By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- After Willamette University and George Fox University just missed the rain during a Northwest Conference doubleheader in Newberg, Oregon, on Saturday, April 14, the Bearcats and the Bruins were scheduled to complete their four-game series with a doubleheader at WU Softball Field on Sunday, April 15. This time, however, the rain struck early and continuously to postpone the doubleheader.

The NWC commissioner and officials from most of the NWC teams will meet on Monday, April 16 to work out a schedule for conference games that have been postponed this spring. Regular season NWC games need to be completed before the 2018 NWC Softball Tournament schedule can be released. The NWC Tournament, featuring the top four teams in the final regular season standings, is set for April 20-22 at the home field of the highest seeded team.

George Fox won both of Saturday's matchups with the Bearcats. In the first game, the Bruins defeated Willamette 10-0 on the run rule in six innings. In the second game, the Bruins won 11-2 on the run rule in five innings. GFU, ranked #9 in the NCAA Division III Poll released by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), improved to 31-7 overall, 22-4 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 5-24 on the season, 5-17 in the NWC.