Wednesday, April 20, 2022

PORTLAND, Ore. - With two weeks left in the regular season, the battle for first place in the GNAC standings may be decided this weekend.

Northwest Nazarene and Saint Martin’s, tied for first atop the conference table, face off in a four-game series on Friday and Saturday in Nampa. Both teams enter with 13-3 conference records and are nearly identical in terms of overall records. The Saints enter the series with a 25-14 mark, just ahead of the Nighthawks’ 25-15 record.

Both teams are coming off four-game sweeps against conference opponents last week. The Saints took all four games from Montana State Billings in a series moved to Missoula, Montana due to inclement weather. Saint Martin’s scored 5-0 and 9-8 victories on Thursday and 12-4 and 4-3 wins on Saturday.

The Nighthawks allowed Western Oregon a grand total of 10 hits in four games in a series sweep. Northwest Nazarene won 4-3 in nine innings and 6-3 on Friday before collecting 3-0 and 9-0 (five innings) victories on Saturday.

In the tale of the tape between the two teams, things look fairly evenly matched. Saint Martin’s ranks third in the GNAC with a .290 batting average while Northwest Nazarene is just behind with a .287 average. The Nighthawks hold the advantage in the pitching circle, leading the conference with a 2.60 earned run average while the Saints rank third with a 3.71 earned run average.

The series will also try to show that the GNAC should have more than one team in the NCAA West Region Rankings, which ultimately decide which teams will advance to the NCAA Championships. In the first ranking, released on Wednesday, Northwest Nazarene is No. 8 and is the only GNAC team in the poll.

While NNU and SMU battle for the regular-season trophy, Western Washington aims to solidify its spot in the GNAC Championships, which take place May 5-7 in Lacey, Washington. The Vikings currently sit in third place with an 11-5 conference mark and 25-18 overall record.
Central Washington is on a bye week. The Wildcats currently sit in fourth place at 9-11 with an 18-22 overall record.

Western Washington will be in Monmouth to take on Western Oregon in a four-game series. Simon Fraser, which currently sits fifth in the conference standings, hopes to make up ground on Central Washington with a four-game home series with Montana State Billings.

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THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
PLAYER
Vanessa Smoke, Saint Martin’s
UT • 5-2 • Sophomore • Troutdale, Ore.

Smoke helped lead Saint Martin’s to a four-game sweep of Montana State Billings with a .500 average, batting 8 for 16 with four runs scored, two doubles, a home run and seven RBI. She accounted for four runs in Thursday’s 5-0 opening-game shutout, going 3 for 4 with a two-run single and a two-run double. On Friday, Smoke went 3 for 5 with an RBI single and a solo home run in a 12-4 opening-game victory. She then went 2 for 4 and had the game-winning single in the sixth for the 4-3 win in the finale.

Also Nominated: Alyssa Benthagen (Central Washington), Skyler Jenkins (Montana State Billings), Tori Hensley (Northwest Nazarene), Dakota Brooks (Western Washington).

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

Booth earned two of the Nighthawks’ four wins in their sweep of Western Oregon. In Friday’s 4-3 opening-game nine-inning victory, Booth allowed three runs on three hits with four walks and 14 strikeouts. Booth then threw a one-hitter in Saturday’s 3-0 opening-game victory, walking two and striking out 13. In 16 innings, Booth amassed a 1.32 earned run average and struck out 27.

Also Nominated: Isabel Womack (Central Washington), Jenna Kister (Montana State Billings), Tia Ridings (Saint Martin’s), Kira Doan (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington split its series at Western Washington. The Wildcats scored 2-1 and 3-2 victories on Friday before the Vikings swept on Saturday, 4-2 and 3-1.

• Junior Alyssa Benthagen finished with a .500 batting average to lead the Wildcats, going 6 for 12 with three runs scored, three home runs and five RBI. Benthagen had the game-winning homer in Friday’s opener and tied the game with a two-run shot in the nightcap. She added another solo homer in Saturday’s opener before going 3 for 4 in the nightcap with an RBI single. Benthagen enters the week with a .315 batting average.

• Junior Harlee Carpenter batted .375 in the series, going 6 for 16 with a double and a run scored. She had a hit in each game of the series and finished by going 3 for 4 with a run scored in Saturday’s finale. Carpenter has a .302 batting average on the season.

• Senior Rhaney Harris was the winner in the circle in Friday’s opener, allowing one run on nine hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Senior Isabel Womack won the nightcap, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out seven. Harris is sixth in the GNAC with a 3.36 earned run average while Womack owns a 3.97 earned run average.

