Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Western Oregon has seemingly found its stride since starting conference play.

After a rocky start to the season, which included a six-game losing streak in non-conference play, the Wolves have moved into first place in the GNAC standings with a 5-1 record. Western Oregon opened the season with a two-game split at Saint Martin’s and moved into the lead with a four-game sweep at home over Simon Fraser on Friday and Saturday.

The Wolves performed well as a team, batting .388 in the series to lead all GNAC teams last week with three players batting .500 or better. The team’s 1.62 ERA was second among all conference teams last week.

Western Oregon swept the GNAC Player of the Week awards. Junior Katelyn McGough picked up GNAC Player of the Week after batting .500 in the series, going 6 for 12 with six runs, a double, two home runs and five RBIs. Senior Chelsea Smith was named the GNAC Pitcher of the Week after she won twice and compiled a 0.64 ERA in two starts, allowing one run on eight hits in 11 innings.

Saint Martin’s and Central Washington won three of four games in their respective weekend series. The Saints took three of four games over Montana State Billings, which included a rather unusual no-hitter for junior Abby Runyon. In the second game on Saturday, Runyon allowed two runs, one earned, on no hits to notch the second no-hitter in the conference this week and the 31st in GNAC history.

Runyon allowed one walk through the first six innings but saw the two MSUB runs score in the seventh on two walks, an error and a sacrifice fly.

Central Washington opened its conference schedule by taking three of four games from Western Washington and moved into a tie for second place with Northwest Nazarene, which did not play last week.

Six GNAC teams will play this weekend in the final sets of games before the Tournament of Champions. Simon Fraser hosts Northwest Nazarene on Friday on Saturday and Montana State Billings hosts Central Washington. Western Washington hosts Western Oregon for a four-game series on Saturday and Sunday.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
PLAYER
Katelyn McGough, Western Oregon
OF • 5-6 • Junior • Raymond, Wash.

McGough batted .500 for the Wolves in a four-game sweep of Simon Fraser, going 6 for 12 with six runs, a double, two home runs and five RBIs. McGough hit a solo home run in Friday’s 5-2 opening-game win and went 2 for 3 in the nightcap with a run scored as the Wolves won 2-1. McGough opened Saturday by going 2 for 3 with a three-run homer in the 6-4 win before going 1 for 3 with two runs scored in the 1-0, five-inning win.

Also Nominated: Myiah Seaton (Central Washington), Kekai Schultz (Saint Martin’s), Janique Balcaen (Simon Fraser), Amaya Davis (Western Washington).

PITCHER
Chelsea Smith, Western Oregon
P • 5-7 • Senior • Tacoma, Wash.

Smith won both of her starts as Western Oregon swept a four-game series from Simon Fraser. In 11 innings, Smith compiled a 0.64 ERA and allowed one run on eight hits with 15 strikeouts. Smith earned the 2-1 win in Friday’s second game as she allowed one run on five hits with four walks and 10 strikeouts. She needed only four innings of work in Saturday’s 10-0 run-rule victory as she allowed just three hits and a walk while striking out five.

Also Nominated: Ashlee Laver (Central Washington), Julia Qualteri (Montana State Billings), Tia Ridings (Saint Martin’s), Shaneika Hollingworth (Simon Fraser), Mareena Ramirez (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington opened conference play by taking three of four games from Western Washington at home. The Wildcats scored 1-0 and 14-5 (five innings) wins on Saturday. The Vikings won the Sunday opener, 3-0, before CWU took an 8-4 win in the series finale.

• Senior Myiah Seaton batted .455 in the four-game series, going 5 for 11 with four doubles, a home run, three runs scored and nine RBIs. Seaton went 2 for 6 with a three-run homer and a two-run double in Saturday’s second game. She went 3 for 4 in Sunday’s nightcap, which included a pair of RBI doubles. Seaton has a .218 batting average on the season in 18 games.

• Senior Alyssa Benthagen batted .556 in the four games, going 5 for 8 with three runs, a home run and four RBIs while also drawing five walks. Benthagen accounted for the only offense in Saturday’s opener, a solo home run in the sixth for the 1-0 win. She went 3 for 3 in the nightcap with a pair of RBI singles. Benthagen then added an RBI single that started the Wildcats’ five-run fifth inning in Sunday’s second game. Benthagen is fourth in the GNAC with a .371 batting average.

• Freshman Payton Kessler earned the pitching victory in two of the three games. She went three innings in relief to win Saturday’s nightcap, allowing four unearned runs on five hits with a walk and two strikeouts in three innings. She threw 1.2 innings in Sunday’s nightcap, allowing one run on four hits with a strikeout. Kessler owns a 4.12 ERA in six appearances and two starts.

• Central Washington enters the week with a .266 batting average and 3.60 ERA.

