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Wednesday, May 7

Softball: Western Oregon Upsets Monterey Bay

Hallmark

Jessica Hallmark drove in a school-record six runs with a pair of home runs to power sixth-seeded Western Oregon to a 9-1 upset of No. 3 Cal State Monterey Bay Wednesday in the NCAA Division II West Regional softball tournament at Arcata, Calif.

In Wednesday's second game, defending regional champion Cal State Stanislaus blanked Seattle University 4-0. The Warriors were the only higher seeded team to win as No. 5 Cal State Dominguez Hills beat No. 4 UC San Diego 6-4 and No. 8 Cal State San Bernardino ripped No. 1 Humboldt State 10-1.

Western Oregon (31-16) will play CSUS (31-21) Thursday at 2 p.m. in a winner's bracket game. Seattle (37-13) will face Monterey Bay (35-25) in a loser-out contest at 11:30 a.m.

Hallmark staked WOU to a 4-0 lead in the second inning with a grand slam home run, then gave WOU a 6-0 lead with a two-run blast in the fourth.

Amanda Fleer doubled to drive in another run in the fourth and Tyler Sutherland then homered for two runs in the fifth. The Otters got a run back in the bottom of the fifth, but it wasn't enough to prevent the Wolves winning the game on the eight-run rule.

Hallmark has been on a hitting tear over the last three weeks.

"Jessica is just seeing the ball really well," WOU head coach Pam Knox said.  "She has put in the extra time and she is just really comfortable at the plate.  She is driving the ball very well."

WOU finished the contest with 13 hits, including three by Sutherland and two each by Kristin Maglasang, Hallmark and Krysta Pennington.

Monterey Bay managed just four hits off of WOU's Katie Fleer (19-5), who didn't walk a batter and fanned six.

Cal State Stanislaus 4, Seattle University 0

Jessica Gaumnitz blanked the Redhawks on two hits - singles by Katie Gould in the third and Jamie Foote in the fifth. Gaumnitz also walked three and fanned two in improving to 18-7.

The Warriors had eight hits off of SU's Erin Martin (24-5). The CCAA school jumped on top in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Casey Stephenson, then added another run in the fifth on a single by Meghan Franksen.

Stanislaus then added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth on a two-run home run by catcher Jessica Scholl. Scholl finished the contest with three hits in three at bats.

Eight Players Named to Daktronics West Region Team

Eight Great Northwest Athletic Conference players have been selected to the Daktronics NCAA Division II West Region softball team selected by the region's sports information directors.

Only one GNAC player - Seattle University outfielder Katie Antich - was a first team selection.

Earning second team accolades were pitchers Katie Fleer of Western Oregon and Erin Martin of Seattle, catcher Holly Rossman of Central Washington, first baseman Mallory Holtman of Central Washington, second baseman Jane Purdy of Seattle University, third baseman Holly Morris of Saint Martin's and outfielder Michelle Wrigley of Western Washington.

First Team: Katie Antich, Seattle (OF, 5-6, So., Spokane, WA). Second Team: Holly Rossman, Central Washington (C, 5-6, Jr., Olympia, WA), Mallory Holtman, Central Washington (1B, 5-9, Sr., White Salmon, WA), Jane Purdy, Seattle (2B, 5-4, Sr., Missoula, MT), Holly Morris, Saint Martin's (3B, 5-10, Jr., Richland, WA), Michelle Wrigley, Western Washington (OF, 5-7, Fr., Bothell, WA).

Track and Field: 111 Named To GNAC Academic Team

Two of the women's academic all-stars have perfect 4.00 grade point averages – Kirsten Clarke of Central Washington and Krinda Carlson of Saint Martin's. The top scholar on the men's team is Josh Wageman of Northwest Nazarene who has a 3.95 GPA.

Northwest Nazarene placed the most athletes on the men's academic team with 11. Alaska Anchorage and Western Washington have seven and six academic all-stars, respectively.

NNU led way on the women's team with 17 academic all-stars. Seattle Pacific and Central Washington were also in double figures with 15 and 10.

Nineteen athletes were named to the team for the third time. Twenty-six others were selected for the second time.

