Wednesday, February 12, 2020

NIGHTHAWKS, VIKINGS LEAD WAY IN ST. GEORGE: The second week of the softball meant more tournament action with Northwest Nazarene and Western Washington leading the way at the Courtyard Classic in St. George, Utah.

Both teams went 3-2 in the tournament. Northwest Nazarene improved to 7-3 on the season (and later 7-5 after two Monday losses to Dixie State to close the trip). The Nighthawks scored a pair of five-inning wins, beating Notre Dame de Namur 11-3 on Thursday and Fort Lewis 11-0 on Friday. The third win was an 8-5 victory over Hawaii Hilo on Friday.

Nighthawks’ senior Brittany Genuardi was named the GNAC Player of the Week after she led the team with a .571 batting average in the five games with eight hits, seven runs, seven RBI, two doubles and a home run.

After going 1-4 in its opening weekend at the Concordia Kickoff Classic, Western Washington bounced back for three wins in St. George. The Vikings collected a 5-2 over Fort Lewis on Thursday, a 10-0, five-inning win over Hawaii Hilo on Friday and an 8-6 win over Saint Mary’s (Texas) on Saturday.

Junior Anna Kasner was tabbed as the GNAC Pitcher of the Week after she amassed a 1.05 earned run average in 20 innings, allowing four runs, three earned, on 12 hits and nine walks with 31 strikeouts.

At the plate, junior Dakota Brooks became the first GNAC player to hit for the cycle this season with her 4 for 5 performance in Friday’s loss to MSU Denver. She hit the home run in the third and completed the cycle with a triple to lead off the sixth inning.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
PLAYER
Brittany Genuardi, Northwest Nazarene
C • 5-6 • Senior • Spanaway, Wash.

Genuardi led the Nighthawks to a 3-2 record at the Courtyard Classic in St. George, Utah, with a .571 batting average, going 8 for 14 with seven runs, seven RBI, two doubles, a home run and four walks in the tournament. Genuardi had single hits in each of the first three games of the tournament before going 2 for 3 with an RBI double and two runs scored in Saturday’s 9-8 loss to MSU Denver. She then closed the tourney out by going 3 for 3 with a two-run double in the first and a grand slam in the third of an 11-0, five-inning win over Fort Lewis.

Also Nominated: Sydney Brown (Central Washington), Abby Fischer (Concordia), Marin Penney (Montana State Billings), Tyler Creach (Western Oregon), Dakota Brooks (Western Washington).

PITCHER
Anna Kasner, Western Washington
P • 5-8 •  Junior • Milton, Wash.

Kasner went 2-1 for the Vikings at the Courtyard Classic and amassed a 1.05 earned run average. In 20 innings, she allowed four runs, three earned, on 12 hits and nine walks with 31 strikeouts. Kasner earned the complete-game 1-0 win over Fort Lewis on Thursday, allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits and two walks while striking out 15. She then threw a three-hit shutout in Friday’s 10-0, five-inning win over Hawaii Hilo. Kasner closed with a tough 2-1 loss to Dixie State on Saturday, allowing two runs on six hits with five strikeouts.

Also Nominated: Samantha Stanfield (Central Washington), Kate Gillum (Concordia), Maddie Mayer (Western Oregon).

AROUND THE GNAC
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington won two games in a seven-game week. The Wildcats opened the week with a 5-2 win over Dixie State on Monday before losing the nightcap 13-5 in five innings. The other win came during the Courtyard Classic, an 11-5 victory over Saint Mary’s (Texas) on Friday.

• Senior Paige Likala led the Wildcats offensively with a .417 batting average in five games, going 5 for 12. Likala did her most damage against Saint Mary’s, going 2 for 4 with an RBI single in the fifth. She also went 2 for 2 with a double and a run scored against Western New Mexico. Likala enters the week with a .316 batting average.

• Sophomore Gracee Dwyer batted .364 in four games, going 6 for 17 with three runs, two home runs and seven RBI. Dwyer smashed a two-run homer in Thursday’s loss to Colorado Mesa and also had a two-run shot in Saturday’s loss to Western New Mexico. Dwyer added a 2 for 3 performance against Saint Mary’s with three runs scored and an RBI single. Dwyer is batting .300 in eight games.   

