Wednesday, February 5, 2020

NIGHTHAWKS, SAINTS SHARPEN AT THE STINGER: Northwest Nazarene and Saint Martin’s wasted little time in getting the season off to a solid start as both teams went 4-1 at the Desert Stinger in Las Vegas, hosted by Montana State Billings.

After losing 8-5 to in the opener to No. 6 UC San Diego on Friday, the Nighthawks rattled off four straight wins. The win streak opened with a 21-5, six-inning win over Dominican (Calif.) on Friday that saw NNU score 13 runs on 11 hits in the top of the sixth inning. The rest of the slate included an 11-8 win over West Texas A&M on Friday, a 10-7 victory over Sonoma State on Saturday and a 6-2 win over Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday.

The Nighthawks emerged from the weekend as the conference leaders in batting average (.390), on-base percentage (.465), runs scored (53), hits (62) and doubles (13) and are tied for first in walks (24).
Saint Martin’s, meanwhile, opened its four-win run with a 6-2 victory over Mary and a 12-6 win over Dominican (Calif.) on Friday. After a 12-4, six-inning loss to Texas Tyler on Saturday, the Saints closed with a 6-0 shutout of Academy of Art on Saturday and a 4-2 win over Minot State on Sunday.

Through the five games, the Saints have compiled a .345 batting average and are second in the conference with a 3.95 earned run average. They also lead the conference with a .968 slugging percentage, committing five errors in the five games. The Saints also came up with 19  stolen bases, 14 more than the conference’s second-place team.

ALL-TOURNAMENT HONORS: Five GNAC players were named to the Desert Stinger’s All-Tournament Team. The list includes Concordia senior outfielder Hannah Self, Northwest Nazarene junior utility player Ivy Hommel, Saint Martin’s junior outfielder Emery Norwood, Saints’ senior pitcher Brandi Schoessler and Western Oregon sophomore infielder Logan Carlos. The Concordia Kickoff Classic yielded one All-Tournament Team selection in Western Washington junior infielder Dakota Brooks.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
PLAYER
Alex Ogg, Simon Fraser
3B • 5-6 • Junior • Surrey, B.C.

Ogg led Simon Fraser to a 3-2 week at the Desert Stinger, batting .737 in the five games. She was 14 for 19 with five doubles, a triple, seven runs and seven RBI. Ogg opened the tourney by going 3 for 3 with three runs, two doubles and two RBI in Friday’s 15-7, five-inning win over Minot State. She went 3 for 4 with a double, an RBI and a run against Texas Tyler on Friday, went 4 for 4 with a double, a run and an RBI against Mary on Saturday before closing with 2 for 4 performances against Academy of Art on Saturday and San Francisco State on Sunday.

Also Nominated: Alyssa Benthagen (Central Washington), Hannah Self (Concordia), Britzy Hockett (Montana State Billings), Brittany Genuardi (Northwest Nazarene), Emery Norwood (Saint Martin’s), Logan Carlos (Western Oregon), Dakota Brooks (Western Washington).

PITCHER
Brandi Schoessler, Saint Martin’s
P/IF • 5-6 •  Senior • Walla Walla, Wash.

Schoessler led all GNAC pitchers in the opening weekend of the season, winning all three appearances while compiling a 1.50 earned run average. In 14 innings, she allowed four runs, three earned, on 15 hits and struck out eight with no walks. Schoessler went the distance in Friday’s 6-2 win over Mary, allowing two runs, one earned, on eight hits with three strikeouts. She allowed just two hits in four innings in a 6-0 shutout of Academy of Art on Saturday. She then threw three innings of relief against Minot State on Sunday, earning the win as she allowed two runs on five hits with four strikeouts.

Also Nominated: Samantha Stanfield (Central Washington), Sally Bowles (Concordia), Anissa Zacharczuk (Simon Fraser), Anna Kasner (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington opened the season with three wins at the Desert Stinger with an 8-7 win over San Francisco State on Friday and victories on Saturday over Cal State San Bernardino, 5-4, and Regis, 2-1. The Wildcats took a split at Dixie State on Tuesday, winning the opener 5-2 and losing the nightcap in five innings, 13-5.

