ELLENSBURG — The Central Washington University Softball Team is looking towards a big weekend as they welcome the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks for their home-opening series of the 2025 season today and Saturday. 

"We're looking forward to finally getting to play at home. The team is excited for the opportunity that NNU presents us. We're getting better and hope this is the weekend that we turn the corner and break through,” said CWU Head Softball Coach Joe DiPietro.  

This will be the Wildcats’ first matches of the season on their home diamond after suffering two losses and relishing two wins last weekend against the Western Oregon University Wolves. The Wildcats lost the first two matches 5-0 and 1-0 on the Wolves’ field, but then came back on the second day of play to pull in 8-5 and 4-2 victories against WOU.  

This weekend isn’t the first meeting the ‘Cats and Nighthawks have had this year. The teams meet a few weeks ago wihen NNU took down the CWU team with scores of 3-0 and 9-2.  

The Nighthawks currently own an 11-10 record that includes a 1-3 GNAC-opening weekend at Simon Fraser last weekend. NNU fell 8-4 in the first game before bouncing back for a first day split with a 5-3 victory in game two. On day two the 'Hawks struggled getting swept in shortened games, first a 10-2 six inning loss followed by an 8-0 five inning setback to the hosting Red Leafs.

NNU has three players that are batting over .300 on the season, led by Ava Clark who has a .383 batting average with Charlotte Forniss and Kellccie Adams hitting .356 and .333, respectfully. Keana Bell is the leader in extra-base hits having six doubles and one triple while Forniss, Clarissa Moreno, and Emma Mulligan all stake claim to two home runs to lead the 'Hawks. Forniss leads the way with 15 RBI while Clark has drawn the most walks this season with 14. Clark is 7/9 on stolen base attempts this season.

Miah Lusk has led NNU in pitching this season posting a 2.60 ERA, a 4-4 record, three complete games, one shutout, and four saves in 55.1 innings pitched. She's allowed 45 hits, 25 runs with 16 being earned, and 19 walks while striking out 58 of 204 batters she's faced this season. Riley McGee is the other regular starter for NNU and currently owns a 4.76 ERA and a 3-3 record in 28.1 innings pitched. McGee has given up 44 hits, 19 runs with 15 earned, and four walks but has struck out nine of 125 batters. 

Friday's games will occur during Campus Parking Enforcement hours of operation. Due to that, patrons will need a guest parking pass if you don't already have a CWU pass to park in the paved parking lots closest to the Gary & Bobbi Frederick Field (Lots V-18 and V-22). The dirt parking lots by the softball fields are free to park (Lots X-22 and X-23) as well as free parking along East 18th Avenue.  

The WSU team will be back on the road the weekend of March 21 to play Montana State Billings at Avitus Group Stadium with the first pitch being thrown out at noon that Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday.

Wildcats Weekend Softball

Friday
12 p.m. & 2 p.m.
Central Washington vs. Northwest Nazarene
Gary & Bobbi Frederick Field
Ellensburg, Wash.

Saturday
12 p.m. & 2 p.m.
Central Washington vs. Northwest Nazarene
Gary & Bobbi Frederick Field
Ellensburg, Wash.