• Sophomore Samantha Stanfield and junior Lexie Strasser split the Wildcats’ pitching wins. Stanfield earned the win over Dixie State, allowing two runs on three hits in 4.1 innings. Strasser was the winner against Saint Mary’s, allowing five runs on 11 hits with three strikeouts in six innings. Stanfield is ninth in the GNAC with a 3.72 earned run average and third with 17 strikeouts.

• Central Washington enters the week with a .236 batting average and  5.66 earned run average. The Wildcats rank fifth in Division II with 12 home runs and is second with 49 walks.

• The Wildcats will stay close to home this weekend, playing a doubleheader at  Division III Puget Sound on Saturday.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia went 2-3 at the Courtyard Classic in St. George, Utah. The Cavaliers picked up an 8-1 win over Western New Mexico on Friday and an  11-0, five-inning win over Notre Dame de Namur on Saturday.

• Freshman Abby Fischer led the Cavaliers with a .571 batting average, going 8 for 13 with three runs, three doubles and two RBI. Fischer went 2 for 3 with a run and a double against MSU Denver on Thursday, went 2 for 4 with an RBI double against Western New Mexico and closed the week by going 3 for 3 with two runs and an RBI single. Fischer leads Concordia and is fourth in the GNAC with a .481 batting average.

• Junior Marisa Stockton batted .429 in the tournament, going 6 for 12 with two runs, a double, a home run and four RBI. She had a hit in three of the four games, punctuated by a 3 for 4 effort against Western New Mexico with an  RBI single. Her solo home run came in Thursday’s loss to MSU Denver. Stockton is 10th in the GNAC with a .414 batting average and is tied for 10th in Division II with 25 total bases.

• Senior Sally Bowles and freshman Kate Gillum split the two wins in the circle for the Cavaliers. Bowles was the winner over Western New Mexico, allowing one unearned run on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts in six innings. Gillum went the distance to beat Notre Dame de Namur, allowing two hits with two strikeouts. Gillum is fifth in the GNAC with a 2.94 earned run average while Bowles is sixth with a 3.20 ERA.

• Concordia ranks second in the GNAC with a .346 batting average and enters the week with a 4.56 earned run average. The Cavaliers lead Division II with nine double plays turned.

• The Cavaliers head to California this week for doubleheaders at Notre Dame de Namur on Friday and at Dominican (Calif.) on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings went 2-3 at the Courtyard Classic. The Yellowjackets picked up both wins on Thursday, beating Notre Dame de Namur 8-4 and Western New Mexico 10-2.

• Freshman Marin Penney led MSUB with a .500 batting average, going 6 for 12 with two runs, a double, a home run and four RBI. Penney opened the tournament by going 2 for 3 with an RBI double and a two-run homer against Western New Mexico. She also had two hits in Friday’s game against Cal State Dominguez Hills and Colorado Mesa. Penney has a .450 batting average in nine games.

• Junior Britanee Fisher batted .385 in four games, going 5 for 13 with four runs, a double, two home runs and four RBI. Fischer went 2 for 3 with two runs and an RBI single against Western New Mexico. She added one hit in each of her next three games, which included solo home runs against Cal State Dominguez Hills and Colorado Mesa. Fisher owns a .320 batting average.

• Freshman Julia Qualteri and senior Maddy Lincoln earned the pitching wins for the Yellowjackets. Qualteri went the distance to beat Notre Dame de Namur, allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits with a strikeout. Lincoln earned the complete-game win over Western New Mexico, allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits with a strikeout. Qualteri has a 4.31 earned run average while Lincoln is at 4.34.

• The Yellowjackets enter the week with a .286 batting average and 4.48 earned run average. The team is 22nd in Division II with 32 walks.

