Thursday, April 25, 2024
by Thomas Lal

PORTLAND, Ore. – Just one postseason place is up for grabs as two teams have already secured their place in the 2024 GNAC Baseball Championships heading into the penultimate week of the regular season schedule.

First-place Northwest Nazarene and second-place Western Oregon already know that they will be playing baseball come the second week of May as they clinched spots in the GNAC Championships by sweeping their series last week. The No. 23 Nighthawks come into the week looking to cement their place as the regular season champion as they travel to face Saint Martin’s for the Saints’ final conference games of the season while the Wolves will have to watch and wait through their bye week before taking the field again in Billings on May 2.

Central Washington leads the charge for the final spot in the conference tournament coming into the week as it prepares to host the Yellowjackets. The Wildcats come into the series on the heels of splitting a pair of non-conference games against Eastern Oregon last week while the ‘Jackets are looking to bounce back from a sweep at the hands of Northwest Nazarene.

Through games on April 24.

Player of the Week - Duke Pahukoa, Northwest Nazarene

Third-career player of the week – first this season.

Pahukoa helped the Nighthawks sweep Montana State Billings last week, posting a slash line of .500/.526/.812. He had multiple RBIs in three of his team’s four victories, as he steadily contributed in clutch situations throughout the weekend. Pahukoa totaled six RBIs, seven runs scored, a pair of doubles and his team-leading seventh home run of the season.

“Duke played a big role in each of our wins last weekend,” said NNU head coach Joe Schaefer. “He came up with big at-bats all weekend long. Whether it was driving in runs or just moving runners, he did his job all weekend.”

Also Nominated: Austin Ohland, CWU; Jack Nehler, MSUB; Randy Stultz, WOU.

Pitcher of the Week - Arturo Alvarez, Western Oregon

Fourth-career player of the week – second this season.

Alvarez put forth a dominant performance in the Wolves’ 8-1 victory over Saint Martin’s, striking out four hitters and walking none across eight stellar innings. The lone run Alvarez allowed was unearned, as he allowed just two Saints to reach scoring position. Alvarez’s defense turned an inning-ending double play in the fourth, sparking a string of 11 consecutive hitters the righty retired towards the end of his outing.

“Arturo had a quality start that helped us clinch a series win,” said WOU head coach Kellen Walker. “It helped keep our bullpen in a good spot going into the fourth game.”

Also Nominated: Jonathan Garza II, CWU; Cole Bertram, MSUB; Kyle Ethridge, NNU