Wednesday, April 23, 2014

PORTLAND, Ore. – Hitting three home runs last week to propel Saint Martin’s to a 3-1 series victory over Montana State Billings, Saint junior Chandler Tracy tied the all-time Great Northwest Athletic Conference career home run record with 29.

Tracy earned Red Lion Player of the Week and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association West Region Player of the Week honors, as his contributions helped SMU keep its hopes for a GNAC Championship berth alive.

Tracy’s two home runs in Game 3 last week made him the first player in the conference this season to log a multi-home run game. His third home run in the series finale tied him with Jamie Nilsen of Central Washington (2005-08) for the all-time conference mark. 

The first NCAA West Region rankings were announced Wednesday, with Western Oregon checking in at No. 6. The regional rankings will eventually determine the six-team field for the Division II West Region playoffs.

With a four-game sweep of Northwest Nazarene last week, the Wolves sealed a berth in the 2014 GNAC Championships. 

Matt Taylor came up big at the plate for the Wolves, batting 12-for-18 with three doubles, a home run, five RBI and five runs scored in the series. Garret Harpole was a key player for WOU was well, batting 8-for-18 with four doubles, two home runs, nine RBI and eight runs scored on the weekend.

WOU (27-15, 20-8 GNAC) can clinch the regular season title and earn hosting rights to the conference tournament with two victories in its final GNAC series of the season against Saint Martin’s this weekend.

The other four GNAC teams are still in contention for the two remaining conference tournament spots, and Central Washington (25-14, 14-10) is currently in second place with a GNAC record of 14-10.

After earning Red Lion and NCBWA West Region Player of the Week honors last week, Central Washington’s Ethan Sterkel remained red hot at the plate in a four-game series against Holy Names. Sterkel went 9-for-14 with four doubles, nine runs scored and zero strikeouts in 18 plate appearances. 

Wildcat left hander Kurtis Pitcher was dominant in his lone start of the week, fanning a dozen batters in an 8-5 win over HNU. 

Having lost six games in a row, Northwest Nazarene (15-24, 11-15) currently sits in third place with a nonconference series against Lewis-Clark State on tap this weekend. 

Aaron Vaughn turned in an excellent start against the Wolves last week, striking out eight and walking zero in 6 1/3 innings of work. Vaughn allowed five runs, but only two were earned as the Crusaders were hurt by three costly errors.

Within striking distance of the Crusaders is Saint Martin’s (13-26, 9-15), which sits just one game behind NNU in the conference standings.

Joining Tracy as an offensive standout in the series was Zach Raczok, whose eight RBI in Game 3 were one shy of the GNAC single-game record.

Despite losing 3 of 4 to the Saints, Montana State Billings (11-25, 8-14) remains in contention with 10 GNAC contests remaining. This week the Yellowjackets play host to Central Washington, with doubleheaders scheduled for Friday and Saturday at 1 p.m. Mountain time in Billings.

Bret Bitow joined SMU’s Tracy as the only other GNAC player to record a multi-home run game this season, as both players achieved the feat in SMU’s 21-7 victory in Billings on Saturday.

NCAA West Region Rankings (April 23) – 1. Cal Baptist (31-11) 2. Cal State Chico (33-8) 3. Cal Poly Pomona (29-11) 4. UC San Diego (27-13) 5. Dixie State (29-13) 6. Western Oregon (27-15) 7. Cal State East Bay (23-17) 8. Hawaii Pacific (27-15).

GNAC Career Home Run Leaders