Wednesday, February 6, 2019

RAIN SHORTENS DESERT STINGER: For the first time in the 10 years of the tournament, the Desert Stinger in Las Vegas saw three rain drops come up on its slot machine.

Rain forced the cancellation of all Saturday games in the tournament, hosted by Montana State Billings, leaving the seven competing GNAC teams with just three games apiece. Conference schools made the most of it with five of the seven finishing the tournament with winning records.

Western Oregon led the way, posting a 3-0 sweep of its opponents. The victories included an 8-3 win over Colorado Christian on Friday and a 7-2 win over Chico State on Sunday. Colorado Christian is picked to finish third in the RMAC while Chico State is No. 7 in the NFCA Preseason Poll. The performance earned the Wolves selection as the GNAC Team of the Week.

Montana State Billings turned raindrops into opportunity. After going 2-1 in the Stinger, the Yellowjackets put together a doubleheader against Hawaii Pacific on Monday and scored a pair of wins, 6-2 and 12-3.

A total of eight GNAC players were named to the Desert Stinger All-Tournament Team. The list includes Central Washington pitcher Lexie Strasser, Concordia right fielder Ali Steen, Montana State Billings third baseman Payton Reynolds and left fielder Allie Hughes; Northwest Nazarene designated player Brittany Genuardi, Saint Martin’s shortstop Sabrina Hicks and Western Oregon pitcher Maddie Mayer and utility player Tyler Creach.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
PLAYER
Ali Steen, Concordia
UT • 6-2 • Senior • Edmonds, Wash.

Steen was named to the Desert Stinger All-Tournament Team after leading all GNAC players in the tournament with a .667 batting average. She went 6 for 9 in three games with five runs, seven RBI and three home runs. Steen went 3 for 4 with two runs, two RBI and a solo home run in Friday’s opener with Cal State Dominguez Hills before going 1 for 2 with a homer and two RBI against UC San Diego. Steen finished the weekend by going 2 for 3 with two runs and a three-run homer in Sunday’s 13-12 win over Mary.

Also Nominated: Theresa Moyle (Central Washington), Payton Reynolds (Montana State Billings), Brittany Genuardi (Northwest Nazarene), Sabrina Hicks (Saint Martin’s), Tyler Creach (Western Oregon).

PITCHER
Lexi Strasser, Central Washington
P • 6-2 •  Sophomore • Chehalis, Wash.

Strasser went 2-0 in a pair complete-game victories with a 0.47 earned run average. In 15 innings, she allowed two runs, one earned, on seven hits and two walks while striking out eight. Strasser pitched into extra innings in Friday’s 3-1, eight-inning win over Hawaii Hilo, allowing one unearned run on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts. She closed the week by allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts in Sunday’s 6-1 win over Stanislaus State.

Maddie Mayer, Western Oregon
P • 5-8 •  Freshman • Portland, Ore.

Mayer earned two wins to help lead the Wolves to a 3-0 record at the Desert Stinger. In 13 innings, she allowed five runs, three earned, on three hits with nine strikeouts. She opened her career with a complete-game 6-5, nine-inning win over Cal State Monterey Bay, allowing five runs on eight hits with five strikeouts. She then entered in relief in fourth inning against No. 7 Chico State on Sunday and proceeded to throw four hitless innings with a walk and four strikeouts to earn the victory as the Wolves won 7-2. Mayer was named to the Desert Stinger All-Tournament Team.

Also Nominated: Maddy Lincoln (Montana State Billings), Maia McNicoll (Northwest Nazarene), Brandi Schoessler (Saint Martin’s).

AROUND THE GNAC
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• The Wildcats opened the season with a 2-1 record at the Desert Stinger. They split Friday’s games, collecting a 3-1, eight-inning win over Hawaii Hilo before taking an 18-0, five-inning loss to Cal State San Bernardino. Central closed with a 6-1 win over Stanislaus State on Sunday.

• Two scheduled games with Hawaii Pacific and Dixie State on Tuesday in St. George, Utah, were rained out.

• Sophomore Lexie Strasser was named the GNAC Co-Pitcher of the Week after she compiled a 0.47 earned run average in the three games and was named to the Desert Stinger All-Tournament Team. In 15 innings, she allowed two runs, one earned, on seven hits with eight strikeouts and earned both of the Wildcats’ wins. Strasser allowed one unearned run on four hits with four strikeouts to beat Hawaii Hilo and then allowed one run on three hits to beat Stanislaus State.

• Junior Savannah Egbert was Central Washington’s leading hitter at the Desert Stinger with a .429 average, going 3 for 7 with two runs and an RBI. She had one hit in each of the three games. Sophomore Theresa Moyle hit .400 in two games, going 2 for 3 with a home run and a bases-clearing triple (in which she scored on an error) against Stanislaus State.

• Central Washington enters the week with a .206 batting average and a 5.95 earned run average after three games.