• Freshman Katie Cunningham led the way with a .444 batting average in five games, going 4 for 9 with a run, a double and five RBI. She went 2 for 3 with three RBI against San Francisco State, knocking an RBI double for her first collegiate hit. She also had a two-run single that opened scoring against Cal State San Bernardino.

• Junior Sydney Brown batted .357 in six games, going 5 for 14 with two home runs and four RBI. Brown went 2 for 3 against San Francisco State and had both of her home runs in the first game against Dixie State, going 3 for 4 with four RBI.

• Sophomore Samantha Stanfield has earned three of the Wildcats’ four wins in the circle. She earned the win in relief against Cal State San Bernardino, allowing three hits and four walks while striking out two in 3.1 innings. She turned around to win the start against Regis, allowing two hits and striking out six in five innings. Stanfield went 4.1 innings in the first-game start at Dixie State, allowing two runs on three hits in 4.1 innings. Stanfield is second in the GNAC with a 2.33 earned run average and 11 strikeouts.

• Central Washington enters the week with a .207 batting average and  5.89 earned run average.

• The Wildcats’ opponents at the Courtyard Classic include Hawaii Hilo and Colorado Mesa on Thursday, Saint Mary’s (Texas) and MSU Denver on Friday and Western New Mexico on Saturday.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia opened the season with a 3-2 record at the Desert Stinger, collecting a 9-3 win over Minot State on Friday, a 5-2, eight-inning win over Mary on Saturday and a 14-3, five-inning win over Dominican (Calif.) on Saturday.

• Senior Hannah Self was named to the All-Tournament Team after she finished with a .500 batting average, going 9 for 18 with four runs, two doubles, three home runs and nine RBI. Self opened by going 3 for 4 against Minot State with a triple, a home run and three RBI. She then slammed a two-run homer against Colorado Christian on Friday, went 3 for 5 against Mary before adding another homer on Sunday against Academy of Art. Self is fourth in the GNAC in batting average and leads the league with a 1.222 slugging percentage.

• Senior Macy Besuyen finished with a .471 batting average, going 8 for 17 with five runs, three doubles and seven RBI. Besuyen went 3 for 3 against Minot State with two doubles and two RBI and then went 2 for 3 with a triple and three  RBI against Dominican. Besuyen is eighth in the GNAC in hitting.

• Senior Sally Bowles threw in three games and earned two wins, allowing 11 runs, nine earned, on 21 hits for a 3.20 earned run average. She won on Friday against Minot State, allowing three runs, two earned, on nine hits with a walk and a strikeout. She also went the distance to beat Mary in extra innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits with four strikeouts.

• Concordia ranks third in the GNAC with a .364 batting average and 4.07 earned run average.  The Cavaliers have allowed the fewest walks (4) of any GNAC team.

• The Cavaliers will play five games this week at the Courtyard Classic against Cal St. Dominguez Hills and MSU Denver on Thursday, Western New Mexico and Dixie State on Friday and Notre Dame de Namur on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings went 3-3 at its own Desert Stinger. The Yellowjackets won their first three games: 7-3 over Oklahoma Christian and 3-1 over Academy of Art on Friday and a 7-4 win over Dominican (Calif.) on Saturday.

• Sophomore Morgan Quimby led the offense with a .471 batting average, going 8 for 17 with eight hits and four RBI. Quimby went 2 for 3 with two doubles and two RBI on a two-run double in the sixth against Dominican. She then went 2 for 4 against  Sonoma State and 2 for 5 with another two-run double against UC San Diego, both on Sunday. Quimby is seventh in the GNAC in batting average and shares the conference lead with five doubles.

• Junior Britzy Hockett opened her MSUB career with a .438 batting average at the Stinger, going 7 for 16 with five runs and three stolen bases. After registering a hit in each of Friday’s games, Hockett went 2 for 3 with two runs and an RBI  double against Dominican. She finished the tourney by going 2 for 4 with a run against UC San Diego. The three steals ties Hockett for third in the GNAC.

• Freshman Julia Qualteri led five MSUB pitchers with a 5.83 earned run average and a 1-1 record.  She earned her first collegiate win over Academy of Art, allowing one unearned run on five hits with four strikeouts in five innings. Senior Maddy Lincoln earned the win over Oklahoma Christian and sophomore Alyssa Etheridge earned the win in relief over Dominican.

