Tuesday, February 11, 2014

PORTLAND, Ore. - Simon Fraser and Saint Martin's are the only GNAC softball teams in action this week as most of the conference squads take a break after playing in the MSUB Desert Stinger last weekend in Las Vegas.

The Clan continues their road trip traveling to Florida for six games beginning with a doubleheader Wednesday at Florida Southern.  SFU also plays at Eckert, Fla., Saturday and at the University of Tampa Sunday.

Meanwhile, Saint Martin's, which had its four-game trip to California rained out last week, heads down I-5 to compete in the Concordia Invitational in Portland.  The Saints will play four NAIA schools in the event.

Both the Clan and Saints will be looking for the first wins of the season.  SFU opened its season with five losses in Las Vegas, while the Saints began their season two weeks ago, losing four games in California.

Last week, GNAC teams split 38 games (19-19).  Led by Central Washington's perfect 5-0 record, GNAC teams posted a 13-17 record in the Desert Stinger.  The 5-0 start is the best in CWU softball history.

Following are some of the highlights:

GNAC RED LION PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:    Player –  Kelsie Gardner, Western Oregon (1B, 5-8, Fr., Salem, OR – South Salem) and Brianna Kinghorn, Northwest Nazarene (1B, 5-6, Jr., Meridian, ID - Mountain View) ... Gardner had nine hits, including a pair of home runs, in 19 at bats and drove in nine runs as the Wolves averaged nearly nine runs a game in posting a 2-3 record in the  MSUB Desert Stinger in Las Vegas.  Gardner also had a pair of doubles and scored six runs.  Kinghorn batted .407 (11-of-27), hit four home runs and drove in 12 runs as the Crusaders won four of nine games, including three of four in a series at Menlo.   Pitcher – Kiana Wood, Central Washington (5-6, Fr., Aloha, OR) allowed just two runs in 24 2/3 innings, in winning three games including shutouts over Minot State (3-0) and Western New Mexico (5-0).  Wood allowed 20 hits – only one against Minot (a two-out single in the first inning) - and walked five, while fanning 20 batters.  Both of the runs she allowed came on solo home runs.   

HONORABLE MENTION:  Jill McDaniels, Central Washington (2B, 5-8, Sr., Walla Walla, WA) hit three home runs and drove in six runs in leading the Wildcats to a perfect 5-0 record at the Desert Stinger in Las Vegas.  McDonald batted .375 (6-of-16) and played flawless defense at second base handling 23 chances (13 put outs, 10 assists) without an error.  

TEAM NOTES

Central Washington:  True-freshman Kailyn Campbell hit in all five games, batting .375 (6-of-16) and driving in six runs to match McDaniels’ numbers.   Austin Wilkerson, a transfer from Hawaii, and Michaela Hazlett each had five hits.  Led by Kiana Wood (See Player of the Week) and Maria Gau, who won two games, CWU’s pitching staff had an impressive 2.20 earned run average as the Wildcats outscored their opponents 31-11.

Montana State Billings: Aubrey Conceicao put together a seven-game hitting streak and finished the week with 13 hits, including four doubles and a triple, in 29 at bats.  Brittney Sanders batted .310 and led MSUB in RBI with 11.  Mary Grace Bywater was impressive in the circle with a 3-0 record and 1.62 ERA.  In the Desert Stinger, she didn’t allow a run in 7 2/3 innings, though she was touched up for 10 hits.  Among MSUB’s losses was a 4-3 decision to defending West Regional champion Humboldt State, which finished the week with a 9-0 record.

Northwest Nazarene:  The Crusaders finished the week with a 4-5 record, including 1-4 at Las Vegas where they lost a pair of one-run decisions.    NNU showed power slamming 17 home runs, including four by Kinghorn and three each by Justine Callen, Kayla Sevier and Alyssa Nitschelm,  Callen also drove in nine runs.

Simon Fraser: Danielle Raison led the Clan with five hits in 14 at bats.  SFU, however, struggled in the circle allowing 50 runs and posting an 11.59 ERA.  In addition to Raison, three other players had four hits in the tournament – Kaitlyn Cameron, Stefanie Sheard and Kendra Goodman.  SFU now heads to Florida for six games this week.

Western Oregon: Amanda Evola hit in all five WOU games and finished the week with a six-game hitting streak.  She had nine hits in 19 at bats.  Among her hits were a pair of doubles and two home runs.  She also drove in eight runs.  Four players – Evola (.474), Kelsie Gardner (.474), Bridjet Box (.438 , 7-for-16) and Ashlie Gardner (.400, 6-of-15) – all had .400 or better averages as WOU hit for a .305 average.

Western Washington: Jordan Walley led the Vikings with nine hits in 15 at bats.  Also posting impressive numbers were Autumn Isaacson (8-of-16), Emma Blauser (8-of-17) and Alexie Levin (7-of-17).  Blauser, Levin and Amanda Flores, who hit three home runs, all drove in seven runs.  As a team, the Vikings hit for a .379 average.