• Central Washington enters the week with a .282 batting average and a 4.02 earned run average.

• The Wildcats do not play this week. They will conclude the regular season on Apr. 29 and 30 when they host Western Oregon.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings dropped all four games of its series against Saint Martin’s in Missoula, Montana. The Yellowjackets fell 5-0 and 9-0 on Thursday before taking 12-4 and 4-3 losses on Friday.

• Senior Skyler Jenkins paced the MSUB offense with a .438 batting average, going 7 for 16 with four runs scored, two doubles, two home runs and four RBI. Jenkins went 3 for 5 in Thursday’s second game, hitting a solo homer in the third and a two-run shot in the sixth. She closed the series with a 2 for 4 performance in Friday’s second game with an RBI single. Jenkins enters the week with a .254 batting average.

• Sophomore Brie Frazier batted .417 in the series, going 5 for 12 with four runs scored, a double, a triple and three RBI. Frazier went 2 for 3 in Thursday’s second game with an RBI bunt single in the fourth. She went 2 for 3 in Friday’s opener, opening the game with an RBI double in the first, and then went 2 for 4 in the second with an RBI triple. Frazier enters the week with a .195 batting average.

• Freshman Preslee Christensen was the Yellowjackets’ most effective presence in the circle. She took the loss in relief in Friday’s second game, allowing one run on eight hits with a walk and a strikeout in five innings. Christensen has a 6.87 earned run average in six appearances on the season.

• The Yellowjackets have a .247 batting average and a 4.95 earned run average. Montana State Billings continues to lead the GNAC with 39 home runs.

• Montana State Billings closes its regular season on the road, playing at Simon Fraser on Saturday and Sunday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene has won eight straight games and 11 straight GNAC games after sweeping Western Oregon in Nampa. The Nighthawks won Friday’s games 4-3 (9 innings) and 6-3 and took Saturday’s games by scores of 3-0 and 9-0 (5 innings).

• Sophomore Sidney Booth was named the GNAC Softball Pitcher of the Week after a pair of impressive performances in the circle. She was the winner in Friday’s extra-innings game, allowing three runs on three hits and four walks while striking out 14 in the complete-game effort. Booth threw a one-hit shutout in Saturday’s opener, walking two and striking out 13. For the week, Booth amassed a 1.31 earned run average and struck out 27. At the plate, Booth helped her own cause by going 4 for 11 with two runs, a triple and four RBI. For the season, Booth leads the GNAC with a 2.10 earned run average and is third with a .417 batting average. She is 21st in Division II with 157 strikeouts.

• Junior Tori Hensley also went 4 for 11 in the series with two doubles and five RBI. Hensley went 2 for 4 in Friday’s opener, delivering a bases-loaded game-winning single in the ninth that scored Booth. She went 1 for 3 in Saturday’s opener with an RBI single and 1 for 3 in the nightcap with a three-run double. Hensley enters the week with a .293 batting average and is seventh in the GNAC with a 3.42 earned run average.

• For the first time since March 1, NNU received a vote in the latest NFCA Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll. The Nighthawks are also No. 8 in the first NCAA West Region Rankings of the season.

• Northwest Nazarene leads the conference with a 2.60 earned run average and enters the week with a .287 batting average. The Nighthawks rank 12th in Division II with 157 walks drawn.

• The Nighthawks play their final road series of the regular season this week in a first-place showdown with Saint Martin’s on Friday and Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s has won six in a row after a sweep of Montana State Billings in Missoula, Montana. The Saints won Thursday’s games by scores of 5-0 and 9-8 and took Friday’s twinbill by scores of 12-4 and 4-3.

• Sophomore Vanessa Smoke was named the GNAC Player of the Week after she batted .500 in the series, going 8 for 16 with four runs scored, two doubles, a home run and seven RBI. She accounted for four runs in Thursday’s opener, going 3 for 4 with a two-run single and a two-run double. On Friday, Smoke went 3 for 5 with an RBI single and a solo home run in the opener. She then went 2 for 4 and had the game-winning single in the sixth for the 4-3 win in the finale. Smoke enters the week with a .337 batting average.

• Freshman Shay Lopes batted .583 in the series, going 7 for 12 with two runs, three doubles and two RBI. Lopes went 2 for 3 in Thursday’s second game with the game-winning double in the seventh. she then went 3 for 5 in Friday’s opener an RBI double and finished the week going 2 for 4 in the nightcap. Lopes enters the week with a .284 batting average.

