Wednesday, March 11, 2015
PORTLAND, Ore. – Conference play is in full swing with four teams playing GNAC series this week.
Western Oregon, the GNAC Team of the Week, won its second consecutive series of the season after taking three-of-four from conference favorite Central Washington. The Wolves have now split or won their last three series after starting the year losing three straight to top six teams in the west, according to the NCBWA West Region poll.
The Wolves will stay home for the second-straight week and host Montana State Billings Friday and Saturday.
A main reason the Wolves have won eight of their last 11 is because of their pitching, dropping their ERA almost a full point in two weeks, while the Jackets have been putting up huge offensive numbers all year.
MSUB is coming off a split with Cal Baptist where it took the last two games after falling 4-3 in extra-innings in consecutive games. MSUB’s second loss was the longest game in GNAC history.
In their last two games though, the Yellowjackets outscored Lancers 21-10 while hitting seven doubles and earning 12 walks.
The other conference matchup this week is a contest between two teams ranked in the NCBWA West Region poll.
Ninth-ranked Northwest Nazarene will travel to Ellensburg to take on Central Washington, which is tied for 10th in the poll.
The Crusaders are one of the most dangerous teams in the conference right now. Winners of 11 of their last 15, the Crusaders are coming off their third series win in a row after outscoring Saint Martin’s 38-19 in four games.
The Wildcats lost just their first series this season last week, but still hold the conference’s best home-win record at 7-3. At the CWU baseball field, the Wildcats have outscored their opponents 77-53 while hitting 12 home runs. Their pitching too has been stellar at home, allowing opponents to hit a mere .226 while striking out 90 batters.
Saint Martin’s will get a break after its road series in Idaho, playing one game on Saturday against its alumni.
Notes:
NCBWA WEST REGION TOP 10: 1. Cal Poly Pomona (14-4); 2. UC San Diego (17-7); 3. Azusa Pacific (15-4); 4. Hawaii Pacific (11-2); 5. Cal State Monterey Bay (13-7); 6. Point Loma (13-6); 7. Fresno Pacific (12-7); 8. Cal State Dominguez Hills (12-8); 9. Northwest Nazarene (13-8); T10. Sonoma State (10-10); T10. Central Washington (9-9); T10. Cal State L.A. (12-7).