Thursday, February 14, 2019

NO-HITTER HIGHLIGHTS DIXIE STATE TOURNEY: With the way that Northwest Nazarene’s Jordan Adams threw during her freshman season, one had to figure a no-hitter was in the cards at some point.

That no-hitter came on Friday as Adams blanked CSU-Pueblo 9-0 to open the Nighthawks’ 3-2 run at the Courtyard Dixie State Classic. Adams allowed just one walk in the game and struck out eight. The walk was all that separated Adams from a perfect game.

The no-no was the 24th in GNAC history and the first since Apr. 22, 2018, when Central Washington’s Taylor Williams scored an 8-0, five-inning win over Western Washington. The effort by Adams was only the sixth in conference history by a single pitcher in a regulation seven-inning game. The last was thrown by Simon Fraser’s Kara Lukawesky in a 6-0 win over Northwest Nazarene on Mar. 10, 2012.

While no-hitters were fairly common over the first decade of GNAC play, they have been increasingly rare in the second decade. Adams’ performance was just the fourth no-hitter thrown by a GNAC team since 2010.

K-MAKER: Adding to the success of GNAC pitching at Dixie State was Western Washington senior Makinlee Sellevold. Throwing in all five of the Vikings' games at the Courtyard Dixie State Classic, Sellevold struck out 27 batters in 30 innings. She earned all three of the wins in the cucle as WWU went 3-2 in the tournament. Sellevold is fifth in the GNAC with four wins and is 13th with 31 strikeouts in eight appearances and 41 innings pitched.

TOURNAMENT ACTION CONTINUES: Five of the GNAC’s eight teams will play this weekend, with most of that action coming in tournaments. Western Oregon will head to St. George, Utah, to take part in the Dixie State Classic while both Saint Martin’s and Simon Fraser will play at the Cactus Classic in Tucson, Ariz. For the Clan, the games will open the 2019 campaign.

Montana State Billings heads to Denver for a pair of doubleheaders with MSU Denver and Colorado Mines. Concordia, meanwhile, travels to Southern California for a trio of twinbills with Cal State San Marcos, Concordia Irvine and Saint Katherine.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
PLAYER
Ivy Hommel, Northwest Nazarene
UT • 5-5 • Sophomore • Kuna, Idaho

Hommel led the Nighthawks offensively with a .571 batting average in five games, going 8 for 14 with a double, a home run, four runs, five RBI and six stolen bases as NNU went 3-2 at the Courtyard Dixie State Classic. She had two hits in four of the Nighthawks’ five games. Hommel went 2 for 3 with a home run and a pair of stolen bases in Thursday’s 7-6, eight-inning win over Chadron State and then went 2 for 3 with two more stolen bases in Friday’s 6-2 loss to Metro State.

Also Nominated: Theresa Moyle (Central Washington), Emily Benson (Western Washington).

PITCHER
Jordan Adams, Northwest Nazarene
P • 5-8 •  Sophomore • Gig Harbor, Wash.

Adams improved to 3-0 on the season as she allowed one run on five hits with two walks and 14 strikeouts to win a pair of games at the Courtyard Dixie State Classic. Adams opened by throwing the 24th no-hitter in GNAC history and just the sixth seven-inning no-hitter by a single pitcher, in a 9-0 win over CSU-Pueblo on Thursday, walking one and striking out eight in the process. She then allowed one run on five hits with a walk and six strikeouts in Friday’s 4-1 win over Western New Mexico. In 18 innings so far this season, Adams has allowed just one earned run.

Also Nominated: Lexie Strasser (Central Washington), Sally Bowles (Concordia), Makinlee Sellevold (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington continued its season by going 3-2 at the Courtyard Dixie State Classic. The Wildcats scored a 9-0, five-inning win over MSU Denver and an 8-7 win over Hawaii Pacific on Thursday and an 8-5 victory over Fort Lewis on Friday.

• Junior Savannah Egbert led the CWU offense, hitting .467 in the five games as went 7 for 15 with five runs and three RBI. Her best effort came against Fort Lewis on Friday where she went 2 for 3 with two runs and two RBI, including one on a two-out single in the fourth. Egbert has a .455 batting average through eight games, fourth in the GNAC, and shares the GNAC lead with six stolen bases.

