Tuesday, February 4, 2014

PORTLAND, Ore. – Northwest Nazarene and Saint Martin’s will each kick off their 2014 baseball campaigns this weekend, and preseason favorite Western Oregon will be back in action after winning 3-of-4 in California last weekend.

The Wolves (3-1) head south again this weekend, set for a five-game bout against Sonoma State running Thursday through Saturday. WOU carries momentum from three-straight wins over preseason No. 18-ranked Cal State Monterey Bay last weekend, after falling in its season opener 15-0. WOU and Sonoma State will square off in a 9-inning game at 2 p.m. Pacific time on Thursday, followed by a doubleheader each on Friday and Saturday at 11 a.m. Pacific time in Rohnert Park, Calif.

Northwest Nazarene is set to welcome first-year head coach Rocke Musgraves to the Division II ranks, as the Crusaders open their 2014 slate this weekend with a five-game set at Hawaii Pacific. NNU and HPU will square off in a 4 p.m. doubleheader on Friday, a 2 p.m. doubleheader Saturday and a single game at 3 p.m. on Monday. Musgraves, a long-time NAIA coach at Louisiana State-Shreveport, has compiled a career 588-275 record heading into his 15th season as a collegiate head coach.

Saint Martin’s will begin its season this weekend as well, as the Saints are set for a single game against Puget Sound on Saturday at noon followed by a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Sunday in Lacey, Wash. The Saints turn around to play a four-game set next week at Cal Baptist, with one game each on Wednesday through Saturday in Riverside, Calif.

Central Washington (1-1) played only half of its scheduled four games last week, as Sunday’s contests against San Francisco State were rained out and will be made up on Monday, Feb. 17. The Wildcats are off this week, before returning to the diamond for six games in four days starting Feb. 14. CWU will face the Academy of Art in a four game set, before finishing up the San Francisco road trip with the make-up doubleheader against the Gators.

Montana State Billings will spend one more week practicing before taking on NAIA stalwart Lewis-Clark State in a four-game set beginning on Valentine’s Day to open its season.

RECAP 

CWU senior transfer Josh Potter nabbed Red Lion Player of the Week honors after batting 5-for-8 with four RBI and no strikeouts in the Wildcats’ split against SF State last week. Potter also recorded 15 putouts, one assist and no errors on the weekend at first base.

On the mound, CWU ace Skye Adams suffered the loss in his 2014 debut, despite allowing just two earned runs in six innings and striking out four in the 4-1 defeat. Brandon Williams tossed a complete game in the back half of the doubleheader, scattering eight hits in his seven innings of work while striking out five Gators in the 5-3 victory.

Western Oregon finished strong last weekend after falling in its season opener, recording a 4-3 win on Saturday and a doubleheader sweep on Monday against CSU Monterey Bay. Matt Minnich earned GNAC Pitcher of the Week honors for tossing four scoreless innings with three strikeouts in Game 2 on Saturday, and Daniel McNabb exploded with a line of 6-for-9 with six RBI and three runs scored in Monday’s 7-5 and 7-1 victories.

Relief pitcher Kody Stone recorded two saves last weekend, moving him into a tie for second place all-time in the GNAC record books with 15 career saves after a single-season record 13 in his first year last season.