Western Oregon (8-7) vs. Montana State Billings (6-11-1)
11 a.m. Thursday (DH) | WOU Softball Field (Monmouth, OR)
11 a.m. Friday (DH) | WOU Softball Field (Monmouth, OR)
2024 WOU SCHEDULE - LINKS TO LIVE STREAMS / LIVE STATS

GNAC STANDINGS | GNAC STATISTICS | WOU STATS | WOU STAT RANKINGS

SERIES HISTORY ...
VS. MONTANA STATE BILLINGS

• All-time: 43-44
• Home: 28-10 | Road: 6-23 | Neutral: 4-8
• First Meeting: 2001
• Streak: Lost 1
• Last 10: 5-5
• Last season: 1-3 in Billings (L 4-3 / L 8-7 / W 9-0 / L 9-1)

THE WOLVES ...
LAST WEEK: 1-0 vs. Central Washington (2-1 win in 4.5 innings)
STREAK: Won 5
SPLITS: Home 1-2 | Road 5-2 | Neutral 2-3
TEAM STATS (GNAC Ranking out of 7):

•  Runs/game: 3.4 (6th) | AVG: .276 (5th) | ERA: 2.63 (3rd) | Fielding %: .942 (5th)

The Western Oregon softball team was only able to sneak a 2-1 win over Central Washington in 4.5 innings before the game was called due to inclement weather (the game started on Saturday, was postponed in the third, restarted Sunday and called after 4.5 innings). Mackenzee Collins didn't give up an earned run in five innings of work in the circle for the Wolves.

Victoria Zimmerman continues to lead the GNAC in hitting with a .489 average while Bella Valdes is 12th (.347) and Kate Ronning is 14th (.342). The Wolves have proven to be able to move runners over via the sacrifice as they have a conference-best 19 sacrifice bunts (10th in the nation). Valdes is also second in the conference in stolen bases with eight. In the circle, Alivia Holden (1.50) and Collins (1.67) rank third and fourth in the GNAC in ERA while Collins is third in the GNAC in strikeouts with 40, second in opposing batting average (.196), fourth in innings pitched (46).

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT ...
MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
LAST WEEK: 3-8
STREAK: Lost 2
SPLITS: Home 2-1-1 | Road 0-3 | Neutral 4-9
TEAM STATS (GNAC Rank out of 7)

• Runs/Game: 5.11 (3rd) | AVG: .311 (2nd) | ERA: 8.23 (7th) | Fielding %: .937 (7th)

The Yellowjackets played 11 of their 20 games this season in the last week alone - going 3-8 at the Spring Games in Florida.

MSUB's Teagan Seeton is pacing the team with a .382 average wit height homers, two doubles, a triple, runs, 16 RBI to go along with seven stolen bases. Marin Penney leads the team with 18 RBI and five doubles to go along with a .361 average and three homers. As a team, the Yellowjackets lead the conference and are in the top 10 in the nation in homers with 27. Caitlyn James has pitched more than half of the innings for MSUB this season and owns a 6.35 ERA with 21 strikeouts and 114 hits allowed (.377 batting average).

WOU NOTES ...
WOLVES PICKED TO FINISH FOURTH IN GNAC | RELEASE
The Western Oregon softball team was picked fourth in the GNAC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll released by the conference on Friday. Three-time defending GNAC champion Northwest Nazarene was unanimously picked first followed by Western Washington, Saint Martin's, Western Oregon, Central Washington, Montana State Billings and Simon Fraser. The Wolves are coming off a GNAC Championships appearance in 2023 in head coach Aly Boytz's first year at the helm by going 11-13 in conference and 22-30 overall. Two all-conference players return for the Wolves in outfielder Maddie Doig (second team) and Natalie Willoughby (honorable mention).