Wednesday, April 17, 2019

GNAC CHAMPIONSHIPS FIELD BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE: With two weeks to go in the regular season, the field for the upcoming GNAC Softball Championships is beginning to come into focus.

Central Washington is in the driver’s seat to claim its third regular-season title in the last four years, leading the conference with a 16-4 record. The Wildcats went 3-1 last weekend, taking their series at Montana State Billings. Central aims to lock up its tournament berth in this weekend’s four-game series with Saint Martin’s.

Western Washington sits in second place with a 13-7 record. The Vikings split their only games last week, scoring a 2-1 win over Simon Fraser last Monday, and will host Western Oregon and Concordia over the weekend.

The Wolves and Cavaliers are tied for third in the conference standings at 12-8 and are hoping to not only lock up tournament berths, but possibly move up in the standings. The programs split a four-game series in the Willamette Valley last weekend and will play at Western Washington and Simon Fraser this weekend.

Northwest Nazarene and Saint Martin’s are on the outside looking in, but are still in the conversation. The Nighthawks sit in fifth place with a 10-10 record while the Saints are sixth at 9-11. The two teams split a four-game series in Nampa last weekend. Northwest Nazarene will play its final eight games at home, hosting Montana State Billings this weekend and Western Washington next weekend.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
PLAYER
Julia Reuble, Central Washington
1B • 5-8 • Junior • Edmonds, Wash.

Reuble led the Wildcats to a series win at Montana State Billings with a .571 batting average and 1.286 slugging percentage. She went 8 for 14 with four runs, six RBI, one double and three home runs. Reuble had an RBI single in a pinch-hitting appearance in Saturday’s opener and then went 3 for 4 in the nightcap with a pair of solo home runs. Reuble went 4 for 5 in Sunday’s first game, including another solo homer and an RBI single.

Also Nominated: Marisa Stockton (Concordia), Trinity Favela (Saint Martin’s), Kennedy Coy (Western Oregon), Emily Benson (Western Washington).

PITCHER
Maddie Mayer, Western Oregon
LHP • 5-8 •  Freshman • Portland, Ore.

Mayer earned three of the Wolves’ four wins on the week, amassing a 1.84 earned run average. She allowed five runs on 16 hits with five walks and 13 strikeouts in 19 innings. Mayer threw a two-hit, five-inning shutout in Monday’s opener against Montana State Billings, striking out five. Mayer threw a four-hit shutout with one walk and seven strikeouts in Saturday’s 5-0 second-game win over Concordia. She closed the week by allowing five runs on 10 hits with three walks and a strikeout in Sunday’s 7-5 first-game win.

Also Nominated: Taylor Williams (Central Washington), Brandi Schoessler (Saint Martin’s), Anissa Zacharczuk (Simon Fraser), Makinlee Sellevold (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington took another step towards clinching a GNAC Championships berth by taking three of four games at Montana State Billings. The Wildcats swept Saturday’s games, 8-5 and 9-6, and won Sunday’s opener 11-5.

• Junior Julia Reuble was named the GNAC Softball Player of the Week after she led the Wildcats with a .571 batting average in the series. She went 8 for 14 with four runs, six RBI, one double and three home runs. Reuble had an RBI single in a pinch-hitting appearance in Saturday’s opener and then went 3 for 4 in the nightcap with a pair of solo home runs. Reuble went 4 for 5 in Sunday’s first game, including another solo homer and an RBI single. Reuble enters the week with a .273 batting average.

• Junior Savannah Egbert went .500 in the four games, going 9 for 18 with four runs, three RBI and two doubles. She exploded for a 5 for 5 performance in Saturday’s opener, which included two runs and an RBI single. She had an RBI single in Saturday’s nightcap and an RBI double in Sunday’s opener before going 2 for 4 in the series finale. Egbert is fourth in the GNAC and 29th in Division II with a .450 batting average and 19th in Division II with 59 hits.

• Sophomore Lexie Strasser earned two of the three wins in the circle. She allowed five runs on 12 hits and struck out one in Saturday’s opener and then allowed five runs on eight hits with four strikeouts in five innings in Sunday’s opener. Strasser is sixth in the GNAC with a 3.09 earned run average.

• Central Washington leads the GNAC and is 11th in Division II with a .342 batting average. The Wildcats rank 22nd in Division II in on-base percentage (.406), 24th in both scoring (6.47 runs per game) and home runs per game (0.95) and 26th in doubles per game (1.76).

• Central Washington will play Saint Martin’s in four games this weekend, playing in Lacey on Friday and Ellensburg on Saturday.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia split its weekend series with Western Oregon to remain in the GNAC Championships chase. The Cavaliers won Saturday’s opener in Portland 4-3 and lost the nightcap 5-0. The Wolves won Sunday’s opener 7-5 and the Cavaliers took the finale 10-7.