• Freshman Chloe Leverington earned two wins in nine relief innings and three appearances. She threw four hitless innings and struck out eight to win Friday’s opener. She then allowed one hit and struck out six in 3.1 innings to win the nightcap. Leverington is second in the GNAC with a 2.30 earned run average.

• Saint Martin’s is third in the GNAC with a 3.71 earned run average and a .290 batting average. The Saints rank 27th in Division II with 70 doubles.
• First place in the GNAC on the line for the Saints at home this week, hosting Northwest Nazarene for four games on Friday and Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser did not play last week. They will aim to keep their GNAC Championships hopes alive with four games against Montana State Billings at home on Saturday and Sunday.

• Simon Fraser dropped three of four games in its border battle with Western Washington on April 9 and 10. The Vikings won both games on April 9, 3-1 and 5-2. Simon Fraser took the opener on April 10, 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 the April 9 opener and had one of her home runs in the nightcap. She closed the series by going 3 for 3 in the April 10 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 the April 9 opener and then saved the rest of her production for April 10’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 the April 10 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 the April 9 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 29th in Division II with a .329 batting average and enters the week with a 6.20 earned run average. The team is 27th in Division II with 11.24 hits allowed per seven innings and 28th with 15 double plays turned.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon took four losses at Northwest Nazarene after a weekend off. The Wolves dropped Friday’s games by scores of 4-3 (nine innings) and 6-3 before losing Saturday’s games 3-0 and 9-0 (five innings).

• The Wolves struggled to produce much offense against the Nighthawks, scoring just six runs on 10 hits in the four games. Freshman Maddie Doig led the way as she went 2 for 10 with three RBI. She went 1 for 3 in both Friday games with an RBI single in the opener and a two-run single in the nightcap. Doig enters the week with a .292 batting average with 31 hits.

• Senior Logan Carlos also went 2 for 10 with a home run and two RBI. The home run came in Friday’s opener on a two-run shot to left field in the second inning. Carlos leads the Wolves and is sixth in the GNAC with a .380 batting average.

• Senior Maddie Mayer took two of the four pitching losses for the Wolves, amassing a 2.80 earned run average in the process. She pitched 2.2 innings of relief in Friday’s nightcap, allowing four runs, one earned, on two hits with three strikeouts. Mayer threw four shutout innings in relief in Saturday’s opener, allowing two hits and striking out three. In her lone start of the series in Saturday’s nightcap, Mayer allowed six runs, three earned, on four hits with three strikeouts in 3.1 innings. Mayer is fifth in the GNAC with a 3.14 earned run average.

• Western Oregon enters the week with a .281 batting average and 4.00 earned run average. The Wolves are 21st in Division II with 139 walks drawn.

• Western Oregon closes its home schedule this weekend, hosting Western Washington for four games on Saturday and Sunday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington procured a split with in-state rival Central Washington. The Wildcats took both games on Friday, 2-1 and 3-2, while the Vikings took both games on Saturday, 4-2 and 3-1.

• Senior Dakota Brooks led the WWU offense with a .545 batting average, going 6 for 11 with a double, a triple, a home run and four RBI. Brooks went 2 for 4 with a run scored in Friday’s opener and had a two-run home run in the nightcap. She went 2 for 3 with a two-run triple in Saturday’s opener and closed by going 1 for 1 with two walks in the nightcap. Brooks is eighth in the GNAC with a .367 batting average and is fourth with 35 RBI.

• Freshman Kanilehua Pitoy went 4 for 9 with a run, a double, two RBI and two walks in the four games. Pinoy had a hit in Friday’s opener and Saturday’s opener before going 3 for 3 in the nightcap with an RBI single. Pitoy enters the week with a .286 batting average and has started 38 games as a freshman.

• Sophomore Sydney Brown went 1-1 in the circle in the series, amassing a 2.15 earned run average in the two games. She took the loss in Friday’s opener, allowing two runs on six hits with three walks and nine strikeouts in six innings. Brown was the winner in Saturday’s opener, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts in the complete-game effort. Brown is third in the GNAC with a 2.48 earned run average.

• Western Washington is second in the GNAC with a .301 batting average and a 3.43 earned run average. The Vikings rank 28th in Division II with a .970 fielding percentage and 24th with 71 doubles.

• The Vikings will conclude the road portion of their regular-season schedule at Western Oregon on Saturday and Sunday.