To be eligible for the academic team, student-athletes must have a minimum grade point average of 3.20 and be in at least their second year of competition at their university.

Baseball: Wolves Move Up In NCAA Poll

Western Oregon moved up one spot to fifth place in this week's NCAA Division II West Regional baseball poll released Wednesday putting itself in good position to qualify for next week's regional playoffs.

Six teams will qualify for the playoffs including the CCAA and Rocky Mountain champions, which receive automatic berths, and four at-large teams. The GNAC does not receive an automatic berth.

NCAA Division II West Region (May 7) - 1. UC San Diego (41-14); 2. Sonoma State (42-12); 3. Cal State Stanislaus (36-19); 4. Chico State (35-13); 5. Western Oregon (36-16); 6. Mesa State (40-15); 7. Metro State (38-17); 8. Central Washington (25-16).

Men's Golf: Western Washington Earns National Berth

It is the Vikings' first trip to nationals since 2005 when they won the regional title.

Host Sonoma State got the automatic berth to nationals, which will be held at Houston, Texas, beginning next Wednesday. The Seawolves led all the way, finishing 3-under par for a three-day, 54-hole total of 861 (299).

Western shot a final-round, even par 288, for an 873 total, 12 strokes behind Sonoma State. Grand Canyon, which also shot 288, finished third at 880 in the eight-team field.

Western's Jake Koppenberg shot a final-round 3-under par 69 to finish in a three-way tie for second place at 212, and Thomas Jun shot a 73 and placed seventh at 215. Koppenberg's score was his ninth round in the 60s this season.

Sean Packer, who birdied four of his first six holes, had a 2-under 70 to finish ninth at 217.

Grand Canyon 's Ryan Sperry took medalist honors, shooting a final-round 69 for a 5-under par total of 211.

Women's Golf: Vikings Qualify For Nationals

Breanna Carmichael amd Kaitlin Parker tied for fifth with 54-hole totals of 226 to lead Western Washington to a second-place team finish at the NCAA Division II Women's Golf West Regional at The Legacy Golf Resort in Phoenix, Ariz. Wednesday.

The Vikings finished four shots back of Tarleton State to earn one of the two regional berths for the national tournament May 13-16 at the Memorial Golf Course in Houston, Texas.

Tarleton had a team score of 910, including 291 on Wednesday. Western finished with a 298 Wednesday to finish at 914.

Saint Martin's finished third with a 940 total. The Saints' Amy Dalzell and Stacie Henden tied for seventh with 229 totals.

Tarleton's Shraddhanjali Singh fired a three-under 69 to win medalist honors with a 218 total.

It will be the fourth national appearance as a NCAA member for Western Washington, which has placed fifth in each of its three previous trips.

The Vikings tied for the regional title in 2005 and finished second in 2004 and 2006. It is the sixth national trip overall for the Vikings. They placed eighth at the NAIA Championships in 1998 and 10th in 1997.

NCAA Division II West Regional (May 5-7 at The Legacy Golf Resort,, Phoenix, AZ): Team Scores - 1. Tarleton State 910 (318-301-291); 2. Western Washington 914 (319-297-298); 3. Saint Martin's 940 (320-301-319); 4. St. Edward's 941 (312-311-318); 5. Northeastern State 945 (315-314-316);6. Western New Mexico 968 (322-309-337). Individuals (Par 72 -6100 yards) - 1. Shraddhanjali Singh, Tarleton, 218 (76-73-69); 5. Breanna Carmichael, WWU, 226 (75-75-76) and Kailtin Parker, WWU, 226 (83-70-73); 7. Amy Dalzell, SMU, 229 (75-73-81) and Stacie Henden, SMU, 229 (78-75-76); 13. Catherine Kim, WWU, 232 (79-75-78); 15. Allison Gillette, WWU, 235 (86-78-71); 16. Babe Prante, SMU, 237 (83-75-79); 18. Lianne Matkin, WWU, 240 (82-77-81); 29. Lauren Roberts, SMU, 249 (88-78-83); 31. Lexi Coltom, SMU, 253 (84-81-88).

Tuesday, May 6

Baseball: Seventeen Named To Academic Team

Kevin Walkenhauer, a sophomore infielder-pitcher from Central Washington, head ups the academic all-star team. Walkenhauer, who is a chemistry major, has a cumulative GPA of 3.86.

