Tuesday, April 3, 2018

WOLVES, NIGHTHAWKS MAKE WAVES IN STANDINGS: In the return to GNAC play after the break for the Tournament of Champions, Western Oregon and Northwest Nazarene made their stake to a spot in the GNAC Championships with a month to go in the regular season.

Both the Wolves and Nighthawks are tied for second in the GNAC standings with 7-5 conference record. Western Oregon moved up thanks to winning four of five weekend games. It started with a sweep of Central Washington, handing the Wildcats their first three conference losses of the season. After completing a halted game from Mar. 18 with a 6-3 win, WOU took an 11-8, eight-inning win and ended with a 4-3 victory on Friday.

Western Oregon ended by earning a split with Saint Martin’s on Saturday, taking the opener 6-0 and losing the nightcap 9-1.

The effort by the Wolves earned the team both GNAC Player of the Week awards. Ryanne Huffman was named the Player of the Week after she hit .438 in the four regularly scheduled games. Haley Fabian was named the Pitcher of the Week after she earned wins over both CWU and SMU, which included a two-hit shutout of the Saints.

Northwest Nazarene returned to conference play by stunting Simon Fraser’s string of five wins in six GNAC games. After dropping the opener by a 2-0 score on Friday, the Nighthawks reeled off three straight wins. They won Friday’s nightcap by an 8-7 score and won both games on Saturday by 3-2 and 8-2 margins. With the wins, NNU has now won six of its last eight GNAC contests.

Abigail Otto provided most of the offensive juice for the Nighthawks as she hit .455 in the four games, going 5 for 11 with three RBIs and a home run. Freshman pitcher Jordan Adams went 1-1 in two appearances but finished with a 0.00 earned run average after she allowed just two unearned runs on six hits with 12 strikeouts. She earned the win in Saturday’s opener, allowing just three hits and striking out eight in the complete-game effort.

Despite the three losses to WOU, Central Washington continues to lead the GNAC standings with a 9-3 conference mark. Simon Fraser is a close fourth place at 9-7, just percentage points behind WOU and NNU.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
PLAYER
Ryanne Huffman, Western Oregon
IF • 5-4 •  Junior • Monmouth, Ore.

Huffman led the Wolves by going .438 in the team’s four regularly scheduled games and .421 with the conclusion of the postponed game vs. Central Washington from Mar. 18. Huffman went 2 for 5 with a run and an RBI in Friday’s opener, an 11-6 win over CWU and went 2 for 4 in the nightcap with a run and an RBI. She opened Saturday’s doubleheader at Saint Martin’s by going 2 for 4, which included two RBIs and a triple. Huffman finished 7 for 16 in the four scheduled games with three runs and five RBIs.

Also Nominated: Savannah Egbert (Central Washington), Macy Besuyen (Concordia), Cameron Cassinelli (Montana State Billings), Lindsay Miller (Saint Martin’s), Jackie Lucido (Western Washington).

PITCHER
Haley Fabian, Western Oregon
P • 5-9 •  Junior • East Wenatchee, Wash.

Fabian earned two of Western Oregon’s wins over the weekend, including in the completion of the Mar. 18 halted game with Central Washington. In that halted game, Fabian allowed three runs on seven hits to hand the Wildcats their first GNAC loss of the season. Fabian then threw a two-hit shutout at Saint Martin’s on Saturday, allowing one walk and striking out five in a 6-0 win over the Saints in the opener.

Also Nominated: Lexie Strasser (Central Washington), Maddy Lincoln (Montana State Billings), Lauren Maley (Saint Martin’s), Anna Kasner (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington took its first three GNAC losses of the season. On Friday, the Wildcats dropped a 6-3 decision to Western Oregon in the conclusion of a halted game from Mar. 18. The Wolves then collected wins on both regularly scheduled games, 11-6 in 10 innings & 2-1. Central Washington rebounded to sweep Concordia on Saturday, 20-1 & 2-1.

