Baseball: Player – Eric Tinnell, Central Washington (2B, 5-11, Sr., Ephrata, WA – Western Oregon) led the Wildcats to a 3-1 series victory over Montana State Billings hitting 8-for-18 with two doubles, a home run, six runs scored and four RBI. Tinnell totaled 13 total bases and a slugging percentage of .722 on the weekend, while drawing two walks and striking our zero times in 21 plate appearances. The senior second baseman also stole two bases for CWU, and converted all 11 of his chances defensively without an error. Tinnell was part of the Wildcats’ come-from-behind victory in the series finale, as he scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning on Saturday. His run was the first of four scored in the inning by CWU, as the Wildcats broke a 3-3 tie and finished strong for a 7-3 victory. Pitcher – Colben McGuire, Northwest Nazarene (RHP, R-R, 5-11, Jr., Idaho Falls, ID – Lane CC) took a tough 1-0 loss against Lewis-Clark State last weekend, despite pitching a stellar complete game for the Crusaders. McGuire struck out four and did not walk a batter over his nine innings of work, giving NNU every opportunity to earn a series split with a victory. McGuire retired nine batters in a row during a stretch between the fifth and eighth innings, and did not surrender the game-winning run until a two-out double in the ninth inning. NNU loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth with the chance to give McGuire the win, but the Crusaders came up just short as the game ended on a called third strike.

 

Honorable Mention: Spencer Dodd, Saint Martin’s (1B, L-R, 6-0, Sr., Eagle, ID - Eagle); Josh Moss, Saint Martin’s (LHP, L-L, 6-1, Jr., Tenino, WA - Rochester); Kevin Toon, Montana State Billings (2B, R-R, 6-2, So., Walla Walla, WA – Walla Walla CC); Nathan Etheridge, Western Oregon (1B, R-R, 6-5, So., Grants Pass, OR – Grants Pass); Kyle Thomson, Northwest Nazarene (2B, L-R, 5-7, Jr., Enumclaw, WA – Yakima Valley CC); Spenser Watkins, Western Oregon (RHP, R-R, 6-1, Sr., Scottsdale, AZ – Glendale CC); Cory Welch, Central Washington (SS/RHP, R-R, 6-0, Jr., Las Vegas, NV – College of Southern Nevada).

 

Softball: Player – Kaleigh Keating, Western Washington (OF, 5-4, Sr., Salinas, CA – Notre Dame Salinas) and Alyssa Nitschelm, Northwest Nazarene (2B, 5-5, Fr., Redmond, OR) ... Keating had seven hits in 16 at bats, including two-run single to give the Vikings a 2-1 lead on the way to a 6-3 victory at Western Oregon.  Among her hits were two doubles and a triple.  She also drove in five runs ... Nitschelm led the Crusaders to a split of a four-game series with Central Washington reaching base 10 times in 13 plate appearances.  She had eight hits, including a pair of doubles, in  11 official at bats.  She scored twice and drove in three runs.   Pitcher – Maria Gau, Central Washington (5-7, Sr., Woodinville, WA) recorded two wins, improving her record to 16-6.  In 11 innings, she allowed just eight hits and four runs.  She fanned 10 increasing her GNAC-leading strikeout total to 124.

 

Honorable Mention: Maikala Galusha, CWU (1B, 5-10, Sr., Battle Ground, WA); Amanda Evola, Western Oregon (OF, 5-7 Jr., Beaverton, OR - Westview); Noelle Wright, Northwest Nazarene (5-9, Sr., Irrigon, OR); Kelli Deminaew, Western Oregon (5-10, Jr., Pendleton, OR); Lacey McGladrey, Saint Martin’s (2B, 5-4, Sr., Bothell, WA).

 

Men's Track & Field:  Track – Rimar Christie, Northwest Nazarene (Jr., St. Michael, Barbados) and Tyrell Williams, Western Oregon (Jr., Salem, OR) ... Christie won three events at the WSU Cougar Invitational, finishing first in the 100 (10.87) and 200 (21.50) and also leading NNU to a win in the 4x100 relay (42.15). His 200 time is the second fastest in the GNAC this season.  Williams won his heat of the 100 meters and placed fourth overall in the UC San Diego Triton Invitational in a time of 10.78. On the season, Williams is the GNAC leader in the 200 (21.48) and has the third best time in the 100. Field -  John Haskin, Western Washington (So., Bainbridge Island, WA) posted a provisional national qualifying mark in the javelin with a throw of 193-11 at the WWU Vernacchia Invitational.

 

Honorable Mention: Matt Lutz, Western Washington (So., Bremerton, WA - Olympic).

 

Women's Track & Field:  Track – Marie Smith, Northwest Nazarene (Sr., Boise, ID - Capital) won the 100 hurdles at the Washington State Cougar Invitational in a time of 14.38, breaking the Crusader school record for the third time this spring.  The time is also a provisional national qualifying time and ranks eighth in GNAC history.  Field – Lindsay Wells, Western Washington (Sr., Seattle, WA) equaled the second best hammer throw in GNAC history in winning the event at WWU with a mark  of 182-4.

 

Honorable Mention: Dani Eggleston, Central Washington (So., Longview, WA); Natasha Kianipour, Simon Fraser (Fr., Burnaby, BC – Burnaby Mountain).