Three players, all from Saint Martin's, were repeaters from last year's team. Nick Bolthouse was selected for the third year in a row, while Tanner Gronowski and Shane Schoeneberg were selected for the second time.

All letter winners who are in at least their second year of competition at their university and have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.20 are eligible to be selected to the team.

Men's Golf: Western Washington Third in Regional

Western Washington had three solid rounds, but dropped to third place after second-day play Tuesday at the NCAA Division II West Regional being held at the Adobe Creek Golf Club.

The Vikings, who were second after Monday's first round, shot 292 for a 36-hole total of 585. That is just four strokes behind second-place Cal State Monterey Bay. Eight shots separate third through seventh place.

Host Sonoma State fired an 11-under 277 and is running away with the team title in the eight-team tourney, leading by 19 strokes at 562.

Western's Thomas Jun shot a 2-under par 70 and is tied for fifth in medalist play at 142. Jake Koppenberg had a 1-under 71 and is eighth at 143.

Sonoma State's Jarin Todd is the individual leader with a 6-under total of 138.

Women's Golf: Vikings, Saints First, Third At Regionals

Kaitlin Parker fired a 2-under par 70 helping Western Washington move into the lead heading into Wednesday's final round at the NCAA Division II Women's Golf West Regional being played at The Legacy Golf Resort in Phoenix, Ariz.

The Vikings shot a 9-over par 297, the best round of the tournament, for a 36-hole total of 616 as they climbed from fourth place to first. They hold a three-stroke lead over defending champion Tarleton State and are five ahead of Saint Martin's.

The 54-hole event is one of four regionals being held across the country. The top two teams in each region earn automatic berths to the national tournament on May 13-16 at the Memorial Golf Course in Houston, Texas.

Parker moved into a tie for eighth with her round, which was the best on the day. Her 153 total is seven back of leader Stephanie Bird of Northeastern State.

Amy Dalzell of Saint Martin's is in third place, two shots back of Bird, with a 148 total on rounds of 75 and 73. Breanna Carmichael of Western Washington is fifth with a 150. She has a pair of 75s.

Volleyball: Schneider To Throw "First Pitch" At Safeco

Western Washington University record-setting libero Courtney Schneider and the national runner-up Viking volleyball team will make the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Seattle Mariners' baseball game Wednesday night against the Texas Rangers at Safeco Field.

Schneider will make the actual toss with teammates and coaches joining her in a semi-circle around the second-base side of the mound.

Western enjoyed the finest season in school history last fall, placing second at the NCAA Division II National Championships.

The Vikings, who won their first Pacific Regional title and claimed the Great Northwest Athletic Conference crown for the fourth time in seven years, finished with a 26-5 record that included a 21-match winning streak.

Schneider earned first-team All-America honors, leading the NCAA II for the second straight season in digs with a national record 7.74 per game average.

Her career average of 7.00 also was a NCAA II record, breaking the former mark by nearly one per game.

Monday, May 5

Softball: Holtman, Martin, Fleer Players-of-the-Year

Pam Knox, who led Western Oregon to a 30-16 record and a share of its first-ever GNAC softball title, was a near unanimous selection as the GNAC Coach-of-the-Year. Knox, a 1980 graduate of Cal State Fullerton, is in her sixth season at Western Oregon. Overall, in 14 seasons as a collegiate head coach, she now has a record of 331-306, including 131-151 at WOU.

Holtman, a 5-9 senior from White Salmon, Wash., batted .397 this spring and also had 10 home runs and 31 runs batted in. She led the conference in triples (6), total bases (109) and slugging average (.801) and ranked second in doubles (13) and home runs (10). She completed her career with a .365 batting average and a GNAC-record 35 home runs.

Martin, a 5-7 senior from Valencia, Calif., and Fleer, a 6-2 senior from Salem, Ore., led their respective teams to a share of the GNAC title and post-season playoff berths. Martin was the conference's top winner with 24 victories. She finished with a 24-4 record and a 1.85 earned run average and set conference career records for wins (88) and shutouts (36). Fleer was the conference's leader in earned run average (1.47) and posted a 18-5 record.

