By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University is set to play four games in Idaho in the next two days. On Tuesday, March 24, The Bearcats will compete against Northwest Nazarene at 12 p.m. MDT/11 a.m. PDT, before taking on College of Idaho at 2 p.m. MDT/1 p.m. PDT. On Wednesday, March 25, WU and Northwest Nazarene will play a doubleheader at 12 p.m. MDT/11 a.m. PDT.

All four games will be played at Northwest Nazarene's home field in Nampa, Idaho.

The Bearcats, which competes in NCAA Division III, enters the non-conference games at 3-13 overall and 3-7 in the Northwest Conference. Northwest Nazarene, from NCAA Division III, is 3-20 on the season. College of Idaho, a member of the NAIA, owns an 11-17 overall record.

Myranda Ramirez (So., OF, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS) tops the Willamette offense with a .516 batting average (16 of 36). She is tied for the team lead with nine rBIs and has scored six runs, while hitting one double and two home runs.

Molly Lathrop (So., OF, Maple Valley, WA/Tahoma HS) is batting .381 with five runs and four RBIs. Kayla Rieger (Sr., OF, Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS/Adelphi Univ.) ranks third for the Bearcats with a .326 average. She leads WU with 11 runs scored and is tied for second with four doubles.

Other key hitters for Willamette include Mallory Asaro (So., SS, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS), Ashley Pender (Jr., 2B, Reno, NV/North Valleys HS) and Heather Winslow (Sr., 1B, Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS). Asaro has a .324 average, while Pender is batting .318 and Winslow is hitting .286.

Pender ranks first on the team with six doubles. Winslow is tied with Ramirez for the team lead with two home runs and is 10 of 13 on stolen bases.

Jade Smith (So., P, Chico, CA/Chico HS) leads the WU pitching staff with 21 strikeouts in 50 innings. She is 2-5 on the season with a 3.22 earned run average.

Northwest Nazarene's best hitter is Whitney Carlton (Sr., OF/INF), who is batting .355 with a team high 12 runs scored. Brianna Kinghorn (Sr., 1B/3B) is hitting .280 and leads the Crusaders with 13 RBIs. Ali Schauer (Jr., OF/P) has a .281 average and has walked 10 times. Ashley Pezek (So., P/1B) is batting .270, while Lily Paschal (Fr., OF) has scored 11 runs.

Pezek has recorded all three pitching wins for the Crusaders. She has accumulated 70 strikeouts in 98 innings. Pezek has registered a 4.00 ERA.

For College of Idaho, Destiny Turner (So., C) leads the way with a .526 batting average. She ranks first for the Lady Yotes with 27 RBIs and 12 doubles. Jodie Hoagland (Jr., 3B/OF) is hitting .359 with a team-high 19 runs scored. She is 10 of 12 on stolen bases. Courtney Ellis (Fr., OF) also has a .359 average.

Cortni Pena (Jr., P) is 8-7 with a 2.38 ERA for the Lady Yotes. Pena leads the team with 59 strikeouts in 88 1/3 innings pitched. She has limited opponents to a .242 batting average.

The Bearcats will return to NWC action on Saturday, March 28, when they host George Fox University in a doubleheader at the WU Softball Field. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. (PDT).