Tuesday, April 12, 2022

PORTLAND, Ore. - An 0-4 record at the Tournament of Champions marked a low point in Northwest Nazarene’s season. All it took to break out of it was a little offense to move things back in the right direction.

The Nighthawks broke out the bats and then some as they returned to conference play with a four-game series sweep at Montana State Billings. The Nighthawks won Friday’s games by 8-3 and 6-1 scores before blistering the Yellowjackets for a 14-2, five-inning win and a 16-9 win on Saturday.

Northwest Nazarene hit .384 for the series, outhitting MSUB 48-23 while blasting 14 home runs and 40 RBI. For the impressive offensive effort, NNU was selected as the GNAC Team of the Week.

“We’ve been focused on being present for each other and getting better every day,” head coach Rich Wagner said. “As a team, we did a lot of things very well this weekend and offensively it was fun to see their hard work start to pay off.”

While the team effort provided for the four-game sweep, the Nighthawks had the conference’s top three hitters. Senior Ivy Hommel led the conference with a .692 batting average, going 9 for 13 with 12 runs scored, two doubles, three home runs and seven RBI. Hommel went 5 for 5 and scored five runs in Saturday’s finale, tying GNAC single-game records for both hits and runs.

Junior Maia McNicoll was named the GNAC Player of the Week after she batted .643 in the four games, going 9 for 14 with seven runs, a double, five home runs and 13 RBI.

Sophomore Sidney Booth got things done at the plate and in the circle. She batted .571 and went 8 for 14 with eight runs scored, three homers and 10 RBI. She also won Friday’s opener at pitcher, allowing three runs on four hits with a walk and 10 strikeouts.

While the Nighthawks swept, Saint Martin’s and Western Washington each took three of four games in their series to pull all three teams into a tie for first place in the GNAC standings at 9-3.

The Saints took three of four games from Central Washington, winning Saturday’s opener 3-0 and taking both Sunday games 7-2 and 7-5. The Saints were particularly helped by the effort of sophomore Tia Ridings, who was named the GNAC Pitcher of the Week after winning both of her starts. She threw a complete-game four-hitter to win Saturday’s opener, carrying a no-hitter into the fifth inning.

Western Washington took three of four from cross-border rival Simon Fraser, taking the Saturday games 3-1 and 5-2 and winning the Sunday finale 6-2. The Vikings relied on the continued solid hitting of senior Chantelle Shimabukuro, who batted .467 in the series. She enters the week carrying an 18-game hitting streak.

This week’s marquee series will be in Bellingham as Western Washington hosts Central Washington. While the Vikings want to keep pace at the top of the standings, the Wildcats hope to cling to the potential No. 4 position for the GNAC Championships.

Saint Martin’s and Montana State Billings will square off for four games on Thursday and Friday. The games have been moved to Missoula due to inclement weather. The conference’s other series is in Nampa where Northwest Nazarene hosts Western Oregon.

GNAC.TV: It is easy and free to access live streams and live stats for all 10 GNAC institutions. Visit GNAC.tv on your computer or device to access all that the conference’s digital network has to offer.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
PLAYER
Maia McNicoll, Northwest Nazarene
UT • 5-5 • Junior • Kaneohe, Hawaii

McNicoll led NNU to the four-game sweep of Montana State Billings by batting .643 and going 9 for 14 with seven runs scored, a double, five home runs and 13 RBI. McNicoll went 3 for 4 with a pair of home runs and an RBI double in Friday’s 8-3 opening-game victory before going 1 for 3 in the nightcap, a 6-1 victory. McNicoll opened Saturday’s twinbill by going 3 for 4 with a two-run homer in the 14-2, five-inning victory before closing the series with a 2 for 3 performance in the 16-9 win that included a two-run homer and a grand slam.

Also Nominated: Brooke Jordan (Central Washington), Jazlyn Kalehuawehe (Montana State Billings), Malia Pinder (Saint Martin’s), Hannah Boulanger (Simon Fraser), Chantelle Shimabukuro (Western Washington).