• Freshman Theresa Moyle hit .545 in the four regularly-scheduled games, going 6 for 11 with six runs, three RBIs, three doubles and a triple. She went 2 for 3 and scored a pair of runs in Friday’s nightcap. In Saturday’s opener, Moyle went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and three runs, which included an RBI on a bases-loaded walk. Moyle enters the week batting .366 in 27 games.

• Sophomore Savannah Egbert went 10 for 19 in the five-game set with three runs and four RBIs. She also went 4 for 4 in stolen-base attempts. After going 3 for 3 in the halted game, Egbert went 3 for 6 in the Friday opener, which included two RBIs. Egbert had two hits in both games against Concordia. Egbert is second in the GNAC and 28th in Division II with her .474 batting average. She is also second in the GNAC in hits (46) and runs (26).

• Freshman Lexie Strasser went 2-1 in the circle over the weekend. She went four innings for the win in Saturday’s opener with Concordia, allowing five hits and one walk while striking out two. She then earned the relief win in the nightcap, striking out two in two innings. Strasser enters the week ranked second in the GNAC with a 2.26 earned run average and leads the league with 12 wins.

• Central Washington leads the GNAC with a 2.73 earned run average and second in the league with a .315 batting average. The Wildcats are 24th in Division II with a .750 win percentage and 27th with 6.50 runs scored per game.

• Central Washington runs for the border this weekend, playing a doubleheader at Western Washington on Saturday and at Simon Fraser on Sunday.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia’s losing streak is at five games after dropping all four games over the weekend. The Cavaliers dropped a pair at Saint Martin’s on Friday, 7-3 and 2-1, and dropped 20-1 and 2-1 games to Central Washington on Saturday.

• Sophomore Macy Besuyen led the Cavaliers with a .545 batting average in the four games, going 6 for 11 with two runs, two RBIs and two triples. She went 2 for 3 with an RBI single on Friday at SMU, went 2 for 3 with a double and a triple in Saturday’s opener at CWU and hit her second triple in the nightcap. Besuyen leads the Cavs and is fourth in the GNAC with a .398 batting average. She is currently the Division II leader with six triples and is 14th with 0.19 triples per game.

• Junior Courtney Somers went 5 for 11 in the four games. She went 2 for 3 in Friday’s opener, which included a two-RBI homer in the fourth, and had single hits in each of the next three games. Somers enters the week with a .315 batting average in 28 games.

• Junior Mackenzie Smith took two close losses in the circle. She allowed two runs on six hits with a walk and a strikeout in Friday’s second game against SMU and then allowed two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts in the second game against CWU. Smith enters the week fourth in the GNAC with a 2.54 earned run average.

• Concordia enters the week with a .281 batting average and is third in the GNAC with a 3.73 earned run average.

• Concordia heads east for four games this weekend, traveling to Montana State Billings for games on Saturday and Sunday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings succeeded in a sweep of a rare tripleheader over Western Washington in the Yellowjackets’ home opener on Friday, posting scores of 2-1, 9-2 and 7-3. The fourth game of the series on Satuday was canceled due to snow.

• Senior Heather Tracy continued her torrid hitting pace, going 5 for 15 with three runs and an RBI in the three games. Tracy went 2 for 4 in the second game with an RBI single in the sixth. She then went 3 for 3 and scored a pair of runs in the third game, batting in the leadoff spot. Tracy leads the GNAC and is fifth in Division II with her .513 batting average. She is also second in Division II with her 60 hits and 15th with her 86 total bases.

• Senior Cameron Cassinelli tied the MSUB career home run record as she blasted a solo shot in the fourth inning of game three to tie the mark held by Kelly Parsons. Cassinelli went 3 for 7 in the three games, notching a hit in each contest, and had a two-RBI double for the game-winner in game one. Cassinelli enters the week with a .329 batting average and is one of eight GNAC players leading the league with five homers.

• Sophomore Maddy Lincoln had a win and a save as she appeared in the circle in two of the three games. She went the distance to win the opener, allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts. Lincoln collected the save in the third game, allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts in two innings. Megan Dettling and Haley Couch collected the other two pitching victories, with both pitchers allowing two runs in complete-game efforts.

• Montana State Billings enters the week third in the GNAC with a .311 batting average and a 4.52 earned run average. The Yellowjackets lead the league with 30 home runs.