• Sophomore Marisa Stockton led the Cavaliers offensively with a .455 batting average, going 5 for 11 with two runs, six RBI and two home runs. Stockton tied Saturday’s opener with a three-run pinch-hit home run and went 1 for 3 in the nightcap. Stockton had a two-run homer in Sunday’s opener and went 2 for 3 with an RBI single in the finale. Stockton enters the week with a .306 batting average.

• Senior Mckenzie Smith went .400 at the plate, going 4 for 10 with two RBI and a double. Most of her offense came in Saturday’s opener where she went 3 for 4. In the circle Smith struggled, taking the loss in the Saturday finale. Smith enters the week with a .318 batting average and is ninth in the GNAC with a 3.78 earned run average.

• Junior Sally Bowles went 1-1 in the circle in the series. She earned the win in Saturday’s opener, allowing three runs on 12 hits with three strikeouts as she improved to 8-7 on the season. Bowles enters the week seventh in the GNAC with a 3.26 earned run average and is eighth in Division II with 0.64 walks allowed per seven innings.

• Concordia enters the week with a .278 batting average and is third in the GNAC with a 3.59 earned run average.  The Cavaliers lead the GNAC with a .958 fielding percentage and are 18th in Division II with 0.44 double plays turned per game.

• Concordia heads north this weekend to play a doubleheader at Simon Fraser on Friday and two at Western Washington on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• The long-awaited first home games of the season were not enough to pull Montana State Billings to victory. The Yellowjackets dropped three of four games to Central Washington, with MSUB winning the final game on Sunday 5-1. The team opened the week by dropping two games on Monday to Western Oregon in Portland.

• Junior Jolene House led the Yellowjackets with a .500 batting average in the six games, going 8 for 16 with two runs scored. House went 2 for 4 in Saturday’s opener with CWU and then went 3 for 4 with her two runs in Saturday’s nightcap. She closed the weekend with a 2 for 4 effort in Sunday’s opener. House enters the week with a team-leading .348 batting average in 25 games.

• Sophomore Brittanee Fisher went .412 in the six games, going 7 for 17 with two runs, three RBI and a home run. the homer came in Monday’s nightcap against Western Oregon, a solo shot in the fifth. Fisher went 2 for in Saturday’s second game with CWU and opened Sunday by going 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI single. Fisher is batting .267 for the Yellowjackets.

• Freshman Alyssa Etheridge once again earned the lone pitching win over the week, allowing one run on eight hits and two walks in Sunday’s 5-1 victory. She improved to 6-9 on the season and enters the week with a 4.87 earned run average.

• The Yellowjackets enter the week with a .259 batting average and 5.05 earned run average.

• Montana State Billings plays its final home series of the year this weekend, traveling to Northwest Nazarene for games on Friday and Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene opened a 12-game homestand with a series split with Saint Martin’s The Nighthawks were 11-3, five-inning winners in Friday’s second game and 3-1 winners in Saturday’s opener.

• Junior Brittany Genuardi led the Nighthawks with a .444 batting average in three games, going 4 for 9 with a run, two RBI, three doubles and a home run. Genuardi went 2 for 3 with an RBI double in Saturday’s opener and closed by 1 for 3 in the nightcap, the hit being a solo home run. Genuardi enters the week with a .283 batting average.

• Senior Anna Williams batted .400 in the four games, going 4 for 10 with four runs and two RBI. Both RBI came in Friday’s opener on a home run to right center field. Williams went 1 for 1 with two runs and two walks in Friday’s nightcap and had a hit in each of Saturday’s games. Williams is sixth in the GNAC with a .413 batting average. She ranks 10th in Division II with 106 total bases, 24th with 57 hits and 29th with 11 home runs.

• Senior Rylee Thomas led NNU in the circle with a 1.00 earned run average in two games. She allowed five runs, two earned, on 10 hits with 10 strikeouts in 14 innings. Thomas took the close loss in Friday’s opener, allowing four runs, one earned, on five hits with seven strikeouts. She then earned the win on Saturday by allowing one run on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Thomas enters the week with a 5-8 record and 4.91 earned run average.

• The Nighthawks enter the week with a .304 batting average and 4.18 earned run average. The team leads the GNAC with 68 doubles.

• Northwest Nazarene will host Montana State Billings for a four-game series on Friday and Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s kept alive in the GNAC Championships conversation with a split at Northwest Nazarene. The Saints won Friday’s opener 4-3 and the Saturday finale 6-4.

• Junior Nicki DeHan led the Saints with a .400 batting average in the four games, going 4 for 10 with three runs, an RBI and two doubles. She went 1 for 3 in Friday’s opener and 1 for 2 in the nightcap with an RBI double. She then had single hits in each of Saturday’s games. DeHan enters the week with a .284 batting average.

• Junior Regan Byrd also batted .400 in the NNU series, going 4 for 10 with a run and an RBI. She capped the week by going 2 for 3 in Saturday’s nightcap, which included an RBI single in the Saints’ six-run seventh inning. Byrd enters the week with a .327 batting average in 24 games and 19 starts.