PITCHER
Tia Ridings, Saint Martin’s
P • 5-4 • Sophomore • Tualatin, Ore.

Ridings was the winner in the circle in two of the Saints’ three victories over Central Washington. Ridings pitched a four-hit shutout in Saturday’s 3-0 series-opening victory, allowing two walks and striking out 12. In Sunday’s opener, Ridings allowed two runs on three hits with a walk and four strikeouts in six innings in the 7-2 victory. For the week, Ridings amassed a 1.08 earned run average as she improved to 7-6 on the season.

Also Nominated: Rhaney Harris (Central Washington), Jenna Kister (Montana State Billings), Tori Hensley (Northwest Nazarene), Joie Baker (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington dropped three of four games last week at Saint Martin’s. The teams split on Saturday with the Saints winning the opener 3-0 and the Wildcats winning the nightcap 8-0 in six innings. Central Washington lost both Sunday games, 7-2 and 7-5.

• Sophomore Jillian Hampson led the CWU offense with a .364 batting average, going 4 for 11 with three runs, a double and three RBI. Her week was topped by a 3 for 4 effort in Saturday’s win that included a pair of RBI singles in the third and fifth innings. Hampson scored two of her three runs on Sunday. Hampson enters the week with a .286 batting average.

• Junior Harlee Carpenter and sophomore Brooke Jordan each batted .308 in the series, going 4 for 13. Both players had their best games in Saturday’s victory with Carpenter going 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI single and Jordan going 2 for 4 with a two-run homer that ended the game in the sixth. Carpenter enters the week with a .291 batting average while Jordan is batting .289.

• Senior Isabel Womack picked up the win in the circle on Saturday, allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out nine. Womack took the loss in Sunday’s 7-5 setback, allowing six runs, two earned, on three hits with 10 walks and two strikeouts in five innings. She enters the week with a 4.17 earned run average in 17 appearances.

• Central Washington enters the week with a .262 batting average and a 4.17 earned run average.

• The Wildcats head north this week for a four-game rivalry series at Western Washington on Friday and Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings took four losses to Northwest Nazarene in the return to conference play. The Nighthawks won both games on Friday, 8-3 and 6-1, and earned wins on Saturday by scores of 14-2 (five innings) and 16-9.

• Freshman Jazlyn Kalehuawehe led the MSUB offense with a .462 batting average, going 6 for 13 with four runs scored and three solo home runs in a series that saw 21 home runs hit by the two teams. Kalehuawehe opened by going 2 for 3 with two of her homers in Friday’s opener. Her third came in the Saturday finale in a game where she went 3 for 4 with two runs scored. Kalehuawehe enters the week with a .253 batting average and has six home runs on the season.

• Senior Skyler Jenkins batted .385 in the series, going 5 for 13 with four runs scored, two home runs and three RBI. Jenkins hit solo home runs in Friday’s opener and Saturday’s opener and had a hit in all four games of the series. She closed with a 2 for 4 effort in Saturday’s finale, which included an RBI single. Jenkins has a .228 batting average in 37 games.

• Sophomore Jenna Kister was most effective in the circle in Friday’s second game. She allowed six runs, five earned, on seven hits with four walks and eight strikeouts in the complete-game effort. Despite giving up the loss in Friday’s opener, senior Alyssa Etheridge continues to lead the team with a 3.69 earned run average.

• The Yellowjackets have a .243 batting average and a 4.89 earned run average. Montana State Billings continues to lead the GNAC with 36 home runs.

• Montana State Billings closes out the home portion of its schedule this weekend. The Yellowjackets will play Saint Martin’s on Thursday and Friday in Missoula, Montana, in a series moved west due to inclement weather.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene broke out the bats for a huge four-game sweep at Montana State Billings. The Nighthawks won Friday’s games by scores of 8-3 and 6-1 and collected 14-2 (five innings) and 16-9 victories on Saturday.

• The Nighthawks hit .384 for the series with 14 home runs, 40 RBI and a .752 slugging percentage. Three NNU batters were among the top three in the GNAC in batting average this week. For the all-around solid effort, NNU was named the GNAC Team of the Week.

