Thursday, April 14, 2016

THIS WEEK'S GNAC SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
PLAYER
Kylie Orr, Northwest Nazarene
1B/OF • 5-8 •  Freshman • Meridian, Idaho

Orr hit an impressive .619 in six games (13 for 21) with six runs, five RBI, two doubles and a grand slam in six road games. She hit her grand slam to break things Open in the fifth in the Crusaders’ 12-3 win over Concordia on Tuesday.

Also Nominated: Kailyn Campbell (Central Washington), Taylor Copher (Concordia), Tess Kuehl (Western Oregon), Megan Miller (Saint Martin’s), Makinlee Sellevold (Western Washington), Heather Tracy (Montana State Billings).

PITCHER
Kim Nelson, Saint Martin’s
P/IF • 5-10 • Sophomore  • Fremont, Calif.

Nelson won two games for Saint Martin’s in their sweep of Northwest Nazarene. In 14 innings, Nelson allowed two runs, one earned, on 10 hits with two walks and three strikeouts. In addition, Nelson also had a home run and three RBI on the week.

Also Nominated: Brooke Bonsen (Northwest Nazarene), Maddie Boucher (Concordia), Sammi Cadwallader (Western Oregon), Brielle Copodonna (Central Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
HOME IS WHERE THE VICTORIES ARE: It took two months before Western Oregon was able to play a home game on their softball field in Monmouth. Now that they are home, the Wolves are making the most of the opportunity.

Despite opening the home field with a 7-4 loss to Western Washington, the Wolves are 6-2 on their home field, all of which came over the last week thanks to a series of rain make-ups. Western Oregon split a pair of GNAC doubleheaders with Western Washington on Saturday and with Simon Fraser on Sunday before sweeping their four game series with Montana State Billings. The victories moved the Wolves from sixth in the GNAC before the weekend began to fourth place at 12-8, two games ahead of the fifth place Vikings.

In those eight home games, Western Oregon is hitting .377 with 83 hits, nine doubles, three triples and nine home runs. The Wolves’ pitching has amassed a 2.67 earned run average at home while limiting opponents to a .276 batting average.

Five Western Oregon hitters have batted over .400 at home. Destiny Kuehl leads the lead having batted .545 in Monmouth with 12 hits, three home runs and 22 RBI.

There is a long way, though, before Western Oregon can claim a spot in the GNAC Championships. The Wolves have eight GNAC games remaining, playing four this weekend at Northwest Nazarene before playing Concordia on Apr. 22 and 23 in doubleheaders in Monmouth and Portland.

THE BATTLE FOR THE TOP SPOT: With two weekends left in the GNAC regular season, the fight for the No. 1 seed at the GNAC Champinships is shaping up to be a battle between Saint Martin’s and Central Washington.

The Saints would love nothing more than to be the No. 1 seed in the tournament, which will take place on their home field in Lacey, Wash., from Apr. 28-30. Saint Martin’s worked to solidify their spot at the top of the table with a four-game sweep of Northwest Nazarene on Friday and Saturday, but then took two losses to Concordia on Wednesday in a rain make-up twinbill in Portland. The Saints enter the week with a 14-6 GNAC mark, 31-12 overall.

Central Washington, picked to finish fifth in the GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll under first year head coach Mike Larabee, sits two games behind Saint Martin’s in second at 13-7 GNAC and own a 29-10 overall record. After winning four of six of their games at the Stanislaus Tournament of Champions, the Wildcats kept pace by sweeping all four of their weekend games at home over Montana State Billings, three of which ended on the eight-run mercy rule. With the victories, Central Washington has won seven straight GNAC games and eight of their last 10 conference games.

The No. 1 seed could become clearer this weekend as the Saints and Wildcats square off in their four-game series. The two teams will play in Ellensburg, Wash., on Saturday and in Lacey, Wash., on Sunday.

REGIONAL RANKINGS: This weekend’s series between Central Washington and Saint Martin’s could also go a long way in the GNAC’s presence in the NCAA West Rehion Rankings. The first regional ranking, which ultimately determines teams invited to the NCAA Division II Tournament, were released on Wednesday. Central Washington is sixth in the first ranking while Saint Martin’s is ranked ninth. Humboldt State, who has been ranked in the NFCA Division II Top-25’s top-five for much of the season, leads the rankings.

MAKING A CHARGE: Like Western Oregon did with their string of home games, Concordia is also making a run to secure a GNAC Championships spot in their first season in the conference. Part of a five-team logjam at .500 in the standings last week, the Cavaliers won six of eight games at home last week to move into third place in the GNAC standings at 11-7, 26-17 overall.

Concordia opened their week with a doubleheader split in a rain make-up with Northwest Nazarene on Thursday. The Cavaliers hosted Simon Fraser on Saturday, sweeping the Clan with identical 4-0 scores. Sunday provided for a split with Western Washington, which included an 8-0, six-inning mercy-rule win in the nightcap before shocking Saint Martin’s with a pair of losses, 7-3 and 9-3, on Wednesday in a rain make-up.

In that eight-game home stand, Concordia hit .363 and had four players hit over .400, led by a .550 average for McKenzie Smith that included 11 hits, three doubles and two home runs. The Cavaliers’ pitchers amassed a 2.85 earned run average with both Mattie Boucher and Jessica Lambourn finishing with 3-1 records.

Concordia will play four games at Montana State Billings before finishing the regular season with three doubleheaders the following weekend. The Cavaliers will play at Western Oregon on Apr. 22, host the Wolves on Apr. 23 and then travel to Simon Fraser on Apr. 24 for a rain make-up.

TICKETS FOR GNAC CHAMPIONSHIPS ON SALE NOW: Tickets are now available for the 2016 GNAC Softball Championships, which take place Apr. 28-30 on the campus of Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, Wash. Tournament passes purchased online prior to the event are $14 for adults and $8 for seniors, adults and children. Single-session tickets will be available for $7 for adults and $4 for seniors, students and children. Online ticket sales end on Wed., Apr. 27. At the gate, tickets will be $8 for adults and $5 for seniors, adults and children. Children two-years-old and under are admitted free. Purchase Tickets