Central Washington banged out a school-record tying 18 hits and centerfielder Danielle Monson extended her hitting streak to 37 games Thursday as the Wildcats opened a five-game series at Frederick Field with a 13-6 win over Northwest Nazarene.

The Wildcats (25-13, 20-8) began the series trailing Western Oregon (20-7) by one game in the conference standings. The Wolves also play a five-game home series this weekend against third-place Western Washington.

Monson had four hits in five at bats, scored two runs and drove in one as she moved into sixth-place all alone on the NCAA's all-time consecutive games with a hit list.

She previously had been in a tie for sixth. Her streak is the third longest among Division II players. She has hit safely in every game since going 0 for 3 in CWU's season opener in early February against UC San Diego.

The Wildcats also got three hits each from Samantha Petrich and Meghan Kopczynski and two each from Kelsey Haupert, Ashley Fix and Jennifer Schwartz.

Haupert had three RBI, while Petrich, Fix and Kopczynski had two each. Of CWU's 18 hits, 15 were singles. Petrich and Kopczynski and doubles, while Fix had a two-run home run to give CWU an early 3-0 lead in the first.

Lauren Redenfeld never surrendered the lead after that, allowing five hits and three runs, two of them earned, in five innings to improve to 15-4.

NNU (9-30, 8-24) was led by designated hitter Sarah Varady and catcher Arielle Chao. Varady had two hits, including a two-run home run in the third. Chao had three hits.

The teams continue the five-game series with doubleheaders Friday and Saturday. Thursday's game was a makeup of a contest rained out earlier this season in Nampa. Western Oregon's series will feature a Saturday tripleheader and a Sunday twinbill.