• Central Washington continues tournament play at the Courtyard Dixie State Classic. The Wildcats will play Metro State and Hawaii Pacific on Thursday, Fort Lewis and Colorado Mesa on Friday and Cal State East Bay on Saturday.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia opened the season by going 1-2 at the Desert Stinger. The Cavaliers lost both Friday games, 11-7 to Cal State Dominguez Hills and 11-2 in five innings to UC San Diego. Concordia closed with a 13-12, five-inning game over Mary on Sunday.

• Senior Ali Steen was named the GNAC Softball Player of the Week and was named to the Desert Stinger All-Tournament Team after going .667 in the three games, going 6 for 9 with five runs, seven RBI and three home runs. Steen went 3 for 4 with four runs and a solo home run against Dominguez Hills, hit a two-run homer against UC San Diego and went 2 for 3 with a three-run homer against Mary.

• Sophomore Paityn Willoughby had an exceptional tournament with a .778 batting average, going 7 for 9 with four runs and two RBI in the leadoff spot of the lineup. She went 2 for 3 with a two-run homer against Cal State Dominguez Hills, was 2 for 2 against UC San Diego and 3 for 4 with three runs against Mary.

• Junior Allie Hancock earned the Cavaliers’ pitching win in relief against Mary on Sunday, allowing two runs on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 2.2 innings of work.

• Concordia enters the week leading the GNAC with a .420 batting average and nine doubles.

• Concordia travels to Redding, Calif., for four games against former in-division NAIA rivals, facing Simpson (Calif.) and Oregon Tech in a game each on Saturday and Sunday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings went 2-1 at the Desert Stinger. The Yellowjackets collected an 11-6 win over Mary before taking a 10-1, six-inning loss to San Francisco State on Friday. They closed the tournament with an 8-0, six-inning win over Hawaii Pacific on Sunday and then swept the Sharks in a doubleheader on Monday, 6-2 and 12-3.

• Junior Payton Reynolds was named to the Desert Stinger All-Tournament after she hit .375 in the tournament, going 3 for 8 with two runs and six RBI. She had all six RBI in Friday’s opener against Mary thanks to a solo homer in the third, a three-RBI single in the fourth and a two-RBI double in the fifth. She enters the weekend with a .400 batting average in five games.

• Sophomore Allie Hughes also earned All-Tournament Team honors after she hit .429 in the three games, going 3 for 7 with five runs and three RBI. She did her most damage against Mary as well, going 3 for 3 with four runs, three RBI and a pair of home runs. Hughes enters the weekend with a .308 batting average in five games and leads GNAC players with eight runs scored.

• Freshman Alyssa Etheridge earned her first collegiate pitching win against Mary on Friday, allowing four runs on five hits with seven walks and three strikeouts. She then improved to 2-0 in Monday’s opener against Hawaii Pacific, allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits. Junior Maddy Lincoln beat Hawaii Pacific twice, allowing just two hits in Sunday’s win and then allowing three runs on seven hits in Monday’s nightcap.

• Montana State Billings enters the week second in the GNAC with a .338 batting average and leads the GNAC with 46 hits. The Yellowjackets are third with a 3.82 earned run average and leads with 22 strikeouts.

• The Yellowjackets continue their road trip at the Courtyard Dixie State Classic, playing Hawaii Hilo and Fort Lewis on Thursday, Western New Mexico and Dixie State on Friday and Metro State on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene went 2-1 in a tripleheader of Friday games at the Desert Stinger. The Nighthawks took a 4-2 win over No. 10 Concordia Irvine, an 8-7 win over Minot State and a 6-2 loss to Cal State San Bernardino.

• Junior Brittany Genuardi was named to the Desert Stinger All-Tournament Team after she hit .444 in the three games, going 4 for 9 with five RBI and two home runs. She opened with a solo home run against Concordia Irvine and then went 2 for 4 with a two-run homer against Minot State.

• Senior Anna Williams went .364 in the tournament, going 4 for 11 with six runs, five RBI, two doubles and two home runs. Williams hit a solo home run against Concordia Irvine and then had two homers against Minot State, including a two-run shot in the sixth that proved to be the game-winner.

• Sophomore Jordan Adams picked up the win over Concordia Irvine, allowing one unearned run on three hits with three strikeouts in four innings of work. Freshman Maia McNicoll earned the three-inning save in that game and then earned the win over Minot State, allowing five runs, one earned, on eight hits with two walks and a strikeout in five innings.

• Northwest Nazarene enters the week hitting .244 with 20 hits and 14 runs. The Nighthawks are second in the GNAC with a 2.80 earned run average and had allowed just eight earned runs in 20 innings.

• The Nighthawks will be in action at the Courtyard Dixie State Classic, facing CSU Pueblo and Chadron State on Thursday, Western New Mexico and Metro State on Friday and Fort Lewis on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s went 2-1 at the Desert Stinger to open the season. The Saints swept on Friday, collecting a 7-2 win over Stanislaus State and an 11-10 win over Colorado Christian. The Saints took a 7-5 loss to Cal State Dominguez Hills on Sunday.