Fleer, a transfer from Chemeketa CC, was also named the GNAC Newcomer-of-the-Year . Montana State Billings catcher Kelly Parsons was voted the GNAC Freshman-of-the-Year . Parsons, a product of Seattle's Mount Rainier High School, batted .341 and also had nine home runs and 34 RBI.

Holtman, Martin and Fleer were among 13 players named to the GNAC first-team all-star team. Holtman was selected for the fourth time, the first softball player in GNAC history to accomplish that feat. Martin was selected for the third time.

Seattle University second baseman Jane Purdy, who is tied with Holtman for the GNAC career home run record with 35, also earned first team honors for the third time.

Other repeaters from last year's first team included Western Oregon shortstop Tyler Sutherland and Central Washington outfielder Kasey Druffel. Four players - Martin, Fleer, Holtman and Purdy – were unanimous selections.

Co-league champions Seattle University and Western Oregon led the all-star selections with four and three first-team picks, respectively. Central Washington also placed three players on the first team, while Montana State Billings had two and Western Washington had one.

Softball Players To Appear On "Ellen"

Central Washington University softball players Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace, along with Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon University will be guests on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" this week.

The show will be taped Tuesday with the episode expected to air nationally on Wednesday. For information on local affiliates showing Ellen, visit the program's official web site at http://www.ellentv.com .

Men's Golf: Vikings Second In NCAA West Regional

Western Washington is second, eight strokes behind Sonoma State, after first-day play at the NCAA Division II Men's Golf West Regional at the Adobe Creek Golf Club in Petaluma, Calif.

The Vikings shot a first-round 5-over par 293 as Thomas Jun and Jake Koppenberg each carded even-par 72.

The two are tied for sixth, four shots back of leader Dane Bagnell of Cal State San Bernardino, who carded a 68 on the 6,840 yard layout.

Hiro Nezu of Saint Martin's and Julian Peters of WWU are among a group tied for 12th with 74s.

Women's Golf: WWU Fourth in Regional

Western Washington is in fourth place following first-day play Monday at the NCAA Division II Women's Golf West Regional being played at The Legacy Golf Resort in Phoenix, Ariz.

The Vikings shot a first-round 319. St. Edward's, Tex., holds a three-stroke lead at 312 over Northeastern State, Okla. Saint Martin's is fifth eight shots back of the leader.

Stephanie Bird of Northeastern State is the individual leader with an even-par 72. Breanna Carmichael of Western Washington and Amy Dalzell of Saint Martin's are tied for second at 75.

Volleyball: Schneider To Throw "First Pitch" At Safeco

Western Washington University record-setting libero Courtney Schneider and the national runner-up Viking volleyball team will make the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Seattle Mariners' baseball game Wednesday night against the Texas Rangers at Safeco Field.

Schneider will make the actual toss with teammates and coaches joining her in a semi-circle around the second-base side of the mound.

Western enjoyed the finest season in school history last fall, placing second at the NCAA Division II National Championships.

The Vikings, who won their first Pacific Regional title and claimed the Great Northwest Athletic Conference crown for the fourth time in seven years, finished with a 26-5 record that included a 21-match winning streak.

Schneider earned first-team All-America honors, leading the NCAA II for the second straight season in digs with a national record 7.74 per game average.

Her career average of 7.00 also was a NCAA II record, breaking the former mark by nearly one per game.

Sunday, May 4

Baseball: Nilsen Hits Three More Homers In Sweep

Meanwhile at Lacey, Western Oregon split two games with Saint Martin's, winning the nightcap 6-1 after losing the opener 3-2 in 12 innings. With four games left, the Wolves are two games ahead of CWU in their quest for their seventh straight GNAC baseball title.

In six games during the week including a pair of non-conference contests Tuesday, Nilsen was 16 for 27 with six home runs and 18 RBI. He now has 182 career RBI, one short of the GNAC record.

In CWU's four games in Billings, he was 11 of 19, hit five home runs and drove in 14 runs.

On Sunday, he had four hits in five at bats and drove in six runs in the opener. For the second day in a row, he led off the first inning with a home run. He also singled in the third, had an RBI single in the fourth and a grand slam - his second of the weekend - in the sixth to tie the game at 7-7.