• Sophomore Katie Kastning batted .462 in the tournament, going 6 for 13 with two runs and six RBI. Kastning went 2 for 3 with a two-RBI single in the second against Hawaii Pacific and had an RBI single in the opener against MSU Denver. Kastning enters the week with .350 batting average.

• Freshman pitcher Samantha Stanfield earned two of the Wildcats’ three wins in the circle. She allowed seven runs, one earned, on five hits with nine strikeouts to beat Hawaii Pacific on Thursday and then earned the win in relief over Fort Lewis on Friday, allowing two runs on seven hits in four innings. Stanfield has a 4.72 earned run average in four appearances.

• Central Washington enters the week with a .253 batting average and a 4.58 earned run average.

• A weekend doubleheader against in-state Division III rival Pacific Lutheran, scheduled for Saturday, was canceled due to the heavy snow in Washington. The Wildcats return to action when they participate in the Cavalier Classic on Feb. 22 and 23.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia went 1-3 in a four-game against NAIA rivals Oregon Tech and Simpson (Calif.) in Redding, Calif. The Cavaliers’ lone victory was a 6-1 win over Simpson in Sunday’s opening game.

• Junior Karley Yoshioka led the Cavaliers offensively with a .308 batting average, going 4 for 13 in the four games She went 2 for 3 in Saturday’s opener with Oregon Tech and had her lone RBI on a sixth-inning single against Simpson on Sunday. Yoshioka enters the week with a .348 batting average.

• Senior Mckenzie Smith went 3 for 8 in three games on the road trip, led by a 2 for 3 effort on Sunday against Simpson that included a run scored. Smith also pitched in two games in the series. She enters the week with a .313 batting average in six games.

• Junior Sally Bowles picked up the lone pitching win of the series against Simpson on Sunday, allowing one run on four hits with three strikeouts for her first win of the year. She helped her own cause by going 2 for 2 with a two-run homer. Bowles is 22nd in Division II with 0.41 walks allowed per seven innings, issuing just one walk in 17 innings of work.

• Concordia enters the week second in the GNAC with a .312 batting average and leads the conference with eight home runs. The Cavaliers are also second in the GNAC with a .937 fielding percentage. In addition, Concordia is 18th in Division II with 1.18 home runs per game and 25th with a .522 slugging percentage.

• Concordia will head to Southern California this week for doubleheaders against Cal State San Marcos on Friday, Concordia-Irvine on Saturday and Saint Katherine on Sunday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• After opening the week with a sweep of Hawaii Pacific on Monday, 6-2 and 12-3, Montana State Billings went 2-3 at the Courtyard Dixie State Classic. The Yellowjackets picked up an 8-7, eight-inning win over Fort Lewis on Thursday and a 10-2, five-inning win over MSU Denver on Saturday.

• Freshman Rylan Austin led MSUB offensively with a .364 batting average in the seven games, going 8 for 22 with two runs, four RBI and a double. Austin scored three of her runs in Monday’s nightcap against the Sharks. She then went 2 for 4 against Hawaii Hilo on Thursday and 2 for 3 against Western New Mexico on Friday. Austin leads the Yellowjackets with a .375 batting average.

• Sophomore Britanee Fisher and freshman Sidney Pollard each finished with a .333 batting average and went 7 for 21 in the seven games. Fisher had two hits in three games, punctuated by her 2 for 3 with a two-RBI double and a home run against MSU Denver. Pollard’s week was highlighted by her 2 for 3 performances in the first game against Hawaii Pacific. Pollard has a .375 batting average in eight games while Fisher is batting .321 in 10 games.

• Junior Maddy Lincoln went 2-2 in the circle last week, allowing 14 runs, 11 earned, in 27 innings. She earned the game two win over Hawaii Pacific, allowing three runs on seven hits and striking out three. Lincoln then logged the win over MSU Denver, allowing two runs on seven hits and three strikeouts. Lincoln enters the week with a 3.41 earned run average in seven appearances.

• Montana State Billings enters the week third in the GNAC with a .298 batting average and second with a 3.55 earned run average. The Yellowjackets are 29th in Division II with a .431 on base percentage.