• Junior Maia McNicoll was named the GNAC Softball Player of the Week after she batted .643 in the four games, going 9 for 14 with seven runs, a double, five home runs, 13 RBI, a .706 on-base percentage and a 1.786 slugging percentage. McNicoll went 3 for 4 with a pair of home runs and an RBI double in Friday’s opener before going 1 for 3 in the nightcap. McNicoll opened Saturday’s twinbill by going 3 for 4 with a two-run homer before closing the series with a 2 for 3 performance in the 16-9 win that included a two-run homer and a grand slam. McNicoll enters the week with a .283 batting average and is 27th in Division II with 1.14 RBI per game.

• Senior Ivy Hommel went .692 in the four games, going 9 for 13 with 12 runs scored, three home runs and seven RBI. Her week was punctuated by a 5 for 5 performance in Saturday’s finale that tied the GNAC single-game record for hits (she was also the last person to tie it against MSUB on Apr. 30, 2021) and included a pair of solo home runs. Hommel is fifth in the GNAC with a .400 batting average and is 28th in Division II with 1.14 runs scored per game.

• Sophomore Sidney Booth batted .571 in the series, going 8 for 14 with eight runs, 10 RBI and three homers. Two of her homers came in Saturday’s opener, both three-run shots, and she went 4 for 4 with three runs scored in the second game. In the circle, Booth won Friday’s opener by allowing three runs on four hits with a walk and 10 strikeouts. Booth is third in the GNAC with a .422 batting average and second with a 2.20 earned run average. She is fourth in Division II with 17 complete games and 27th with 130 strikeouts.

• Northwest Nazarene leads the conference with a 2.79 earned run average and enters the week with a .291 batting average. The Nighthawks rank 13th in Division II with 137 walks drawn.

• The Nighthawks play at home this week, hosting Western Oregon for a four-game series on Friday and Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s took three of four games from Central Washington at home last week. The Saints won Saturday’s opener 3-0 before dropping the nightcap 8-0 in six innings. They won both games on Sunday, 7-2 and 7-5.

• Sophomore Tia Ridings was named the GNAC Pitcher of the Week after she won both starts and compiled a 1.08 earned run average in 13 innings of work. In Saturday’s opener, Ridings threw a complete-game four-hitter, allowing two walks and striking out 12. She was the winner in Sunday’s opener as well, allowing two runs on three hits with a walk and four strikeouts in six innings. Ridings enters the week with a 7-6 record and a 3.61 earned run average.

• Sophomore Malia Pinder batted .556 to lead the SMU offense, going 5 for 9 with two runs, a double, a home run and five RBI while drawing five walks. Pinder hit a two-run homer in Saturday’s opener and then went 3 for 4 in Sunday’s opener with an RBI single. Pinder is sixth in the GNAC with a .396 batting average.

• Sophomore Vanessa Smoke and junior Kylee Vanderbout each hit .364 in the series. Vanderbout went 4 for 11 with two runs and two doubles while Smoke finished with two runs scored. Smoke enters the week with a .396 batting average while Vanderbout has a .281 average.

• Saint Martin’s is third in the GNAC with a 3.70 earned run average and enters the week with a .277 batting average. The Saints rank 24th in Division II with 1.77 doubles per game.

• The Saints take to the road to play at Montana State Billings for four games on Thursday and Friday in Missoula, Montana.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser dropped three of four games in its border battle with Western Washington last week. The Vikings won both games on Saturday, 3-1 and 5-2. Simon Fraser took the opener on Sunday, 4-2, before dropping the finale by a 6-2 score.

• Junior Hannah Boulanger led SFU with a .545 batting average, going 6 for 11 with three runs scored and a pair of solo home runs. Boulanger went 2 for 3 in Saturday’s opener and had one of her home runs in the nightcap. She closed the series by going 3 for 3 in Sunday’s finale with a solo homer in the fourth. Boulanger enters the week with a .354 batting average.

