in Monmouth. This first series will be non-conference play, while the second meeting on April 24-25 will be GNAC contests.
Central Washington has already played six games this season going 3-3 all at home. They opened the season with a two-game sweep of Puget Sound and then dropped three of four to Western Washington this past weekend. CWU is hitting .324 as a team with 48 hits, five doubles, eight triples, a home run and 41 RBI. Harlee Carpenter is off to a strong start with a .500 average and three triples. Theresa Moyle adds a .412 average with three triples as well and has driven in a team-high nine runs.
In the circle, Rhaney Harris leads the way with a 1.50 ERA in six innings of work and has a record of 1-1. Samantha Stanfield is next with a 6.75 ERA in 9.1 innings of work. As a staff, the Wildcats have a 10.00 ERA.
During the last time the teams played in Monmouth in 2019, WOU swept both games. Overall since 2002, CWU holds a slight 54-49 series record with WOU holding a 23-17 record in Monmouth.
In order to ensure the health and safety of the student-athletes, coaches, officials and staff, and to provide the best opportunity to complete the spring seasons, spectators will not be allowed for regular-season home events at GNAC institutions for the remainder of the 2020-21 academic year. Additionally, spectators will not be allowed at the GNAC's spring championships. Live video and stats will be available for the games.
WOU and CWU will begin their four-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. The teams will then conclude the series with another doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Live video can be found here and live stats can be found here.