• Junior Brandi Schoessler earned the pitching victory in Friday’s opener, allowing three runs on six hits with a walk and two strikeouts. She now has 15 wins on the season, ranking second in the GNAC. Schoessler also earned the save in Saturday’s allowing, allowing one and striking out one in the seventh inning.

• Senior Lauren Maley earned her second win of the season on Saturday, allowing four runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts in six innings of work. Maley enters the week with a 6.61 earned run average.

• Saint Martin’s enters the week with a .285 batting average and 5.41 earned run average. The Saints are 18th in Division II with 0.44 double plays per game.

• Saint Martin’s will face league-leading Central Washington for four games this weekend. The teams play a doubleheader in Lacey on Friday and a twinbill in Ellensburg on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser played just two games last week, splitting a weather make-up doubleheader with Western Washington on Monday. The Clan lost game one 2-1 and won game two 2-1.

• Sophomore Alex Ogg paced the Clan by going 5 for 7 in the two games. She went 2 for 3 in the opener with an RBI single in the fifth that accounted for the Clan’s only run. Ogg then went 3 for 4 in the nightcap. Ogg is second in the GNAC and 13th in Division II with a .485 batting average

• Senior Hailey Gearey went 3 for 6 in the doubleheader with the majority of her offense coming in the second game. She went 2 for 3 in that game and opened scoring with her RBI single in the second inning. Gearey enters the week with a .284 batting average.

• Freshman Anissa Zacharchuk earned the pitching win in the second game, allowing one run on five hits with two walks as she improved to 3-2 on the season. Zacharchuk enters the week with a 4.57 earned run average.

• Simon Fraser enters the week with a .296 batting average and 6.26 earned run average. The Clan is third in Division II with 0.52 double plays per game.

• Simon Fraser will play its final home games of the season this weekend, hosting Concordia for two games on Friday and Western Oregon for two games on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• After opening the week with 12-0 and 11-1, five-inning victories over Montana State Billings on Monday, Western Oregon split with Willamette Valley rival Concordia. The Wolves won Saturday’s second game 5-0 and Sunday’s opener 7-5.

• Freshman Maddie Mayer was named the GNAC Pitcher of the Week after she won three games. She had a 1.84 earned run average in 19 innings, allowing five runs on 16 hits with 13 strikeouts. Mayer threw a two-hit, five-inning shutout in Monday’s opener against Montana State Billings, striking out five. Mayer threw a four-hit shutout with one walk and seven strikeouts in Saturday’s 5-0 second-game win over Concordia. She closed the week by allowing five runs on 10 hits with three walks and a strikeout in Sunday’s 7-5 first-game win. Mayer has a 9-2 record and is third in the GNAC with a 2.66 earned run average.

• Junior Kennedy Coy led the Wolves offensively with a .563 batting average in the six games, going 9 for 16 with eight runs, five RBI, three doubles and a triple. Coy scored two runs in Monday’s opener and went 2 for 3 in the nightcap with three runs and an RBI single. Coy then went 2 for 3 with a three-RBI triple in Saturday’s win over Concordia and went 2 for 2 in Sunday’s win. Coy enters the week with a .356 average in 32 games.

• With the win on Sunday, head coach Lonny Sargent picked up his 400th win as a collegiate head coach, combining both four-year college and community college records. His record includes 194 wins in six-plus seasons at Western Oregon along with stops at Utah State, Warner Pacific and Mt. Hood Community College. He is the winningest active softball coach in the GNAC.

• The Wolves enter the week second in the GNAC and ranked 19th in Division II with a .335 batting average. They also rank second in the GNAC with a 3.13 earned run average. Western is 12th in Division II with 0.40 triples per game.

• Western Oregon travels north this week for a doubleheader at Western Washington on Friday and a doubleheader at Simon Fraser on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• The Vikings played just two games last week, splitting a pair of 2-1 contests with Simon Fraser on Monday.

• Senior Emily Benson led the way offensively as she went 3 for 6 in the twinbill. She went 1 for 3 in the opener and then went 2 for 3 in the nightcap, scoring the Vikings’ only run in the fourth. Benson is third in the GNAC and 21st in Division II with a .462 batting average. She is seventh in Division II with 13 home runs and 0.35 home runs per game and is sixth nationally with a .942 slugging percentage.

• Senior Makinlee Sellevold picked up her GNAC-leading 16th win of the season in Monday’s opener, allowing one run on seven hits with six strikeouts. Sellevold is second in the GNAC with a 2.28 earned run average. She ranks 20th in Division II in victories and leads the GNAC with 134 strikeouts.

• Western Washington enters the week with a .311 batting average and leads the GNAC with a 2.96 earned run average. The Vikings are 11th in Division II with eight hit batters and 26th with 0.92 home runs per game.

• The Vikings will play its final home games of the season this weekend, hosting Western Oregon on Friday and Concordia on Saturday.