• Montana State Billings does not play again until Feb. 22 and 23 when it travels to Minot, N.D., for the Air Supported Dome Invitational.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene finished with a 3-2 record at the Courtyard Classic, collecting an 11-3, five-inning win over Notre Dame de Namur on Thursday, an 11-5 win over Hawaii Hilo on Friday and an 11-0, five-inning win over Fort Lewis on Saturday. The Nighthawks also played a doubleheader against Dixie State on Monday, falling 9-0 and 5-1.

• Senior Brittany Genuardi was named the GNAC Softball Player of the Week after she hit .571 in the Courtyard Classic, going 8 for 14 with seven runs, seven RBI, two doubles, a home run and four walks. Genuardi had single hits in the first three games before going 2 for 3 with an RBI double in Saturday’s loss to MSU Denver. She then went 3 for 3 with a two-run double and a grand slam against Fort Lewis. Genuardi is second in the GNAC with a .516 batting average and 16 hits. She is tied for sixth in Division II with five doubles and is 28th in hits.

• Freshman Emma Mulligan batted .500 in the seven games, going 6 for 18 with 10 runs, four doubles, four RBI and a home run. All six hits came in the first three games of the tournament, going 2 for 4 with two doubles against Cal State Dominguez Hills, 2 for 2 with a double and two runs against Notre Dame de Namur and  2 for 3 with two runs, a double and a home run against Hawaii Hilo. Mulligan has a .316 season batting average and is second in Division II with six doubles.

• Junior Tori Hensley made four starts in the pitching circle, going 2 for 2. She earned the win against Hawaii Hilo by allowing three runs, one earned, on eight hits with two walks and four strikeouts in four innings. She allowed just four hits in four innings for the win over Fort Lewis, striking out two. Hensley enters the week with a 3.96 earned run average and is fifth in the GNAC with 14 strikeouts.

• The Nighthawks enter the week with a .329 batting average and are third in the GNAC with a 4.16 earned run average.

• The Nighthawks do not play again until hosting College of Southern Idaho for an exhibition doubleheader on Fri., Feb. 21.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s did not play last week. The Saints are in southern California this weekend for doubleheaders against  Azusa Pacific on Friday and Concordia Irvine on Saturday.

• Saint Martin’s opened with a 4-1 start at the Desert Stinger. The Saints collected a 6-2 win over Mary and a 12-6 win over Dominican (Calif.) on Jan. 31, a 6-0 shutout of Academy of Art on Feb. 1 and a 4-2 win over Minot State on Feb. 2.

• Senior Brandi Schoessler was named to the All-Tournament Team after winning three games and compiling a 1.50 earned run average. Schoessler went the distance to beat Mary on Friday, allowing two runs, one earned, on eight hits with three strikeouts. She went four innings against Academy of Art, allowing two hits with one strikeout. The week ended with a three-inning relief win over Minot State, allowing two runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Schoessler leads the GNAC with her 1.50 ERA.

• Junior Emery Norwood also earned All-Tournament Team honors after finishing with a .611 batting average, going 11 for 18 with nine runs, two doubles and two RBI. Norwood opened by going 2 for 4 with an RBI single against Mary and then went 2 for 3 with three runs against Dominican. On Saturday, Norwood went 2 for 2 with an RBI single against Texas-Tyler and 2 for 4 against Academy of Art. She closed the week by going 3 for 5 with two runs against Minot State. Norwood leads the GNAC and is 22nd in Division II with her .611 average and is ninth in Division II with nine stolen bases.

• Saint Martin’s is third in the GNAC with a .345 batting average and second with a 3.95 earned run average. The Saints rank 17th in Division II with a .449 on-base percentage.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser did not play last week.  The Clan returns to  action this weekend at the D2 Cactus Classic in Tucson, Arizona, with games against Western New Mexico and Eastern New Mexico on  Friday, Saint Mary’s (Texas) and Texas-Permian Basin on Saturday and West Texas A&M on Sunday.

• Simon Fraser won three of five games at the Desert Stinger, collecting a 15-7, five-inning win over Minot State on Jan. 31, a 13-3, five-inning win over Academy of Art on Feb. 1 and a 12-6 win over San Francisco State on Feb. 2.

