Thursday, February 19, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. – While no team has everything figured out at the beginning of the season, the five GNAC teams are making strides on both sides of the plate.

Three GNAC teams are hitting better than .286 through the first portion of the season. These teams, Montana State Billings, Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington have combined for 48 doubles, nine triples and 12 home runs.

MSUB is the offensive powerhouse of the conference scoring 7.57 runs a game. Led by senior star Brody Miller, the Yellowjackets have hit .327 to start the season, .33 points better the second place team.

Miller is tied as the Yellowjackets leader in home runs and RBI’s with centerfielder Luke Reinschmidt. In MSUB’s series against Azusa Pacific last week, the pair combined for 12 hits, two doubles, a triple, four homers and plated nine of the Yellowjackets 25 runs.

The Crusaders, who were last in the conference in batting average last season, have seen the ball better this year. NNU leads the conference in hits and extra-base hits having 22 doubles, five triples and two home runs.

While Central Washington is getting it done at the plate, having the third highest batting average, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage in the conference, the Wildcats have succeeded on the mound as well producing a 2.80 ERA through eight games.

Three of the lowest five ERA’s in the GNAC belong to Wildcat pitchers, including ace Brandon Williams who pitched a no-hitter the first week of the season.

Saint Martin’s has been leaning on their pitching staff as of late, allowing five runs or less in four of its last five games while boasting the GNAC’s second lowest ERA. The Saints offense has been powered this year by Chandler Tracy, whose five home runs in 10 games lead the conference.

Western Oregon has had some tough matchups to start the season, but is showing improvement. The Wolves pitching staff hasn’t allowed more than six runs in their last six games while the offense has nearly scored five runs a game in that span.

This is the last week of nonconference play before the start of GNAC competition Feb. 28.

Notes:

• Saint Martin’s starter Zach Carter recorded his 100th career strikeout in Friday’s 2-4 loss to the College of Idaho. His 101 career strikeouts rank 44th all-time in the GNAC.

• Montana State Billings Miller broke three modern-day school records in the Yellowjackets series against Azusa Pacific. Miller is now the school’s career leader in runs scored (99), home runs (15) and RBI’s (115) and second in hits (195), doubles (33) total bases (275) and at-bats (560).
   
• Through the first eight games of the season, Central Washington senior Kasey Bielec leads the conference in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
   
• Northwest Nazarene's Colben McGuire became the second GNAC pitcher this season to throw 12+ strikeouts in one game.
   
• The 13 runs the Saints scored against the College of Idaho was the most runs scored in a game by SMU since winning 21-7 against MSUB in April of last year.

• The Saints Tracy was named the GNAC Player of the Week after hitting three home runs in four games last week. Northwest Nazarene starter Jake Reppert was selected Pitcher of the Week with his five-hit, five strikeout shutout against Hawaii Pacific. This was also Reppert’s first career win for the Crusaders.