The Wildcats then added six runs in the seventh to go ahead 13-7 as Dane Riner, Sean Sloppy, Nate Rylaarsdam and Frank Donangelo had RBI singles. Nilsen was intentionally walked in the frame.

Donangelo finished the contest with four hits. Sloppy had three hits, while Riner and Rylaarsdam had two each. Travis Bertholf allowed two hits over the final four frames to earn his first win of the season.

Nick Harris drove in four runs with a pair of hits to lead Montana State Billings. The Yellowjackets also got two hits each from Steve Larson, Stefan Malkuch and Jef Ridgeway.

Nilsen had two hits, including a solo home run in the second inning, in the nightcap. Kevin Walkenhauer and A.J. Gosney each drove in four runs.

Walkenhauer had four hits, including a three-run home run in the seventh. Gosney had two hits, including a two-run homer in the fourth. Donangelo homered for two runs in his only official at bat in the second.

Jordan Moore went the distance to record his sixth win against three losses. MSUB took advantage of a CWU error to score five unearned runs in the second, three on a double by Harris.

Jonathan Schlender and Joe Via each had two hits for MSUB. Schlender was three for nine in the doubleheader to extend his hitting streak to 20 games, equaling the third longest streak in GNAC history.

Saint Martin 3-1, Western Oregon 2-6

Saint Martin's twice rallied to beat Western Oregon, getting a run in the ninth on a single by Tom Barlow to tie the game at 1-1 and then scoring twice in the 12th after WOU had gone ahead 2-1 on a single by shortstop Cesar Lopez.

In SMU's 12th, the Saints loaded the bases on singles by Luke Abbott and Michael McIver and a hit batter. Shane Schoeneberg then reached on a fielder's choice to drive in the tying run and Tanner Gronowski was hit by a pitch to force in the winning run.

Andrew Neisinger pitched the 12th and earned the win after starter Pat Capone allowed just three hits in 11 innings.

SMU had 11 hits, including three by Abbott. Schoeneberg and McIver had two each. Catcher Taylor Mieras and Lopez had two hits apiece to account for all of WOU's offense.

Lopez and Mieras each added two more hits in the nightcap. Lopez singled for a run in the second to give WOU a 2-1 lead after Tyson Nelson had led off the inning with a home run. He also tripled for a run and then scored on a single by Dylan Bruck in the sixth.

Greg Bobnick went the distance, pitching a three-hitter to earn the win. Schoeneberg had two of the Saints' three hits.

Saint Martin's wrapped up its season with a record of 18-24, including 14-16 in the GNAC. Western Oregon (36-16, 21-7) will finish with four games next weekend at home against Montana State Billings.

Softball: GNAC Co-Champions Advance to Regionals

GNAC co-champions Western Oregon and Seattle University are the No. 6 and No. 7 seeds in the NCAA West Regional softball tournament which begins Wednesday at Arcata, Calif.

The Wolves (30-16), who received the GNAC's automatic berth in the playoffs, play third-seed Cal State Monterey Bay (35-23) Wednesday at 9 a.m.

It is the first-ever NCAA Division II playoff berth for both teams as this is the first year Monterey Bay has been eligible for the post-season after joining Division II.

Seattle (37-12), which has the best overall record among the eight qualifiers despite its No. 7 seeding, faces Cal State Stanislaus (30-21) at 11:30 a.m. in a matchup of last year's title game.

The Redhawks, who are 2-5 against Western Oregon, are making their fourth playoff appearance. They also qualified in 2004 (placing third), 2006 and 2007.

Top-seeded Humboldt State (47-17) plays Cal State San Bernardino (34-30-1) at 4:30 p.m. and No. 4 UC San Diego (32-22) plays No. 5 Cal State Dominguez Hills (28-23) at 2.

Humboldt won the CCAA regular-season championship, while San Bernardino lost to Stanislaus in the post-season tournament championship game.

The winner of the tournament advances to the NCAA Elite Eight, May 14-17 at Houston, Tex.