• The Yellowjackets continue an 11-game home stand this weekend, hosting Concordia for four games on Saturday and Sunday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene earned a big series victory at home over Simon Fraser. After losing Friday’s opener 2-0, the Nighthawks scored an 8-7 before sweeping Saturday’s games, 3-0 and 8-2.

• Freshman Jordan Adams went 1-1 in the circle, but finished with a 0.00 earned run average. She took the loss in Friday’s opener, allowing two unearned runs on three hits while striking out four. In Saturday’s opener, Adams allowed just three hits and struck out eight in the 3-0 shutout. Adams leads the GNAC with a 1.18 earned average and is 11th in Division II with four shutouts.

• Junior Abigail Otto led the Nighthawks offensively as she went 5 for 11 with two runs and three RBIs. She went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a home run in Friday’s second game and then went 2 for 3 in Saturday’s nightcap. Otto is ninth in the GNAC with a .357 batting average and leads the GNAC with 10 doubles.

• Junior Shelbie Martinez went 5 for 12 in the series. She went 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI in Friday’s nightcap. On Saturday, Martinez had a three-run homer in the opener and then went 2 for 4 in the nightcap. Martinez enters the week with a .266 batting average in 28 games.

• Sophomore Rae Young had the other two pitching wins for NNU. Her best effort was in Saturday’s second game, allowing two runs on six hits in five innings.

• Northwest Nazarene enters the week leading the GNAC with a .318 batting average and owns a 3.87 earned run average. The Nighthawks are eighth in Division II with 0.55 double plays per game and 25th with 1.75 doubles per game.

• The Nighthawks host Western Oregon for four games on Friday & Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• The Saints took three of four games in their return to conference play. Saint Martin’s swept Concordia on Friday, 7-3 and 2-1, and split with Western Oregon on Saturday. The Wolves won the opener 6-0 while the Saints won the nightcap, 9-1.

• Junior Lauren Maley was exceptional in the circle, winning two games and compiling a 1.27 earned run average. Maley won the second game against Concordia in relief, allowing one run on two hits with a walk and two strikeouts in five innings of work. Maley went the distance to win the second game against Western Oregon, allowing one run on five hits with one strikeout. Maley is third in the GNAC with a 2.51 earned run average and is second in the league with 11 wins.

• Sophomore Nicki DeHan led the Saints offensively as she went 5 for 11 in the four games with one run, three RBIs, a double and a triple. She went 2 for 3 with a RBI triple in Friday’s second game against Concordia. DeHan then went 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI double in the second game win over Western Oregon. DeHan is third for the Saints in hitting with a .333 batting average and is tied for second in the GNAC with four triples.

• Junior Lauren Diuco and senior Paige Miller each had four hits over the weekend. Miller went 2 for 3 with an RBI single in Friday’s opener against Concordia while Diuco went 2 for 3 and scored a pair of runs in Saturday’s second game. Diuco enters the week with a .303 batting average while Miller is batting .224 in 25 games.

• Saint Martin’s enters the week with a .271 batting average and is second in the GNAC with a 3.21 earned run average. The Saints have issued the fewest walks in the GNAC (50) while senior Kim Nelson is 18th in the GNAC with 0.86 walks allowed per seven innings.

• Saint Martin’s is at the border for two twinbills, playing at Simon Fraser on Saturday and at Western Washington on Sunday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser dropped three of four games in its return to GNAC play at Northwest Nazarene. The Clan won Friday’s opener, 2-0, and dropped the nightcap in a close 8-7 contest. The Nighthawks took both games on Saturday, 3-0 and 8-2.

• Junior Hailey Gearey paced the SFU offense with a .500 batting average, going 5 for 10 in the four games with three runs and two RBIs. She accounted for the insurance run in Friday’s win and then went 2 for 3 in the nightcap, which included a two-RBI double in the sixth. Gearey is second for the Clan in batting with a .317 average.

• Freshman Kate Fergusson also had five hits in the series. She went 2 for 4 in Friday’s nightcap with a run scored and then went 2 for 3 in Saturday’s second game with an RBI single in the fourth. Fergusson enters the week with a .315 batting average, third for SFU.

