Tuesday, April 18, 2017
CHAMPIONSHIPS RACE TAKING SHAPE: With two weeks left in the regular season, there is plenty of action before the field for the GNAC Championships are determined. The season-ending tournament takes place May 4-6 at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, Wash.
The only team that appears to be a lock for a tournament spot is Central Washington. At 18-2 in conference play, the Wildcats could lock up their spot in the championships with at least two wins in it’s four game series with Saint Martin’s.
Both Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene enter the week with eight GNAC games remaining. Thanks to rainouts, Saint Martin’s has 10 games remaining while both Western Washington and Western Oregon have 12 games remaining. All five teams are alive for GNAC Championships berths with conference records over .500.
Montana State Billings and Concordia are also alive for potential postseason berths, but will need some help to get into the championships. The Yellowjackets sit at 8-12 in GNAC play while Concordia is 6-14. Both teams have eight games to play.
ABOVE AVERAGE: Eight GNAC players enter the week with a batting average of .400 or better (among those who have met the minimum of 2.5 at bats per game). Of those eight, half of them are ranked among the NCAA Division II top-50 in the category.
Central Washington’s Kailyn Campbell enters the week with a .500 batting average to rank fourth in Division II. Montana State Billings’ Heather Tracy is ranked 22nd with her .459 average. Western Oregon’s Kelsie Gardner is 24th in Division II and Emily Benson of Western Washington is 25th, both with .457 averages.
Concordia’s Meghan Luebbert is second in the GNAC with a .480 batting average, but Concordia does not qualify for Division II rankings due to their transition from NAIA to NCAA membership.
THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
PLAYER
Julia Reuble, Central Washington
IF • 5-8 • Freshman • Edmonds, Wash.
Reuble excelled in the power categories, going 5 for 12 with four home runs, four runs, 11 RBIs, a .562 on base percentage and a 1.417 slugging percentage in the Wildcats’ four-game sweep of Montana State Billings. She hit two home runs in Friday’s opener, a three-run shot in the first and a grand slam in the second. She finished the series on Saturday by going 2 for 3 in the nightcap with a solo home run in the second inning.
Also Nominated: Jackie Schmaeling (Saint Martin’s), Destiny Kuehl (Western Oregon), Cassidy Fifield (Northwest Nazarene), Shearyna Labasan (Western Washington).
PITCHER
Kiana Wood, Central Washington
P/OF • 5-6 • Senior • Aloha, Ore.
The senior made it three selections in a row as she went 2-0 and registered two saves in four appearances in the sweep of Montana State Billings, allowing three runs, two earned, on 13 hits in 14 innings. She allowed one unearned run on four hits in Friday’s opener, an 11-1, five-inning victory, and then allowed one run on six hits and two walks in five innings in Saturday’s opening game 10-1, six-inning win. Wood then threw the final inning of Friday’s 3-1 win and the final three innings of Saturday’s 5-3 win to earn her third and fourth saves of the season.
Also Nominated: Kim Nelson (Saint Martin’s), Chandler Bishop (Western Oregon), Alli Byron (Northwest Nazarene), Anna Kasner (Western Washington).
AROUND THE GNAC
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington succeeded in a four-game sweep at Montana State Billings last weekend. The Wildcats won 11-1 (5 innings) and 3-1 on Friday and picked up 10-1 (6 innings) and 5-3 wins on Saturday.
• With the sweep, CWU has now won nine of its last 10 game and 25 of its last 27 games.
• Senior Kiana Wood was named GNAC Softball Pitcher of the Week for the third consecutive week after she picked up two wins and two saves in the four games. She earned wins in both of the Wilcats’ run-rule games and earned saves in the 3-1 win on Friday and the 5-3 win on Saturday. In 14 innings in the series, Wood allowied three runs, two earned, on two hits and two walks. Wood enters the week with a GNAC-leading 16 wins, 36th in Division II, and a 2.30 earned run average.
• Freshman Julia Reuble was named GNAC Softball Player of the Week after going 5 for 12 in the four games, with those of those hits being home runs. She also had 11 RBIs, a .562 on base percentage and a 1.417 slugging percentage. She had two home runs in Friday’s opener, a three-run shot and a grand slam.
• Senior Kailyn Campbell went .467 in the four-game series. She enters the week leading the GNAC and ranked fourth in Division II with a .500 batting average. Campbell is also ranked third in Division II in doubles per game (0.47), sixth in doubles (18), 11th in on base percentage (.552), 12th in slugging percentage (.858) and 14th in runs per game (1.18).
• As a team, Central Washington leads the GNAC and is ninth in Division II with a .347 batting average. The Wildcats lead Division II in double plays per game (0.68), is eighth in scoring (7.46 runs per game), 14th in on base percentage (.418) and 19th in slugging percentage (.502).
• Central Washington plays four games this weekend against Saint Martin’s, two in Lacey in Saturday and two in Ellensburg on Sunday.
CONCORDIA
• Concordia dropped three of four games to Western Oregon in games played at Porter Park. The Cavaliers won Friday’s opener, 3-1, before losing 6-4 in the nightcap. Concordia dropped both Saturday games, 6-1 and 10-1.
