Wednesday, February 16, 2022

NIGHTHAWKS ESCAPE STINGER WITH BARELY A SCRATCH: Five GNAC teams made their way to the southwest last week after the Desert Stinger returned following a one-year absence. When all was said and done it was the defending regular-season champions who came out ahead.

Northwest Nazarene posted a 4-1 record in the Stinger, outscoring opponents 34-11 in the five games while batting .341 as a team. The Nighthawks scored a 3-1 win over MSU Denver and a 7-6 win over Minot State on Friday. They began a three-game Saturday with a 2-1 loss to Regis before ending with a 4-2 win over Cal State Dominguez Hills and a 19-0, five-inning rout of Academy of Art.

The win over Academy of Art provided for a first inning that Nighthawks players certainly won’t forget. They score 13 unearned runs on eight hits in the frame, aided by three errors within the first four batters of the game. The offensive surge was punctuated by senior Ivy Hommel’s grand slam that made it an 11-0 game. In all, 12 batters came to the plate before the first out recorded and 16 players came to the plate before the side was retired.

Sophomore Sidney Booth set the pace for the Nighthawks both in the circle and at the plate. She was named the GNAC Pitcher of the Week after she compiled a 1.43 earned run average. She went the distance in Friday’s 3-1 win over MSU Denver, allowing one run on two hits with 16 strikeouts. She earned the save in Friday’s 7-6 win over Minot State, allowing one hit and striking out one in two-thirds of an inning.

Booth closed her week with the 4-2 win over Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday, allowing two runs on three hits with 10 strikeouts.
Booth also batted .500 in the tournament, going 7 for 14 with three runs and three RBI. For her efforts, Booth was named to the Desert Stringer All-Tournament Team.

Host Montana State Billings was the other GNAC success story in the tournament, winning its first two games. The Yellowjackets posted a pair of run-rule wins on Friday, knocking off Washburn 10-2 in five innings and beating Academy of Art 14-3 in six innings. Freshman Lauren Blaschak was named to the Desert Stinger All-Tournament Team after she batted .385 in the tournament, going 5 for 13 with five runs two doubles, two home runs and eight RBI.

Joining Booth and Blaschak on the All-Tournament Team from the GNAC were Saint Martin’s senior Devyn Connolly and Western Washington senior Tatum Dow.

Simon Fraser, the only team to have not started the season yet, will break the ice with five games this weekend at the Cactus Classic. Western Oregon will fly to Hawaii for a six-game set with scheduled doubleheaders against Hawaii Hilo, Hawaii Pacific and Chaminade. Montana State Billings will head to Minot, North Dakota, for four games in the Minot State Bubble Invite.

Western Washington and Central Washington will play close to home. The Vikings will play a Saturday doubleheader at Puget Sound while the Wildcats host British Columbia for a doubleheader on Sunday. Saint Martin’s hosts Puget Sound in an exhibition game on Sunday.

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THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
PLAYER
Malia Pinder, Saint Martin’s
IF • 5-2 • Sophomore • Bothell, Wash.

Pinder batted .438 for the Saints at the Desert Stinger Tournament, going 6 for 14 with seven RBI, two doubles and two home runs while drawing three walks. Pinder had the game-winning three-run homer in the opening 4-3 win over Washburn on Friday, going 3 for 4 in the game with a double. Pender went 3 for 3 against No. 10 Concordia, which included a two-run double and a solo home run.

Also Nominated: Harlee Carpenter (Central Washington), Lauren Blaschak (Montana State Billings), Ivy Hommel (Northwest Nazarene), Natalie Willoughby (Western Oregon), Tatum Dow (Western Washington).

PITCHER
Sidney Booth, Northwest Nazarene
P/UT • 5-4 • Sophomore • Puyallup, Wash.

Booth went 2-0 in three appearances at the Desert Stinger, compiling a 1.43 earned run average as Northwest Nazarene went 4-1 in the tournament. She went the distance in Friday’s 3-1 win over MSU Denver, allowing one run on two hits with 16 strikeouts. She earned the save in Friday’s 7-6 win over Minot State, allowing one hit and striking out one in two-thirds of an inning. Booth closed her week with the 4-2 win over Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday, allowing two runs on three hits with 10 strikeouts.

Also Nominated: Isabel Womack (Central Washington), Alyssa Etheridge (Montana State Billings), Chloe Leverington (Saint Martin’s), Chelsea Smith (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington went 1-4 as it opened the 2022 season at the Desert Stinger. The Wildcats split on Friday, losing 6-5 in eight innings to Chico State before beating Academy of Art 1-0. The Wildcats took a 5-2 loss to MSU Denver and a 9-6 loss to Concordia on Saturday and a 6-0 loss to Cal State Dominguez Hills on Sunday.

• Junior Allie Thiessen led the Wildcats offensively with a .438 batting average in the five games, going 7 for 16 with three runs, a double and four RBI. Thiessen had hits in four of the five games. She went 2 for 3 and scored the winning run in the fourth against Academy of Art. She also went 3 for 4 with two RBI and a run-scoring double against Concordia.