• Junior Jessica Tate earned the pitching win in Friday’s opener, allowing two hits and two walks in four innings. Senior Alia Stachoski earned her fifth save of the season, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out two in the final three innings. Stachoski is tied for fourth in Division II with five saves and is ninth in the GNAC with a 3.38 earned run average. Tate is 4-3 on the season and owns a 4.52 ERA.

• Simon Fraser enters the week with a .219 batting average to go along with a 3.92 earned run average. The Clan leads the GNAC and Division II with a .980 fielding percentage, allowing just 14 errors in 24 games. Individually, senior Victoria Saunders is 14th in Division II with 0.36 sacrifice flies per game.

• Simon Fraser is home for four games this weekend, hosting Saint Martin’s for a doubleheader on Saturday and Central Washington on Sunday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon got back on the winning track, taking three of four games in the return to GNAC play. The Wolves swept Central Washington in two games on Friday, 11-6 and 4-3, and took a 6-3 win in the conclusion of the halted game from Mar. 18. The Wolves then split with Saint Martin’s on Saturday, winning the opener 6-0 and losing the second game 9-1.

• Junior Ryanne Huffman was named the GNAC Softball Player of the Week after she batted .438 in the four regularly scheduled games, going 7 for 16 with three runs and five RBIs. She had two hits and an RBI single in both regularly scheduled games at CWU. Huffman then went 2 for 4 with an RBI triple in Saturday’s opener at Saint Martin’s. Huffman enters the week third in the GNAC with a .413 batting average. She is tied for second with four triples.

• Junior Haley Fabian earned GNAC Softball Pitcher of the Week honors with her two wins. She earned the victory in the halted game, which was Central Washington’s first conference loss of the season. She allowed three runs on seven hits and five walks, striking out three. On Saturday, Fabian threw a two-hit shutout to beat Saint Martin’s 6-0, striking out five. Fabian enters the week with a 5-5 record and a 4.13 earned run average.

• Senior Lizzet Dominguez earned two wins for the Wolves. She threw four innings of relief in Friday’s scheduled opener, allowing two hits and striking out three in the 11-6, 10-inning win. She then went four innings to beat CWU in Friday’s second game, allowing two runs on four hits and striking out two. Dominguez is sixth in the GNAC with a 3.19 earned run average and is third in the league with 10 wins.

• Western Oregon enters the week with a .299 batting average and a 3.91 earned run average. The Wolves are also second in the GNAC with a .960 fielding percentage.

• Western Oregon will play at Northwest Nazarene in a four-game series on Friday and Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington dropped all three games of a rare tripleheader at Montana State Billings on Friday, 2-1, 9-2 and 7-3. The fourth game of the series on Saturday was canceled due to snow. The Vikings opened the week with a split on a pair of games on Tuesday at Stanislaus State, losing the opener 5-3 and winning the nightcap 3-2.

• Sophomore Jackie Lucido led the Vikings offensively, going 5 for 13 with three runs, one RBI, two doubles and a home run. She went 2 for 2 in the opener against Stanislaus State and finished the week by going 3 for 3 at MSUB, which included a solo home run. Lucido raised her batting average to .216 in 34 games.

• Sophomore Anna Kasner went 1-1 last week with a 1.80 earned run average, allowing five runs, three earned, on eight hits with 17 strikeouts. She did not allow a walk. Kasner earned the win in the 3-2, eight-inning victory at Stanislaus State, allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits with 12 strikeouts. Kasner enters the week 10th in the GNAC with a 3.41 earned run average and leads the league with 102 strikeouts.

• Freshman Lauren Lo had six hits in the five games last week and scored three runs. She went 2 for 3 and scored a pair of runs in the opener at Stanislaus State. She then went 2 for 3 with a solo home run in the first game at MSUB. Lo has a .282 batting average in 32 games.

• The Vikings enter the week with a .250 batting average and 3.98 earned run average. They are ranked 18th in Division II with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.08.

• Western Washington will host Concordia for two games on Saturday and Western Oregon for two games on Sunday.