The Wildcats’ baseball team heads to Nampa, Idaho to take on the Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) Crusaders for a four-game series starting Friday.

NNU is currently in third place in the GNAC standings, with an overall record of 22-18 and 11-9 in conference play. Central is currently in fourth place and has an overall record of 18-21 and 9-15 in conference play.

Central and NNU played a four-game series in Ellensburg at the Central baseball field in March. Central took three of the four games in the series; all four games were close in scoring.

“Our intensity that weekend was the best it has been all year,” senior Kasey Bielec said. “As a unit we were all together.”

NNU is coming off a four game series sweep against Saint Martin’s University.

NNU is led by juniors Josh Hatfield and Tyler Davis.

Hatfield is batting .361 and has two homeruns and 18 RBI’s. He has a slugging percentage of .465 and an on base percentage of .429.

Davis is batting .343 with seven homeruns and 31 RBI’s, a slugging percentage of .615 and an on base percentage of .424.

NNU’s pitching staff is anchored by senior Jake Reppert and junior Blake Mitchell. Reppert has an ERA of 1.88 in 62.1 innings pitched this season. He has 57 strikeouts and has only given up 24 walks. Mitchell has an ERA of 3.35 in 53.2 innings pitched. Mitchell has 40 strikeouts and has only given up 22 walks.

Central is coming off a couple of tough losses in Montana against Montana State University, Billings. Central lost three of the four games in the series. In the final game, MSUB won from a walk-off hit and Central lost 10-9.

“It is pretty tough,” junior Darren Honeysett said. We’ve just got to keep doing what we have been doing offensively and try to make some adjustments.”

Bielec and Honeysett continue to stay hot and lead the Central offense. Bielec is batting .396 with four homeruns and 30 RBIs. He has a slugging percentage of .597 and an on base percentage of .481.

Honeysett’s batting average is .386 with seven homeruns and 31 RBI’s. He has a slugging percentage of .636 and an on base percentage of .452.

“At the plate, I have just been relaxing, kind of reacting instead of thinking too much,” Bielec said.

Central’s pitching staff is led by senior Brandon Williams, junior Zach Johnson, and senior Cory Welch. Williams has a 3.56 ERA in 30.1 innings pitched this season. Johnson, in 56.1 innings this season, has a 3.67 ERA. Welch, who has a 4.26 ERA in 50.2 innings of work this season, also has seven saves.

Central looks to bounce back this weekend and get back on a winning streak. First pitch is set for April 17, at 3 p.m. at Northwest Nazarene University.