• Central Washington hits the road this week for a four-game series at Montana State Billings on Friday and Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings fell in three of four games at Saint Martin’s. The Yellowjackets dropped both games on Saturday, 2-1 and 6-2, and Sunday’s opener, 7-0. They rebounded to win the final game of the series, 2-1.

• Junior Marin Penney led MSUB with a .375 batting average, going 3 for 8 with a run scored, two RBIs and three walks. Penney went 1 for 2 in Saturday’s opener with a sacrifice fly that opened scoring in the first inning. She went 1 for 2 in Sunday’s opener and 1 for 3 in the nightcap with an RBI double. Penney enters the week leading MSUB with a .333 batting average and leads the GNAC with seven home runs.

• Sophomore Jazlyn Kalehuawehe finished with a .300 batting average, going 3 for 10. Two of those hits came in Saturday’s opener where she went 2 for 3. Her RBI came in the Saturday nightcap on a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning. Kalehuawehe enters the week with a .214 batting average in 19 games.

• Senior Julia Qualteri earned the win in the circle in Sunday’s second game, allowing one run on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts. She took the loss in Saturday’s second game as she allowed two runs on four hits with three strikeouts in five innings. Qualteri enters the week with a 5.82 ERA.

• The Yellowjackets enter the week with a .216 batting average and a 4.84 ERA. They lead the conference with 12 home runs.

• Montana State Billings will play its first home games of the season this weekend, hosting Central Washington for a four-game series on Friday and Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene did not play last week. The Nighthawks return to the schedule this week with a four-game series at Simon Fraser on Friday and Saturday.

• Northwest Nazarene opened GNAC play by winning three of four games over Montana State Billings. The Nighthawks won the first three games of the series, 6-3 and 4-1 on Mar. 9 and 2-0 on Mar. 11, before falling 6-2 in the finale.

• Senior Maia McNicoll led NNU by batting .455 in the four games, going 5 for 11 with three runs, two home runs and six RBIs. McNicoll had a two-run home run in the Mar. 9 opener and went 3 for 3 with a three-run homer in the nightcap. She then added a 1 for 4 effort in the Mar. 11 loss. McNicoll is batting .318 for the season and shares the GNAC lead with 22 RBIs.

• Junior Sidney Booth threw for pair of complete-game victories. Booth allowed three runs on five hits and struck out nine for the win in the Mar. 9 opener. She then allowed just two hits and struck out 10 to win the Mar. 11 opener. Booth is fourth in the GNAC with a 2.29 ERA. She ranks 29th in Division II with three shutouts.

• Senior Tori Hensley batted .467 in the series, going 7 for 15 with three doubles, three runs and three RBIs. Hensley went 2 for 3 with an RBI in the Mar. 9 opener and 2 for 4 with an RBI double in the finale. She finished with a hit in the Mar. 11 opener before going 2 for 4 with an RBI single in the nightcap. Hensley also went 1-1 in the circle, compiling a 1.62 ERA. Hensley has a .338 batting average and is third in the GNAC with a 2.25 ERA.

• Northwest Nazarene enters the week with a .251 batting average and leads the conference with a 2.54 ERA. The Nighthawks rank 26th in Division II in walks plus hits per innings pitched (WHIP) at 1.15.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s took three of four games from Montana State Billings last week. The Saints won both games on Saturday, 2-1 and 6-2, and 7-0 on Sunday. The Yellowjackets took the final game of the series, 2-1.

• Junior Abby Runyon threw the second no-hitter in the GNAC this season and the 31st in conference history in Saturday’s second game with a rather unusual line. Runyon allowed just one walk until the seventh inning when two walks, an error and a sacrifice fly accounted for two runs in the frame. Runyon ended the game allowing two runs, one earned, on no hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Runyon is ninth in the GNAC with a 3.24 ERA.

• Sophomore Kekai Schultz led SMU offensively with a .417 batting average, going 5 for 12 with two doubles, a home run, three runs scored and four RBIs. Schultz hit a solo home run in Saturday’s opener and went 1 for 3 in the nightcap with a two-RBI double. Schultz went 2 for 3 in Sunday’s opener with an RBI double and went 1 for 3 in the nightcap. Schultz is ninth in the GNAC with a .352 batting average.

• Junior Tia Ridings had two wins and compiled a 0.72 ERA in two starts. She was the winner in Saturday’s opener by allowing one run on five hits and a walk while striking out six in 4.2 innings. In Sunday’s opener, Ridings allowed just two hits and struck out seven in five innings. Ridings is fifth in the GNAC with a 2.32 ERA.

• Saint Martin’s ranks second in the GNAC with a 2.91 ERA and is third in the GNAC with a .282 batting average. The Saints rank 18th in Division II with a .973 fielding percentage and 22nd with 0.42 double plays per game.