• Junior Harlee Carpenter batted .333 in the five games, going 5 for 15 with two runs, two doubles and three RBI. Her best efforts came on Saturday, going 2 for 3 with an RBI double against MSU Denver and 2 for 3 with a double and a run scored against Concordia.

• Senior Isabel Womack earned the win in the circle against Academy of Art, allowing just three hits and three walks while striking out nine. She ranks among the early Division II leaders in earned run average (0.00) and hits allowed per seven innings (2.86, 11th).

• Central Washington enters the week with a .235 batting average and ranks second in the GNAC with a 3.23 earned run average.

• The Wildcats play just one doubleheader this week, hosting British Columbia on Sunday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings went 2-3 at its own Desert Stinger in Tucson. The Yellowjackets opened with two wins on Friday, scoring a 10-2, five-inning victory over Washburn and a 14-3, six-inning win over Academy of Art. They then took an 8-7 loss to San Francisco St. on Saturday, a 5-4, eight-inning loss to Chico State on Sunday and a 7-4 loss to Regis on Sunday.

• The Yellowjackets opened the week a pair of losses at Concordia last Tuesday, 5-1 and 10-2 (five innings).

• Freshman Lauren Blaschak was named to the Desert Stinger All-Tournament Team after she batted .385 in the tournament, going 5 for 13 with five runs two doubles, two home runs and eight RBI. Much of her offense came against Washburn, going 2 for 3 with a grand slam in the first and a three-run shot in the second. Blaschak also went 2 for 2 with two doubles against Chico State. Blaschak enters the week with a .400 batting average.

• Senior Morgan Quimby batted .412 at the Desert Stinger, going 7 for 14 with four runs, a triple and three RBI. Quimby had hits in four of the five games, going 2 for 5 with two runs and an RBI against Chico State before going 3 for 4 with an RBI triple against Regis. Quimby has a .303 season batting average.

• Junior Alyssa Etheridge went 1-2 in three appearances, compiling a 1.17 earned run average in 12 innings of work. Etheridge was the winner in relief against Academy of Art, allowing one run on three hits and striking out four in three innings. She took the loss in one inning of work against San Francisco St. and the eight-inning loss against Chico State, allowing five runs, one earned, on four hits with three walks and eight strikeouts. Etheridge enters the week with a 3.45 earned run average.

• The Yellowjackets have compiled a .244 team batting average and 3.97 earned run average. They are tied for 16th in Division II with eight home runs and are tied for 24th with 58 total runs.

• Montana State Billings is at the Minot State Bubble Invite this weekend, playing Bemidji State and Minot State on Saturday and Minn.-Crookston and Mary on Sunday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene posted a 4-1 record at the Desert Stinger. The Nighthawks earned a 3-1 win over MSU Denver and a 7-6 win over Minot State on Friday. After beginning Saturday with a 2-1 loss to Regis, NNU finished out with a 4-2 over Cal St. Dominguez Hills and a 19-0, five-inning win over Academy of Art.

• The Nighthawks traveled to Arizona Christian on Monday, collecting two wins by scores of 1-0 and 11-0 in six innings.

• Against Academy of Art, NNU scored 13 unearned runs in the first inning with errors committed on plays involving three of the first four batters. The Nighthawks had eight hits in the frame, including a grand slam by senior Ivy Hommel.

• Sophomore Sidney Booth was named the GNAC Pitcher of the Week after she went 2-0 with a save in three appearances, compiling a 1.43 earned run average and was named to the Desert Stinger All-Tournament Team. Booth allowed one run on two hits and struck out 16 to beat MSU Denver. She then allowed two runs on three hits with 10 strikeouts to earn the win over Cal St. Dominguez Hills. She helped her own cause at the plate with a .500 batting average, going 7 for 14 with three runs and three RBI. On Monday, Booth earned the win in game one at Arizona Christian, allowing one hit while striking out 13. Booth is seventh in Division II with 43 strikeouts on the season. She is fourth in the GNAC with a 1.19 earned run average and leads the league with a .500 batting average.

• Hommel batted .400 in the Desert Stinger, going 6 for 15 with four runs, two doubles, two home runs and eight RBI. She went 2 for 3 with a two-run homer and an RBI double against Minot State and went 2 for 5 with the grand slam against Academy of Art. Hommel enters the week with a .273 batting average.

• The Nighthawks enter the week with a team .262 batting average. They lead the GNAC and rank 19th in Division II with a 1.70 earned run average.

• Northwest Nazarene are off until hosting Western Washington for a four-game non-conference series on Feb. 25 and 26.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s opened the season with a 1-4 record at the Desert Stinger. The Saints started the tournament with a 4-3 win over Washburn before taking a 14-6, five-inning loss to Concordia on Friday. They then took a 4-2 loss to Chico State and an 11-2, six-inning loss to San Francisco St. on Saturday before falling 7-6 to Minot State on Sunday.