• The Yellowjackets will play four games in Denver this weekend, taking on MSU Denver in a twinbill on Saturday and Colorado Mines for two games on Sunday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene went 3-2 at the Courtyard Dixie State Classic, picking up a 9-0 win over CSU-Pueblo and a 7-6 win over Chardon State on Thursday and a 6-2 win over Western New Mexico on Saturday. The Nighthawks closed on the trip on Monday with doubleheader losses to Dixie State.

• Sophomore Jordan Adams was named the GNAC Pitcher of the Week after she allowed just one run and struck out 14 in two wins. On Friday. Adams threw the 24th no-hitter in GNAC history, and just the sixth seven-inning no-hitter by one pitcher, in the win over CSU-Pueblo. She allowed just one walk and struck out eight. Adams then allowed one run on five hits and stuck out six to beat Western New Mexico on Friday. Adams leads the GNAC with a 3-1 record and 0.88 earned run average and is tied for 19th in Division II with 28 strikeouts.

• Sophomore Ivy Hommel was named the GNAC Softball Player of the Week after she batted .571 in the Courtyard Dixie State Classic, going 8 for 14 with a double, a home run, four runs, five RBI and six stolen bases. She went 2 for 3 with a home run and a pair of stolen bases against Chadron State and then went 2 for 3 with two more stolen bases in Friday’s 6-2 loss to Metro State. Hommel is batting .391 in 10 games this season.

• Following the Dixie State series on Monday, the Nighthawks are batting .293 and own a 4.52 earned run average. They lead the league with 81 hits and 18 doubles.

• Northwest Nazarene will be off this weekend before opening their 2019 home schedule next weekend with doubleheaders against Menlo on Feb. 22 and Willamette on Feb. 23.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s did not play last weekend after going 2-1 at the Desert Stinger. The Saints will play this weekend at the Cactus Classic in Tucson, Ariz., with games against Fort Lewis and Colorado Mesa on Thursday, Biola and Black Hills State on Friday and St. Mary’s (Texas) on Saturday.

• Saint Martin’s went 2-1 at the Desert Stinger to open the season. The Saints collected a 7-2 win over Stanislaus State and an 11-10 win over Colorado Christian and 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 leads the GNAC with a .330 batting average and enters the week with a 5.25 earned run average.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser is the lone GNAC team to have not yet started their season. That changes this weekend as the Clan competes in 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 did not play last weekend after opening the season with a 3-0 record at the Desert Stinger. The Wolves scored an 8-3 win over Colorado Christian, a 6-5, nine-inning win over Cal State Monterey Bay a 7-2 win over No. 7 Chico State.

• The Wolves return to action this weekend at the Dixie State Classic, playing two games against St. Edward’s on Thursday and Friday, Adelphi on Friday and Saturday and Dixie State on Sunday.

• Freshman Maddie Mayer led the way in the circle, going 2-0 to be 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. Mayer is second in the GNAC with a 1.62 earned run average.

• 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.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington went 3-2 at the Courtyard Dixie State Classic, scoring an 11-9 win over Western New Mexico on and a 3-2 win over MSU Denver on Thursday and a 7-1 win over Fort Lewis on Friday.

• Senior Mackinlee Sellevold was solid in the circle in the Vikings, earning the decision in all five games of the tournament and finished with 27 strikeouts in 30 innings pitched. She claimed the win in 3.1 innings in relief against Western New Mexico and went the distance against MSU Denver, allowing two runs, one earned, while striking out nine. Sellevold did the game thing against Fort Lewis, allowing one run on six hits while striking out nine more. Sellevold enters the week with a 4-4 record and 3.07 earned run average. She is 13th in Division II with 31 strikeouts.

• Senior Emily Benson led the WWU offense as she hit .462 in the five games, going 6 for 13 with five runs, six RBI, a double and two home runs. She provided the winning run with a solo home run in the seventh inning to beat MSU Denver and then went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a double against Fort Lewis. On Sunday, Benson went 2 for 4 against Dixie State with a two-run homer and an RBI single in the ninth. Benson enters the week with a .400 batting average in eight games.

• Western Washington enters the week with a .271 batting average and is third in the GNAC with a 4.47 earned run average.

• The Vikings will not play this weekend. Western Washington returns to action at the Cavalier Classic in Portland on Feb. 22 and 23 with games against Eastern Oregon, Simpson (Calif.), Corban and Northwest (Wash.).