• Saint Martin’s will play a non-conference doubleheader at Division I Portland State on Thursday. They do not return to Division II play until the Tournament of Champions, which begins on Mar. 31.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser dropped all four games of a weekend series at Western Oregon. The Red Leafs fell 5-2 and 2-1 on Friday and took 6-4 and 10-0 (five innings) losses on Saturday.

• Sophomore Janique Balcaen led the SFU offense with a .538 batting average, going 7 for 13 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI. Balcaen went 2 for 3 in Friday’s opener. She tied a GNAC season-high with four hits in Saturday’s opener with an RBI single before finishing the week with a 1 for 3 effort in the nightcap. Balcaen is eighth in the GNAC with a .353 batting average.

• Junior Megan Duclos batted .400 in the four games, going 4 for 10 with a run scored. Her offense came in both nightcaps, going 2 for 2 on Friday and 2 for 3 on Saturday. For the first time this season, Duclos was caught stealing after 27 straight stolen bases without being caught. Duclos is second in the GNAC with a .414 batting average. She ranks third in Division II with 30 stolen bases and 16th with 41 hits.

• Sophomore Julia Hansen took the close loss in Friday’s second game allowing two runs, one earned, on eight hits with six strikeouts. Hansen enters the week with a 6.54 ERA.

• Simon Fraser leads the GNAC with a .294 batting average and also owns a 5.63 ERA. The Red Leafs rank ninth in Division II with 81 stolen bases and eighth with 3.12 stolen bases per game.

• Simon Fraser heads back to Burnaby Mountain for its first home games of the season this weekend, hosting Northwest Nazarene on Friday and Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon jumped to the top of the conference standings with a four-game sweep of Simon Fraser last week. The Wolves scored 5-2 and 2-1 wins on Friday before collecting 6-4 and 10-0 (five innings) victories on Saturday.

• Junior Katelyn McGough was named the GNAC Softball Player of the Week after she batted .500 in the four games, going 6 for 12 with six runs, a double, two home runs and five RBIs. McGough hit a solo home run in Friday’s opener and went 2 for 3 in the nightcap with a run scored. McGough opened Saturday by going 2 for 3 with a three-run homer in the opener before going 1 for 3 with two runs scored in the 1-0, five-inning win. McGough enters the week leading WOU with a .338 batting average.

• Senior Chelsea Smith picked up GNAC Softball Pitcher of the Week honors after winning both of her starts. In 11 innings, Smith compiled a 0.64 ERA and allowed one run on eight hits with 15 strikeouts. Smith earned the 2-1 win in Friday’s second game as she allowed one run on five hits with four walks and 10 strikeouts. She needed only four innings of work in Saturday’s 10-0 run-rule victory as she allowed just three hits and a walk while striking out five. Smith is sixth in the GNAC with a 2.37 ERA and is 22nd in Division II with 9.2 strikeouts per seven innings.

• Junior Natalie Willoughby batted .636 in the four-game series, going 7 for 11 with two runs, a home run and five RBIs. Willoughby went 2 for 2 in Friday’s opener and then hit a solo home run in Saturday’s opener. She closed the series by going 3 for 3 in the nightcap with a pair of RBI singles. Willoughby enters the week with a .349 batting average.

• Western Oregon enters the week with a .249 batting average and is third in the GNAC with a 2.98 ERA.

• Western Oregon travels north this week for a four-game series at Western Washington on Saturday and Sunday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington lost three of four games at Central Washington last week. The Vikings dropped both games on Saturday, 1-0 and 14-5 (five innings). They won the opener on Sunday, 3-0, before taking an 8-4 loss in the series finale.

• Sophomore Amaya Davis batted a blistering .700 in the series, going 7 for 10 with a double, a run scored, two RBIs and three walks. Davis went 2 for 2 in both Saturday games, which included an RBI single in the second game. She went 1 for 3 in Sunday’s opener before going 2 for 3 in the finale and drew a bases-loaded walk. Davis enters the week with a .279 batting average.

• Freshman Hailey Rath batted .444 in the series, going 4 for 9 with a double, two runs, an RBI and five walks. Rath had hits in each of the final three games of the series, capped by a 2 for 3 effort in Sunday’s victory. Rath enters the week with a .338 batting average.

• Junior Mareena Ramirez had a pair of one-hitters in the circles and made three pitching appearances on the week. She took the loss in Saturday’s opener as she allowed one run on one hit, a solo home run, with three walks and five strikeouts. Ramirez rode a one-hit effort to the win in Sunday’s opener, walking, walking two and striking out eight. Ramirez leads the GNAC with nine wins and a 1.44 ERA. She ranks 20th in Division II with 96 strikeouts and is 27th with 4.41 hits allowed per seven innings.

• Western Washington ranks second in the GNAC with a .286 batting average and enters the week with a 3.05 ERA.

• The Vikings return home this week for a four-game series with Western Oregon on Saturday and Sunday.