• Senior Meghan Luebbert led Concordia offensively with a .385 batting average. She went 2 for 4 with a double in Friday’s win and had one hit in each of the remaining three games. Luebbert enters the week second in the GNAC with a .480 batting average and it tied for second with 41 runs scored.
• Senior Mattie Boucher earned the one pitching win for the Cavaliers, allowing one run on eight hits in Friday’s 3-1 victory over WOU. She went 1-1 with a 3.77 earned run average in 13 innings pitched in the series. Boucher wnters the week with eight wins and a 6-79 ERA in 27 appearances. Her 115 innings pitched is the third most by a GNAC pitcher.
• Sophomore Jessica Lambourn compiled a 4.67 earned run average in the two games, allowing nine runs, eight earned, in 12 innings.
• As a team, Concordia enters the week with a .292 batting average and a 7.21 earned run average. Cavaliers’ batters have walked more than any other team in the GNAC with 136.
• Concordia heads north this weekend, playing at Simon Fraser on Saturday and at Westwrn Washington on Sunday.
MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings was on the losing end of a four-game sweep by Central Washington. The Yellowjackets lost Friday 11-1 (5 innings) and 3-1 and took 10-1 (6 innings) and 5-3 losses on Saturday.
• Junior Megan Dettling led the Yellowjackets at the plate, going 6 for 10 with a triple. She went 2 for 2 in Friday’s second game and 3 for 4 in Saturday’s nightcap. Dettling also compiled a 4.00 earned run average in two games, both losses, allowing eight runs on 15 hits in 14 innings.
• Junior Cameron Cassinelli batted .500 in the four games, going 6 for 12 with a home run. She went 2 for 3 in Saturday’s opener and 3 for 4 with her home run in the nightcap. Cassinelli enters the week with a .361 batting average, second best for the Yellowjackets.
• Senior Heather Tracy had just three hits in the Central Washington series, but continues to rank third in the GNAC and is 22nd in Division II with a .459 batting average. Travy leads the GNAC and is ninth in Division II with 68 hits.
• As a team, Montana State Billings enters the week with a .300 batting average and a 7.39 earned run average. The Yellowjackers are ranked 14th in Division II with 0.98 home runs per game and 47th with a .463 slugging percentage. Montana State Billings leads the GNAC with 40 home runs.
• The Yellowjackets will travel to Nampa, Idaho, this weekend for a four-game series at Northwest Nazarene on Friday and Saturday.
NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• The Crusaders took three losses in a four-game home series with Saint Martin’s last weekend. Northwest Nazarene lost both ends of Friday’s doubleheader, 4-3 and 6-2, and Saturday’s opener, 16-9, before bouncing back to take the series finale by a 9-7 score.
• Sophomore Cassidy Fifield led NNU with a .529 batting average in the series, going 9 for 17 with three doubles, two home runs, four runs and four RBIs. Her best efforts came on Saturday, going 3 for 4 with a home run, three runs and three RBIs in the opener and went 4 for 5 with a double, a run and a RBI in the nightcap. Fifield enters the week with a .343 average.
• Sophomore Shelbie Martinez went .462 in the four games as she compiled six hits, a doubles, three runs and two RBIs. She had three of her hits in the Saturday victory, which included a double, a run and a RBI.
• Freshman Brittany Genuardi went 5 for 12 in the Saint Martin’s series. She enters the week leading the GNAC and 10th in the GNAC with a .388 batting average. Genuardi enters the week ranked 25th in Division II with four sacrifice flies.
• Northwest Nazarene enters the week with a team .300 batting average and a 6.41 earned run average. Among other individuals in the NCAA Division II stats, pitcher Rylee Thomas is 17th with an average of 0.79 walks allowed per seven innings.
• Northwest Nazarene continues a 16-game home stand to end the regular season this weekend, hosting Montana State Billings on Friday and Saturday.
SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s won three of four games on its road trip to Nampa, Idaho. The Saints won both games over Northwest Nazarene on Friday, 4-3 and 6-2, and took Saturday’s opener by a 16-9 score before losing the nightcap, 9-7.
• Junior Kim Nelson was Saint Martin’s top performer both at the plate and in the circle.She batted .538 in the series, going 7 for 13 with with two doubles, one run and two RBIs. She went 4 for 5 in Saturday’s opener while also picking up the pitching win as she allowed seven runs on nine hits. in 4.1 innings of work. Nelson won two of the three games pitching as she allowed 12 runs, 10 earned, on 22 hits in 15.1 innings. Nelson leads the SMU staff and is sixth in the GNAC with 10 wins and a 4.47 earned run average.
• Senior Alyssa Slate batted .500 in the four games, going 6 for 12 with a double, a triple, three runs and two RBIs. She went 2 for 2 in Friday’s opener and scored the winning in the 4-3 win. Slate then went 2 for 4 in Saturday’s opener.