NCAA West Regionals (May 7-11 at Arcata): Wednesday – #3 Cal State Monterey Bay (35-23) vs. #6 Western Oregon (30-16), 9 a.m.; #2 Cal State Stanislaus (30-21) vs. #7 Seattle (37-12), 11:30 a.m.; #4 UC San Diego (32-22) vs. #5 Cal State Dominguez Hills (28-23), 2 p.m.; #1 Humboldt State (47-17) vs. #8 Cal State San Bernardino (34-30-1), 4:30 p.m. Thursday - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 9 a.m.; Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 11:30 a.m.; Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 2 p.m.; Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 4:30 p.m. Friday - Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 6, 9 a.m.; Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 5, 11:30 a.m.; Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 2 p.m.; Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, 4:30 p.m. Saturday - Loser Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12, 11 a.m.; Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 13, 1:30 p.m. Sunday - Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 13 (if necessary).

Saturday, May 3

Track and Field: Western Oregon Sweeps GNAC Titles

The Wolves outpointed Alaska Anchorage 166 1/2 to 157 to win the men's title. The top four teams were separated just 15 points as Central Washington edged Western Washington 151 1/2 to 151 for third-place.

Western Oregon nipped defending champion Seattle Pacific 162-158 to win the women's title. The Wolves had only a two-point leading going into the 4x400 and clinched the team title by finishing third as Seattle Pacific placed fifth in the relay.

Michael Madrid of Alaska Anchorage won the 100 and 200 titles and also ran on UAA's winning 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams to earn Outstanding Male Performer honors.

Ashley Puga of Northwest Nazarene won the 800 (2:13.10) and finished second in the 1500 (4:35.10) and 3000 (10:02.12) and also led NNU to a meet-record time in the 4x400 relay (3:51.47) to earn Outstanding Female Performer honors.

All three of her individual times were provisional national qualifying marks.

NNU's 4x400 time was one of 10 meet records set, including nine on Saturday.

Also establishing meet records in the women's division were Seattle Pacific's Jane Larson in the 1500 (4:29.66), Jessica Harper of Western Oregon in the steeplechase (10:57.0), Heidi Dimmitt of Western Washington in the 400 hurdles (1:01.78) and Kim Brady of Alaska Anchorage in the triple jump (39-9 3/4).

Ashtin Mott of Western Oregon in the 400 (48.11), WOU's Zeb Udell in the pole vault (16-4) and Tyler Fischer of CWU in the discus (169-6) set meet records in the men's division. Alaska Anchorage set a mark in the 4x100 relay (41.59). On Friday, UAA's David Registe set a new mark in the long jump (24-8 1/4).

Of the records, two - Mott's 400 time and Brady's triple jump - were also all-time GNAC records for any meet.

Five athletes reached the winner's circle twice in the meet including Madrid (100, 200), Udell (pole vault, decathlon), Fischer (hammer, discus), Jacque Postlewait of Western Oregon (100 hurdles, heptathlon) and Brady (long jump, triple jump). Udell (with 29 points) and Postlewait (with 32 points) were the meet's top individual scorers.

Greg Hamm of Northwest Nazarene won the men's triple jump for the third year in a row. Successfully defending the titles they won last year were Madrid in the 100 and 200, Registe in the long jump and Udell in the decathlon.

On the women's side, Laura Carr of UAA in the women's 5000, Postlewait in the 100 hurdles and heptathlon, Dimmitt in the 400 hurdles, Brady in the long jump, Sabrina Freed of Western Oregon in the hammer and Erica Rance of Western Washington in the discus also repeated their 2007 victories.

Men's Team Scores - Western Oregon 166 1/2, Alaska Anchorage 157, Central Washington 151 1/2, Western Washington 151, Northwest Nazarene 73, Seattle 38, Seattle Pacific 30, Saint Martin's 29, Montana State Billings 17. Most Outstanding Performer - Michael Madrid, Alaska Anchorage.

Women's Team Scores - Western Oregon 162, Seattle Pacific 158, Western Washington 142, Northwest Nazarene 138, Alaska Anchorage 109, Central Washington 71, Seattle 43, Saint Martin's 17, Montana State Bilings 14. Most Outstanding Performer - Ashley Puga, Northwest Nazarene.