• Junior Alex Ogg batted .737 in the five games, going 14 for 19 with seven runs, five doubles, a triple and seven RBI. Ogg went 3 for 3 with two RBI against Minot State and went 3 for 4 against Texas-Tyler. She went 4 for 4 with an RBI double against Mary on Saturday and then went 2 for 4 against Academy of Art with a double and triple that each scored runs. Ogg closed by going 2 for 4 against San Francisco St. Ogg is eighth in Division II with a .737 batting average and 15th with 14 hits.

• Sophomore Anissa Zacharchuk earned two of the Clan’s three wins in the circle, compiling a 2.68 earned run average in three appearances. Zacharchuk went five innings for the win against Minot State, allowing five runs, four earned, on eight hits with a walk and a strikeout. She earned her second win in relief, allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits and five walks in five innings against San Francisco St. She ranks third in the GNAC in ERA.

• Simon Fraser leads the GNAC and ranks 12th in Division II with a .371 batting average and owns a 4.43 earned run average. The Clan leads Division II with a .748 slugging percentage and 2.60 home runs per game.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon was the first GNAC team to host home games this season, collecting 9-0 (5 inn.) and 5-1 victories from Eastern Oregon on Saturday.

• Junior Tyler Creach went 5 for 6 with three runs and four RBI to lead the Wolves offensively. Creach went 2 for 2 in the opener with two runs and a three-run homer in the third. She then went 3 for 4 in the second game with a run and an RBI single in the sixth. Creach ranks seventh in the GNAC with a .435 batting average.

• Junior Ayanna Arceneaux went 3 for 6 in the twinbill. She went 1 for 2 and drew a walk in the opener before going 2 for 4 in the nightcap with an RBI single in the sixth. Arceneaux is fifth in the GNAC with a .480 batting average.

• Sophomore Maddie Mayer and senior Chandler Bishop earned the pitching victories. Mayer went the distance in the five-inning first game, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out one. Bishop allowed one run on five hits and struck out three to win game two. Mayer is seventh in the GNAC with a 3.50 earned run average and is second with a .220 opponent batting average. Bishop has a 5.76 ERA.

• Western Oregon enters the week with a .342 batting average and 6.09 earned run average. The Wolves are 21st in Division II with a .434 on-base percentage and 30th with 29 walks.

• The Wolves will play this weekend at the D2 Cactus Classic with games against Texas A&M-Kingsville and California (Pa.) on Friday, West Texas A&M and Southern Nazarene on Saturday and Dixie State on Sunday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington registered a 3-2 record at the Courtyard Classic, collecting a 5-2 win over Fort Lewis on Thursday, a 10-0, five-inning win over Hawaii Hilo on Friday and an 8-6 win over Saint Mary’s (Texas) on Saturday.

• Junior Anna Kasner was named GNAC Pitcher of the Week after compiling a 1.05 earned run average and a .167 opponent batting average in 20 innings, striking out 31. Kasner went the distance against Fort Lewis for the win, allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits with 15 strikeouts. She took the five-inning win over Hawaii by allowing just three hits and three walks, striking out seven. Kasner is second in the GNAC with a 2.03 earned run average and leads Division II with 52 strikeouts. She is also the national leader with six complete games.

• Junior Dakota Brooks batted .412 for the Vikings, going 7 for 17 with five runs, three doubles, a triple, a home run and an RBI. Brooks hit for the cycle against MSU Denver on Friday, an effort that included a solo homer in the third and the all-important triple to lead off the sixth. She enters the week with a .400 batting average and is fourth in Division II with two triples.

• Junior Chantelle Shimabukuro batted .444 to lead the WWU offense, going 8 for 18 with a run, a double and three RBI. She had two hits in each of the first three games of the series, including a 2 for 3 effort against Hawaii Hilo with an RBI single in the second. She finished the week with single hits in the final two tournament games. Shimabukuro is sixth in the GNAC with a .452 batting average and is 15th in Division II with 14 hits.

• Western Washington enters the week with a .266 batting average and leads the conference with a 2.75 earned run average. The Vikings are third in Division II with 47 walks and fourth with five triples.

• The Vikings are home in Bellingham this weekend, hosting British Columbia for a doubleheader on Friday.