• Sophomore Megan Duclos batted .500 in the series, going 4 for 8 with three runs scored, a double and a home run. Duclos hit the solo homer in Saturday’s opener and then saved the rest of her production for Sunday’s finale where she went 3 for 3 with a double and a run scored. Duclos enters the week with a .250 batting average.

• Sophomore Anissa Zacharczuk earned the pitching win in Sunday’s victory in relief, allowing six hits and two walks while striking out three in 6.2 innings of work. She also took the loss in Saturday’s opener, allowing three runs on two hits and three walks in two innings. Zacharczuk leads SFU with a 9-9 record and a 5.74 earned run average.

• Simon Fraser leads the GNAC and is 27th in Division II with a .329 batting average and enters the week with a 6.20 earned run average. The team is 13th in Division II with 1.97 doubles per game and 19th with 15 double plays turned.

• Simon Fraser is off this weekend. They will close their home schedule on April 23 and 24, hosting Montana State Billings for a four-game series.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon was idle last weekend. The Wolves return to action this week with a four-game series at Northwest Nazarene on Friday and Saturday.

• Western Oregon went 2-3 at the Tournament of Champions. The Wolves scored a 4-2 win over Dominican (Calif.) before taking a 2-0 loss to Cal St. Monterey Bay on Apr. 1. They split again on Apr. 2, falling 7-1 to No. 1 Concordia Irvine and beating Academy of Art 5-4. The tourney closed with a 4-1 loss to Sonoma State on Apr. 3.

• Sophomore Sophie Franklin was named to the All-Tournament Team after finishing with a .500 batting average, going 7 for 14 with two runs scored, three doubles and two RBI. Franklin went 3 for 3 against Dominican and closed the week by going 2 for 3 against Sonoma State, including an RBI single. Franklin enters the week with a .314 batting average.

• Sophomore Natalie Willoughby batted .429 in the tournament, going 6 for 14 with three runs scored and a double. She had a hit in each game, topped by a 2 for 3 performance against Concordia Irvine that included a double and a run scored. Willoughby is ninth in the GNAC with a .380 batting average.

• Junior Chelsea Smith was the winner on Friday over Dominican, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out six. Senior Maddie Mayer was the winner against Academy of Art, allowing four runs, three earned, on eight hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Mayer is sixth in the GNAC with a 3.18 earned run average while Smith is ninth with a 3.52 ERA.

• Western Oregon is third in the GNAC with a .297 batting average and enters the week with a 3.99 earned run average. The Wolves are 22nd in Division II with 130 walks drawn.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington took three of four games in its series at Simon Fraser. The Vikings won both games on Saturday by scores of 3-1 and 5-2. Simon Fraser took the opener on Sunday, 4-2, before the Vikings closed with the 6-2 victory.

• Senior Chantelle Shimabukuro paced the WWU offense with a .467 batting average, going 7 for 15 with a run scored, a double, a home run and two RBI. Shimabukuro had a hit in each game of the series, but saved her best for Sunday. She went 2 for 4 in the opener and 3 for 3 in the nightcap with a two-run homer. Shimabukuro is second in the GNAC with a .430 batting average and enters the week with an 18-game hitting streak.

• Senior Rylie Wales batted .500 in the four games, going 7 for 14. She finished with two hits in three of the four games of the series and went 2 for 3 in Saturday’s second game with an RBI single. Senior Lauren Lo batted .429 in the series, going 6 for 14 with three runs scored, a home run and four RBI. Her week included a two-run homer to open scoring in Sunday’s first game.

• Freshman Joie Baker picked up two of the three wins in the circle and finished with a 2.00 earned run average on the week. Baker won Saturday’s second game by allowing two runs on four hits with a walk and four strikeouts. She went the distance again to improve to 8-7 on Sunday, allowing two runs on eight hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Baker enters the week with a 4.22 earned run average.

• Western Washington enters the week ranked second in the GNAC with a .307 batting average and a 3.61 earned run average. The Vikings rank 19th in Division II with 68 doubles and 27th with 1.74 doubles per game.

• The Vikings will play eight of their remaining 12 games at home, beginning with a four-game series against Central Washington on Friday and Saturday.