• Saint Martin’s has three batters in the top-12 in the GNAC in batting average. Sophomore Lauren Diuco is sixth with a .414 average while senior Mary Dettling is seventh with a .402 average. Dettling is also 42nd in Division II with 1.07 RBIS per game. Junior Lindsay Miller is 12th with a .377 average.
• Saint Martin’s enters the week second in the GNAC and 24th in Division II with a .330 batting average. The Saints are fourth in the GNAC with a 5.36 earned run average. The Saints lead the GNAC with a .963 fielding percentage, committing 36 errors in 32 games. The Saints are ranked 20th in Division in scoring at 6.43 runs per game.
• Saint Martin’s will host Central Washington on Saturday before playing at CWU in Ellensburg, Wash., on Sunday.
SIMON FRASER
• The Clan dropped all four games in rain make-ups. Simon Fraser fell on Thursday to Western Washington, 7-4 and 7-2, and then dropped both games on Monday to Western Oregon, 2-1 and 9-8.
• Of the Clan’s 26 losses on the season, 12 have come by just one run.
• Junior Victoria Saunders led Simon Fraser in the WWU doubleheader by going 3 for 5 with a double, a run and a RBI. She went 2 for 3 with the double and the RBI in the opener. Saunders also had a hit each in Monday’s games against Western Oregon.
• Junior Taylor Gillis had four hits and went .444 to lead Simon Fraser in the doubleheader vs. Western Oregon. She went 2 for 4 with a run scored in the opener and then went 2 for 5 with two RBIs in the second game.
• Junior Taylor Lundrigan leads SFU on the season with a .432 batting average in 34 games. She is one of just three SFU batters this season hitting over .300.
• Senior Tori Belton leads the Simon Fraser pitching staff with a 6.37 earned run average. Belton and junior Alia Stachoski have split the Clan’s six wins in the circle.
• As a team, Simon Fraser enters the week with a .281 batting average and a 6.25 earned run average.
• Simon Fraser closes its home schedule this weekend, hosting Concordia on Saturday and Western Oregon on Sunday.
WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon has won nine games in the month of April and has won five straight. The Wolves won three of four games in a weekend series with Concordia. After losing Friday’s opener, the Wolves won the nightcap 6-4 before taking 6-1 and 10-1 wins on Sautrday.
• Western Oregon then beat Simon Fraser twice on Monday, 2-1 and 9-8, in games played at Hillsboro, Ore. The Wolves rallied from a 7-0 deficit to score nine runs in the final three innings of game two for the victory.
• Senior Kelsie Gardner led Western Oregon offensively with a .600 average against Concordia, going 9 for 15 with a double, a RBI and six runs. She went 3 for 4 in Friday’s second game and then added two hits in both of Saturday’s games. Gardner did not play in Monday’s contests. Gardner leads WOU and is fourth in the GNAC with a .457 batting average.
• In the wins over Simon Fraser, senior Ashlee Lynch led the way with four hits while junior Zoe Clark and freshman Ashley Doyle each had three hits.
• Freshman Chandler Bishop picked up Saturday’s opening game win over Concordia by allowing one run on six hits with three walks in the complete game effort. Senior Sammi Cadwallader picked up the win in Monday’s 2-1 victory and had the save in Friday’s nightcap. Cadwallader leads WOU and is second in the GNAC with a 3.21 earned run average.
• Western Oregon enters the week with a .319 batting average and a 4.43 earned run average. The Wolves rank 29th in Division II with 0.84 home runs per game and 30th with 0.44 double plays per game.
• Western Oregon is the only GNAC team to have yet to play a home game this season, with all games in Monmouth moved due to weather.
• Western Oregon will play four games at Western Washington on Friday and Saturday before closing with a doubleheader at Simon Fraser on Sunday.
WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington played just one doubleheader last week, taking two games from Simon Fraser in Burnaby, B.C. The Vikings won the opener 7-4 and took the nightcap 7-2.
• Junior Makinlee Sellevold led the Vikings offensively by going 5 for 8 in the doubleheader with a double, a triple, a run and two RBIs. She had three wins in the opener, which included a RBI double in the third inning.
• Junior Emily Benson went .571 in the doubleheader to raise her season batting average to .457, tying her for fourth in the GNAC and 25th in Division II. Her day included a 3 for 4 effort in the opener with three RBIs. Benson is ranked third in Division II with a .587 on base percentage, eighth with a 880 slugging percentage and ninth with 0.80 walks per game.
• Freshman Anna Kasner earned the win in the opener as she allowed four runs, one earned, on five hits with three strikeouts. Kasner enters the week ranked fourth in the GNAC with a 3.49 earned run average and is eighth in Division II with 9.3 strikeouts per seven innings.
• Sophomore Shearyna Labasan won the nightcap as she allowed two runs on three hits with five strikeouts in six innings. Labasan is fifth in the GNAC with a 3.71 earned run average.
• Western Washington enters the week with a .305 team batting average and a 4.49 earned run average. The Vikings’ pitchers have 211 strikeouts on the season, well ahead of second place Montana State Billings (150).
• Western Washington will play six games this weekend, all at home. The Vikings host Western Oregon on Friday, Concordia on Saturday and Simon Fraser on Sunday.