• The Yellowjackets enter the week with a .305 batting average and 5.89 earned run average. They rank second in the GNAC with a .963 fielding percentage.

• Montana State Billings will play five games this weekend at the Courtyard Classic, facing Notre Dame de Namur and Western New Mexico on Thursday, Cal St. Dominguez Hills and Colorado Mesa on Friday and Fort Lewis on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene went 4-1 at the Desert Stinger, collecting a 21-5, five-inning win over Dominican (Calif.) and an 11-6 win over West Texas A&M on Friday along with a 10-6 win over Sonoma State and a 6-2 win over Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday.

• Junior Ivy Hommel was named to the All-Tournament Team after she batted .688 in five games, going 11 for 16 with eight runs, a double, a home run, six RBI and two stolen bases. Hommel went 3 for 3 with a run and an RBI in Friday’s opener against UC San Diego, went 2 for 3 with two runs and two RBI against Dominican and then went 3 for 4 against West Texas A&M. Hommel had her home run against Sonoma State as she went 3 for 4 with two RBI.

• Senior Brittany Genuardi batted .533 in the five games, going 8 for 15 with five runs and four doubles. She went 3 for 5 with five RBI, including two doubles and a two-run homer, against Dominican. Freshman Abigail Gagnon, meanwhile, hit the conference’s first grand slam of the season in the sixth inning against Dominican.

• Senior Rae Young picked up two of the four wins in the circle and is third in the GNAC with a 2.47 earned run average. Young went five innings against Dominican, allowing two runs on six hits with a walk and strikeout. She then went 6.1 innings against Cal State San Bernardino, allowing two runs on nine hits with a walk and two strikeouts.

• The Nighthawks lead the GNAC with a .390 batting average while compiling a 5.09 earned run average. Northwest Nazarene leads the league in on-base percentage (.465), runs (53), hits (62) and doubles (13).

• The Nighthawks’ five games at the Courtyard Classic this weekend include Colorado Mesa on Thursday, Notre Dame de Namur and Hawaii Hilo on Friday and MSU Denver and Fort Lewis on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s opened with a 4-1 start at the Desert Stinger. The Saints collected a 6-2 win over Mary and a 12-6 win over Dominican (Calif.) on Friday, a 6-0 shutout of Academy of Art on Saturday and a 4-2 win over Minot State on Sunday.

• Senior Brandi Schoessler was named to the All-Tournament Team and earned GNAC Pitcher of the Week honors after winning three games and compiling a 1.50 earned run average. Schoessler went the distance to beat Mary on Friday, allowing two runs, one earned, on eight hits with three strikeouts. She went four innings against Academy of Art, allowing two hits with one strikeout. The week ended with a three-inning relief win over Minot State, allowing two runs on five hits with four strikeouts. In her 14 innings, Schoessler did not allow a walk.

• Junior Emery Norwood also earned All-Tournament Team honors after finishing with a .611 batting average, going 11 for 18 with nine runs, two doubles and two RBI. Norwood opened by going 2 for 4 with an RBI single against Mary and then went 2 for 3 with three runs against Dominican. On Saturday, Norwood went 2 for 2 with an RBI single against Texas Tyler and 2 for 4 against Academy of Art. She closed the week by going 3 for 5 with two runs against Minot State. Norwood is third in the GNAC in batting and leads the league with her nine runs.

• Freshman Olivia Schmidt batted .429 in the tournament, going 6 for 14 with two runs and a double. Sophomore Kylee Vanderbout batted .400 and went 2 for 2 in the opener against Mary.

• Saint Martin’s compiled a .345 batting average. The Saints are second with a 3.95 earned run average and leads the league with a .963 fielding percentage.

• Saint Martin’s does not play again until traveling to Southern California on Feb. 14 for a doubleheader at Azusa Pacific.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser won three of five games at the Desert Stinger, collecting a 15-7, five-inning win over Minot State on Friday, a 13-3, five-inning win over Academy of Art on Saturday and a 12-6 win over San Francisco State on Sunday.