Softball: Western Oregon, Seattle Share GNAC Title

The Wolves (30-16) finished in a tie for first-place in the GNAC with Seattle University (37-12), which swept Saint Martin's, 11-0 and 11-4 Saturday. Both teams finished 18-6 in conference games.

Meanwhile at Billings, Montana State Billings (28-21) finished off its season by sweeping Central Washington 6-0 and 5-2. MSUB finished two games back of Seattle and Western Oregon with a 16-8 conference record.

SU and WOU will officially share the GNAC softball title - it is the first for both schools - but the Wolves earned the conference's automatic berth in the NCAA playoffs by winning three of four conference games between the two.

Seattle, likely, will join Western Oregon as an at-large entry in the NCAA regionals which begin next week at Arcata, Calif.

Western Oregon 5-5, Western Washington 2-4

Dorn drove in three runs in the opener with singles in the third, fourth and sixth innings as the Wolves rallied from a 2-0 deficit. Then in the nightcap, she had another RBI single in the ninth to break up a 4-4 tie.

In the opener, shortstop Tyler Sutherland scored three of WOU's five runs and Sutherland, Kristin Maglasang and Jamie Becker all had two hits as Western Oregon outhit Western Washington 12-5.

Fleer walked one and fanned 11 in earning her 17th win against five losses. Lisa Pendergrast had two of WWU's five hits and Katie Barker had both of the Vikings' RBI with a second-inning double.

Fleer (18-5) allowed just one hit in 3 2/3 innings and fanned three to earn the win in the second game. Jessica Hallmark had four hits and two RBI and Sutherland and Krysta Pennington each had two hits.

Pendergrast hit a two-run home run in the fourth and Pendergrast and Meghan Flem hit solo blasts in the sixth to tie the game at 4-4.

In the ninth, Maglasang and Hallmark singled with one out to set up Dorn's game-winning hit. With the losses Western Washington (24-24) finished 11-13 in the GNAC.

Seattle University 11-11, Saint Martin's 0-4

Jane Purdy, Laurin Berin and Kaha Weir had four hits each and Katie Antich, Katie Gould and Jamie Foote each had three as Seattle University swept Saint Martin's (21-33, 7-17).

In the opener, Erin Martin pitched a four-hit shutout and Gould drove in three runs to key the victory. Martin (24-4) didn't walk a batter and fanned four.

The Redhawks, who scored six runs in the second and five in the third, got two hits each from Antich, Gould, Purdy and Weir. Four different players had hits for the Saints.

SU broke up a 5-4 game scoring six runs in the sixth inning of the nightcap, including two on a double by Berin and two on a single by Foote.

Purdy and Berin each had three RBI. Berin and Foote had three hits, while Purdy and Weir had two each. Kristine Kaneshiro had two hits and Lisa Holombo had two RBI during a four-run sixth to lead the Saints.

Kelsey Reynolds (13-7) went the distance to earn the victory in the nightcap, scattering nine hits.

Montana State Billings 6-5, Central Washington 0-2

Lisa Moore (12-5) pitched a four-hit shutout and Jessica Frank and Terina Stacks each drove in two runs as the Yellowjackets beat Central Washington in the opener.

MSUB scored four runs in the fourth, one on a leadoff home run by Stephanie Gosselin and two on single by Frank. Gosselin, Stacks and Jenna Haacke all had two hits.

In the nightcap the Yellowjackets snapped a 2-2 tie in the sixth with three runs. Frank's RBI double snapped the 2-2 tie and Haacke's two-run single provided some insurance.

Haacke finished with three hits, while Crystal Bentley, Stacks and Gosselin had two each. Lindsey Trenary (4-4) picked up the win in relief allowing two hits and no runs in 1 2/3 innings.

Liz Wallace had three hits and Holly Rossman had two for the Wildcats (17-27, 12-12).

Baseball: Wolves Close In On Seventh Straight Title

Western Oregon banged out 30 hits, including six by shortstop Cesar Lopez, in sweeping a Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader at Saint Martin's Saturday by scores of 7-2 and 14-1.

The two wins enabled the Wolves (35-15, 20-6) to open a three-game lead in the conference race and reduce their magic number for clinching their seventh straight GNAC baseball title to four.