• Senior Sabrina Hicks was named the Desert Stinger All-Tournament Team after she hit .600 in the three games, going 6 for 10 with six runs, six RBI and two home runs. Hicks went 3 for 4 with six RBI against Stanislaus State, hitting a three-run homer in the third and a two-run shot in the fifth. She then went 2 for 4 against Colorado Christian.

• Senior Lauren Diuco hit .500 in the three games, going 6 for 12 with three runs and an RBI. She went 3 for 4 with two runs scored against Stanislaus State and then went 2 for 4 with an RBI single against Cal State Dominguez Hills.

• Junior Brandi Schoessler threw in all three games in her SMU debut, compiling a 2.84 earned run average. She earned the win in relief against Stanislaus State, allowing one run on two hits in 4.1 innings of work. Schoessler earned the win in long relief again against Colorado Christian, allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits in four innings.

• Saint Martin’s is third in the GNAC with a .318 batting average and enters the week with a 5.25 earned run average. The Saints lead the conference with seven steals in eight attempts.

• Saint Martin’s will not play again until taking part in the Cactus Classic on Feb. 15, 16 and 17. The tournament will include games against Fort Lewis, Colorado Mesa, Biola, Black Hills State and St. Mary’s (Texas).

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser will not open its 2019 season until the Cactus Classic on Feb. 15, 16 and 17. The Clan will have games against UT-Permian Basin, Black Hills State, Biola, Colorado Mines, Fort Lewis and St. Mary’s (Texas).

• After advancing to the GNAC Championships final in 2018, Simon Fraser was picked to finish fifth in the 2019 GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon went 3-0 at the Desert Stinger. The Wolves scored and 8-3 win over Colorado Christian and a 6-5, nine-inning win over Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday and closed with a 7-2 win over No. 7 Chico State on Sunday.

• Thanks to the perfect sweep, Western Oregon was named the GNAC Team of the Week.

• Freshman Maddie Mayer was named the GNAC Co-Pitcher of the Week and named to the Desert Stinger All-Tournament Team as she went 2-0 at the Desert Stinger, allowing five runs, three earned, on eight hits in 13 innings. Mayer threw all nine innings against Cal State Monterey Bay, allowing five runs, three earned, on eight hits with five strikeouts. Mayer then threw four innings of hitless relief with four strikeouts on Sunday to earn the win over Chico State.

• Sophomore Tyler Creach was also named to the All-Tournament Team after she hit .500 in the tournament, going 7 for 14 with two runs and two RBI. She went 4 for 4 in the opener with Colorado Christian and scored a run. Creach then went 2 for 5 with two RBI on a triple in the seventh against Cal State Monterey Bay and had one hit against Chico State.

• Senior Ryanne Whitaker hit .417 in the Desert Stinger, going 5 for 12 with three runs and a pair of triples. She hit one her triples and scored two runs against Colorado Christian and then went 3 for 5 with an RBI center against Colorado Christian.

• Western Oregon enters the week with a .287 batting average and leads the GNAC with a 2.43 earned run average and .972 fielding percentage.

• The Wolves are off this weekend. They return to action at the Dixie State Classic, Feb. 15-17, playing St. Edward’s on Thursday, Adelphi and St. Edward’s on Friday and Adelphi and Dixie State on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington went 1-2 at the Desert Stinger. The Vikings collected an 8-0, five-inning win over Cal State Dominguez Hills in the opener on Friday before taking a 12-2, five-inning loss to No. 7 Chico State in the nightcap. Western Washington closed with an 11-3, five-inning loss to Concordia Irvine on Sunday.

• Junior Jackie Lucido led the Vikings in the tournament with a .571 average, going 4 for 7 with two RBI. She went 2 for 3 against Cal State Dominguez Hills, which included an RBI single in the fifth. She then had a hit in each of the Vikings’ final two games.

• While going 1-2 in the tournament, senior Mackinlee Sellevold finished the Desert Stinger with a 3.18 earned run average, allowing 14 runs, but only five earned, on 12 hits. She allowed just three hits and struck out two in Friday’s win over Cal State Dominguez Hills and allowed eight runs, three earned, on eight hits in 3.2 innings against Chico State. Sellevold ended the week by allowing six runs, two earned, on five hits by 2.1 innings against Concordia Irvine.

• Western Washington enters the week with a .273 batting average and a 5.73 earned run average. The Vikings are third in the GNAC with 12 earned runs allowed.

• Western Washington plays at the Courtyard Dixie State Classic this weekend. The schedule includes games against Western New Mexico and Metro State on Thursday, Fort Lewis and Colorado Mesa on Friday and CSU Pueblo and Dixie State on Saturday.