• Junior Alex Ogg was named the GNAC Softball Player of the Week after she batted .737 in the five games, going 14 for 19 with seven runs, five doubles, a triple and seven RBI. Ogg went 3 for 3 with two RBI against Minot State and went 3 for 4 against Texas Tyler. She went 4 for 4 with an RBI double against Mary on Saturday and then went 2 for 4 against Academy of Art with a double and triple that each scored runs. Ogg closed by going 2 for 4 against San Francisco St. Ogg leads the GNAC in batting average, hits and doubles.

• Senior Chelsea Hotner batted .400 in the Stinger, going 6 for 15 with seven runs, two doubles, a home run and six RBI. She went 2 for 3 against Texas Tyler, which included a two-run double in the first. She then went 2 for 2 against Academy of Art and hit a solo home run against San Francisco St.

• Sophomore Anissa Zacharchuk earned two of the Clan’s three wins in the circle, compiling a 2.68 earned run average in three appearances. Zacharchuk went five innings for the win against Minot State, allowing five runs, four earned, on eight hits with a walk and a strikeout. She earned her second win in relief, allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits and five walks in five innings against San Francisco St. She ranks fourth in the GNAC in ERA.

• Simon Fraser is second in the GNAC with a .371 batting average with a 4.43 earned run average. They also lead the GNAC with a .748 slugging percentage.

• Simon Fraser is off next week before taking part in the D2 Cactus Classic in Tucson, Arizona from Feb. 14-16.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon went 2-3 at the Desert Stinger, posting a 5-1 win over Sonoma State on Friday and a 10-7 win over Colorado Christian on Saturday.

• Sophomore Logan Carlos was named to the All-Tournament Team after she batted .429 in the five games, going 6 for 14 with three runs, a double, a home run and four RBI. Carlos went 2 for 4 with a grand slam against Sonoma State and then went 2 for 3 against Colorado Christian. Carlos finished the tournament with a .714 slugging percentage.

• Junior Ayanna Arceneaux led the Wolves with a .474 batting average, going 9 for 19 with five runs, a double and a triple. She compiled a .632 slugging percentage and a .524 on-base percentage. Arceneaux went 2 for 4 against both Sonoma State and Colorado Christian, adding two runs scored against CCU, and also went 2 for 4 against Oklahoma Christian.

• Sophomore Maddie Mayer earned the win in the circle against Sonoma State, allowing one run on three hits with six walks and three strikeouts in the complete-game performance. She finished the week with a 5.44 earned run average in two starts. Senior Chandler Bishop was the winner against Colorado Christian, allowing seven runs on 11 hits with three walks and two strikeouts.

• Western Oregon enters the week with a .333 batting average and 8.18 earned run average.

• The Wolves will be the first GNAC team to host home games this weekend, welcoming Eastern Oregon for a doubleheader on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• The only GNAC team not to compete at the Desert Stinger, Western Washington opened with a 1-4 record at the Concordia Kickoff Classic in Irvine, California. The Vikings closed out with a 10-0, five-inning win over Cal State East Bay.

• In her first weekend back after a year away from the program, junior Anna Kasner proceeded to throw the 26th no-hitter in conference history, holding Cal State East Bay hitless while striking out eight over the five innings. She was one walk short of a perfect game. Kasner finished the week with a 1-2 record and a 3.11 earned run average. Her 21 strikeouts lead the GNAC.

• Junior Dakota Brooks was named to the All-Tournament Team after batting .385 in the five games, going 5 for 13 with a triple, a home run and five RBI. She also compiled a .769 slugging percentage. Brooks’ week was highlighted by a 2 for 3 effort against Cal St. Dominguez Hills on Saturday, which included a two-run home run.

• Junior Chantelle Shimabukuro led the Vikings with a .462 batting average, going 6 for 13 with three runs, a triple and four RBI. She scored WWU’s lone run against Cal State San Marcos on Friday with an RBI single in the seventh. She then went 2 for 3 against Cal State Dominguez Hills and went 2 for 3 with an RBI triple and RBI single against Cal State East Bay. Shimabukuro is 10th in the GNAC in batting average.

• Western Washington enters the week with a .200 batting average and leads the conference with a 3.50 earned run average.

• The Vikings will take part in the Courtyard Classic this weekend with games against Fort Lewis on Thursday, Hawaii Hilo and MSU Denver on Friday and St. Mary’s (Texas) and Dixie State on Saturday.