Any combination of four WOU wins or Central Washington losses will earn the Wolves the title.

CWU split two games Saturday at Billings, defeating the Yellowjackets 12-4 behind another record-setting performance by shortstop Jamie Nilsen before losing to MSUB 7-5 in the nightcap.

Mike Eisenhauer ran his personal win streak to nine, allowing seven hits and two runs in eight innings in the opener. He didn't walk a batter and fanned nine in improving to 9-3.

Drew Humphrey had three hits and drove in three runs, while Travis Fox and Lopez also had three hits, including a pair of doubles. Six of the Wolves' 15 safeties were doubles.

Tom Barlow, Nate Baker and Brandon Kuykendall all had two safeties for the Saints (17-23, 13-15).

Third baseman JJ Mascolo had four hits and Lopez had three in the nightcap. The Wolves also got two hits each from Patrick Grennan and catcher Taylor Mieras. Mieras scored four runs.

Lopez and Fox led the way with three RBI each. Mascolo and Dylan Bruck each had two. Bruck also stole his 35th base of the season in the opener to set a GNAC single-season record.

Shane Schoeneberg, Barlow and Andrew Braegelmann all had two hits as the Saints had 11 hits in the seven-inning game off of Mike Ward (8-1).

Ward, however, benefitted from two double plays and allowed just a single run on a single by Schoeneberg in the third inning. Neither Ward or Eisenhauer issued a walk in the twinbill.

Central Washington 12-5, Montana State Billings 4-7

Nilsen went five for five and drove in seven runs to lead Central Washington (27-18, 17-9) to the victory in the opener.

In the process, he set GNAC career records for home runs (26) and runs scored (231). He previously had been tied in both categories. In all, Nilsen now is the GNAC all-time career leader in nine different categories, including batting average (.395).

Among Nilsen's hits were a double and a pair of home runs. He led off the game with a solo shot, singled in the second for a run, led off the fourth with a single and eventually scored, doubled for a run in the fifth and then capped off his day with a grand slam home run in the eighth.

The Wildcats were also led by Frank Donangelo, Dane Riner, Andrew Snowdon and Tyler Scoggin with two hits each. Tyler Levin (7-4) pitched the first seven innings, allowing six hits and striking out nine.

Steve Larson had three hits and Stefan Malkuch, Levi Johnson and Jef Ridgeway all had two hits for the Yellowjackets (13-33, 4-20).

Jonathan Schlender had three hits to extend his hitting streak to 18 games and led MSUB to the win in the nightcap.

The Yellowjackets scored three runs in the fifth, two on a home run by Johnson and one on a solo shot by Schlender, to take the lead for good. Nick Harris had two hits for MSUB including a RBI single in a two-run sixth.

Brian Howe went the distance, scattering nine hits to earn his third win against two losses. He walked four and struck out 10.

Snowdon and Scoggin led CWU with two hits each. Scoggin drove in two runs with singles in the second and sixth.

Friday, May 2

Softball: Redhawks Win Non-Conference Game 4-0

Jane Purdy had three hits including a home run, and Erin Martin tossed a two-shutout as Seattle University took a 4-0 win over Western Oregon Friday in a non-conference softball game at the WOU Field.

The game does not count towards the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings, where the Wolves and Redhawks are tied with identical 16-6 records.

Both teams will wrap up the regular season on Saturday to determine the GNAC title winner, with WOU hosting Western Washington (noon), while Seattle will welcome Saint Martin 's.

Seattle improved to 35-12 with the win, while Western Oregon dropped to 28-16.

Purdy mashed a 250-foot homer to center in the third inning, while teammate Kaha Weir also parked one in the second inning to give the Redhawks a 2-0 lead. Purdy drove in another run in the fifth inning as a part of a two-run stanza to seal the game for the visitors.

Meanwhile, Martin stifled the Wolves on just two hits, walking no one and fanning three to improve to 23-4 on the season. Christina Cooke took the loss for the Wolves.

Alaska Anchorage

Alaska Fairbanks

Central Washington

Montana State - Billings

Northwest Nazarene

Saint Martin's

Seattle University

Seattle Pacific

Western Oregon

Western Washington