Wednesday, February 25, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. –  Montana State Billings begins a 14-game, 9-day road trip Friday at Caldwell, Idaho, competing in the College of Idaho/Northwest Nazarene Classic.

The Yellowjackets play six tournament games over three days against Concordia, British Columbia, College of Idaho, and Eastern Oregon.  They face Eastern Oregon and Concordia twice.

All that is just a prelude to the beginning of the conference season as the Yellowjackets play four-game series next week at Western Washington (March 3-4) and Saint Martin’s (March 6-7).

Northwest Nazarene plays four games in this weekend’s tournament taking on Concordia, Carroll, Eastern Oregon and British Columbia.

Saint Martin’s is the only other GNAC team in action this weekend.  The Saints  host Northwest Saturday.

SMU has won six straight games, including five last week in which it outscored its opponents 44-14. 

Sam Munger led the way batting .476 and posting two victories.  She had 10 hits in 21 at bats and drove in 10 runs.  She also allowed just four runs in 13 innings in the circle recording her 64th and 65th career victories.

Team Notes

Central Washington:  The Wildcats went 2-4 on a six-game road trip in the Bay Area splitting games at Dominican and Holy Names Saturday and Sunday before being swept by Academy of Art on Monday.   Kailyn Campbell, who has hit in eight consecutive games, batted .476 (10-of-21) and Sammy Morris hit .409 (9-of-22) on the six-game journey.  Morris also had a team-best five RBI.  In Saturday and Sunday’s games, Kiana Wood allowed just one run in 11 innings to earn GNAC Pitcher of the Week honors.   She finished the trip with a 2-1 record and a 1.31 ERA, allowing 13 hits and six runs (three earned) in 16 innings.

Montana State Billings:  After its long road journey, the Yellowjackets will spend most of the rest of the season at home playing only a four-game series at Northwest Nazarene April 10-11 and in the Cal State Stanislaus Tournament of Champions March 27-29 at Turlock, Calif.  Last week, MSUB dropped a three-game series at Dixie State.  Aubrey Conceicao and Cori Gammon led MSUB with three hits in eight at bats, respectively.

Northwest Nazarene: NNU’s Ashley Pesek takes a seven-game hitting streak into the Crusaders’ four games of the College of Idaho/Northwest Nazarene Classic.  All four of its game will be played at Nampa.  NNU then opens its conference season March 6-7 with a four-game series at Western Oregon.

Saint Martin’s:  In addition to Munger (See GNAC Player of the Week), Taviah Jenkins also had a solid week in SMU’s five victories.  Jenkins, who has had an eight-game hitting streak this spring and is currently on a seven-game streak, had seven hits in 15 at bats and scored 11 runs.  Megan Miller batted .444 (8-of-18) and drove in six runs and Mary Dettling batted .400 (6-of-15).  Both Miller and Dettling doubled three times as SMU had 15 two-base hits.

Simon Fraser:  The Clan’s scheduled doubleheader this week with UBC was rescheduled for next Tuesday and will begin a six-game homestand which will also feature doubleheaders with Central Washington (March 7) and Concordia (March 8).

Western Oregon: Amanda Evola had four hits in eight at bats as the Wolves split two games in the Northwest Cup at Happy Valley.  Kelsie Gardner had three hits in five bats.  Alyson Boytz tossed a six-hitter allowing just one unearned run in a 5-1 win over Oregon Tech.

Western Washington: The Vikings are idle this week before beginning their conference season with a six-game home stand next week.  In addition to host MSUB Tuesday and Wednesday, WWU takes on rival Central Washington Sunday.

GNAC Players of the Week

Week of Feb. 16-22: Player: Sam Munger, Saint Martin's (P-SS, Sr., Everett, Wa) led the Saints to a 5-0 record both at the plate and in the circle.  She had 10 hits – increasing her career total to 219 which is the seventh highest in GNAC history – in 21 at bats.  Among her hits were four doubles and two home runs.  She drove in 10 runs including six in a 10-3 win over Northwest Christian.  She also recorded her 64th and 65th career wins – No. 3 all-time in the conference – allowing just four runs (two earned) in 13 innings.  Pitcher – Kiana Wood, Central Washington (5-6, So., Aloha, OR) won two games defeating Dominican 6-0 and Holy Names 13-1.  She pitched six innings and allowed just two hits against the Penguins, then pitched a five-inning complete-game against Holy Names.