• Sophomore Malia Pinder was named the GNAC Softball Player of the Week after she batted .429 in the five games, going 6 for 14 with four runs, two doubles, two home runs and seven RBI. Pinder went 3 for 4 in the win over Washburn, which included a double and a three-run homer in the seventh to win the game. She then went 3 for 3 against Concordia, including a solo home run and a two-run double. Pinder is sixth in the GNAC with a .429 batting average and is 24th in Division II with a 1.000 slugging percentage.

• Senior catcher Devyn Connolly was named to the Desert Stinger All-Tournament Team after batting .400 in the five games, going 6 for 15 with three doubles and five RBI. All on Connolly’s production came in the final three games with an RBI single against Chico State, a 2 for 3 performance against San Francisco St. with a two-RBI double and a 3 for 4 game against Minot State with a pair of RBI doubles.

• Freshman Chloe Leverington pitched in four of the five games, going 1-0 with a 2.71 earned run average. Leverington earned the win in relief against Washburn, allowing four hits and a walk while striking out two in four innings. Her next longest outing was 3.1 innings against Minot State, allowing four unearned runs on five hits and a walk with four strikeouts.

• Saint Martin’s enters the week ranked second in the GNAC with a .268 batting average and with a 6.30 earned run average. The Saints rank eighth in Division II with 0.60 double players turned per game.

• The Saints play just once this week, facing Puget Sound for an exhibition game on Sunday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser opens its 2022 season this weekend the Cactus Classic in Tucson, Arizona. They will play Eastern New Mexico and California (Pa.) on Friday, Colorado Christian and Colorado Mesa on Saturday and Western New Mexico on Sunday.

• When Simon Fraser takes the field, it will have been 712 days since the team’s last game. They were last on the field on Mar. 8, 2020, in a doubleheader victory over Montana State Billings prior to the COVID-19 shutdown. Simon Fraser did not play in 2021 due to the U.S./Canada border closure necessitated by the pandemic.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon hosted Warner Pacific for its only games of the week on Friday, scoring wins by scores of 9-3 and 9-1 (five innings).

• Senior Logan Carlos paced the WOU offense in the twinbill, going 4 for 6 with two doubles, a triple, a home run and a 1.833 slugging percentage. Carlos went 2 for 3 in the opener with a double, a triple and two runs scored. She then went 2 for 3 in the nightcap with a solo home run to start the seven-run fifth inning. Carlos is second in the GNAC with a .484 batting average and is 13th in Division II with two triples.

• Sophomore Natalie Willoughby continued her torrid pace to start the season, batting 3 for 4 with two home runs, three RBI and three walks in the doubleheader. Willoughby had a solo home run and an RBI single in the opener followed by a second home run in the second game. Willoughby owns a .500 batting average and ranks 11th in Division II with a 1.227 slugging percentage.

• Senior Reilly Tidwell earned the win in the opener, allowing three runs on four hits with a walk and six strikeouts in six innings of work. Junior Chelsea Smith won the five-inning second game, allowing one run on two hits with five strikeouts.

• Western Oregon leads the GNAC with a .329 batting average and is third with a 3.85 earned run average. The Wolves are tied for 16th in Division II with eight home runs and rank 25th with four triples.

• The Wolves will play six games in Hawaii this week. The Wolves take on Hawaii Hilo on Friday, Hawaii Pacific on Sunday and Chaminade on Monday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington took five losses at the Desert Stinger. The Vikings lost 9-7 to San Francisco State and 12-2 in five innings to Cal St. Dominguez Hills on Friday. They dropped a 6-2 decision to Washburn and a 1-0 game to Minot State on Saturday before ending with a 6-2 loss on Sunday to MSU Denver.

• Senior Tatum Dow was a bright spot for the Vikings. Dow was named to the Desert Stinger All-Tournament Team after batting .625 in the five games, going 10 for 16 with four runs, three doubles, a home run and four RBI. She had hits in every game, going 2 for 4 with two runs and an RBI against San Francisco State. She went 3 for 3 with a double against Washburn and 2 for 3 against Minot State. Dow closed the tourney with a 2 for 4 performance against MSU Denver, including a solo home run and an RBI double. Dow is fourth in the GNAC with a .438 batting average.

• Senior Dakota Brooks finished with a .438 batting average in the tournament, going 7 for 16 with three doubles and seven RBI. She did her most damage against San Francisco State, going 3 for 4 with a bunt RBI single and a three-run double. She also went 2 for 3 against Washburn with an RBI single and an RBI double. Brooks is eighth in the GNAC with a .333 batting average.

• Senior Kira Doan paced WWU in the circle, compiling a 5.40 earned run average in three appearances. Her longest inning was six against Washburn, allowing six runs on nine hits with a strikeout. Doan is eighth in the GNAC with a 3.08 earned run average.

• Western Washington enters the week with a .240 batting average and a 4.78 earned run average. The Vikings are tied for third in Division II with six double plays turned.

• Western Washington plays just once this weekend, traveling to Puget Sound for a doubleheader on Saturday.