Friday, May 5, 2023

PORTLAND, Ore. – After a tight race in the standings that lasted until the final day of the regular season, the field is finally set for the 2023 GNAC Baseball Championships in Lacey, Washington.

Reigning regular-season champion and defending tournament winner Western Oregon will lead the pack at the GNAC Championships as the No. 1 seed followed by No. 2 Northwest Nazarene and No. 3 Central Washington.

The Wolves finished the regular season with a 20-9 GNAC record (27-13 overall) while leading the conference with a .315 batting average and a 4.02 ERA. Individually, Western Oregon is led by the top batter and top pitcher in the league. At the plate, senior Derek Maiben has been almost unstoppable, leading the GNAC with a .421 batting average and 67 hits. On the mound, sophomore Dylan Chalmers has been the top pitcher in the conference. Chalmers owns a 2.63 ERA through 51.1 innings with a perfect 6-0 record.

Western Oregon is set to face Central Washington in Thursday’s second game before taking on Northwest Nazarene in the nightcap. The Wolves are 7-1 against the Wildcats this season and own a 3-5 record against the Nighthawks.

Northwest Nazarene hopes to spoil the Western Oregon party as the No. 2 seed after finishing the regular season with a 17-15 GNAC record (23-27 overall). The Nighthawks rank second in the conference with a 4.80 ERA and are third with a .277 batting average heading into the tournament. They also lead the GNAC with 212 walks drawn.

In the batter’s box, sophomore Mason Leavitt leads the way for Northwest Nazarene and ranks fourth in the GNAC with a .363 batting average. Leavitt also leads the conference with 34 walks, is sixth with 57 hits and is seventh with 11 stolen bases this season. Senior Brock Moffitt has been the top starter for NNU, amassing a 5.28 ERA through 58 innings and 11 starts. Senior Ty Pohlmann has been an elite relief presence, notching 57 strikeouts to rank fourth in the GNAC through 31.2 innings of work in 16 appearances.

Northwest Nazarene will face No. 3 seed Central Washington in Thursday’s second game before facing No. 1 seed Western Oregon in the nightcap. The Nighthawks are 3-5 against the Wildcats this year and own the season series against the Wolves 5-3.

Central Washington secured a GNAC Championships berth on the penultimate day of the regular season by defeating Montana State Billings head-to-head on the road and finished the conference slate with a 16-15 record (22-27 overall). The Wildcats rank third in the GNAC with a 5.82 ERA and are fourth with a .276 ERA.

Sophomore Ben Leid has been the best bat for CWU this season, leading the Wildcats and ranking ninth in the conference with a .343 batting average. Leid’s 61 hits also rank second in the GNAC while his 32 RBIs are tied for seventh. On the mound, senior Brayde Hirai has been one of the best pitchers in the league. Hirai leads the Wildcats and is third in the conference with a 4.12 ERA through 67.2 innings in 11 starts. He has thrown a pair of complete games this season to tie for third in the GNAC.

Central Washington will face No. 2 seed Northwest Nazarene in Thursday’s opening game before a quick turnaround to play No. 1 seed Western Oregon in game two. The Wildcats own the season series, 5-3 against the Nighthawks and are 1-7 against the Wolves this year.

After day one, if teams are 2-0, 1-1 and 0-2, the 0-2 team is eliminated and the remaining teams will play on Friday. If there is a 1-1 tie after day one, the No. 1 team will automatically advance to the championship game. The No. 2 and 3 seeds will play a loser-out game on Friday at noon.

The 2023 GNAC Baseball Championships will be held on the campus of Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, Washington from May 11-12. Advance daily session tickets are available for purchase at GNACtickets.com and are priced at $12 for adults and $7 for seniors, students and children ages 6-14. Daily session tickets will be available at the gate for the same price. Children 5 and under are free. Daily session tickets include admission to all games each day.