GNAC Tournament Preview
- Robert Frey
- 7 days ago
- 5 min read
The stage is set for an exciting two days of collegiate baseball as the 2025 Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Baseball Championships are scheduled for Thursday, May 8, and Friday, May 9. Central Washington University will play host to the conference's premier event at the CWU Baseball Field in Ellensburg, Washington.
This year's championship features the top three teams from the GNAC regular-season standings, determined by win percentage. The tournament will kick off with a round-robin format on the first day, where all three qualifying teams will face each other once to determine seeding and advancement scenarios for the potential championship game(s) on Friday. The opening day will see No. 2 seed Montana State Billings take on the host and No. 3 seed Central Washington, followed by No. 1 seed Northwest Nazarene facing Central Washington, and concluding with Northwest Nazarene battling Montana State Billings.
Get up to date info on brackets, ticket info, and more here: https://gnacsports.com/tournaments/?id=3
All games will be streamed on GNAC.tv on YouTube
Note: Announced before the season, the GNAC will NOT have an automatic bid into the West Regional.
#1 Seed Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks
The Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks enter the 2025 Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Baseball Championships as the dominant force, securing the #1 seed with an impressive 27-5 conference record and a 38-12 overall mark. The Nighthawks are also the defending GNAC Tournament Champions, having won the title in 2024, where their own Bryan Rojas was named Most Valuable Player. As the top seed in the three-team round-robin, NNU will play two games on the first day: Game 2 at 1 p.m. Pacific Time against #3 seed Central Washington, followed by Game 3 at 4 p.m. Pacific Time against #2 seed Montana State Billings.
Team Stats
Northwest Nazarene has set the standard in the GNAC across the board this season. Their offense is potent, leading the conference with a .321 team batting average and a .893 OPS. They also lead the league with 105 stolen bases, showcasing a dynamic and aggressive offensive strategy. The Nighthawks' pitching staff has been equally formidable, boasting the GNAC's best team ERA at 4.00, the most strikeouts with 384, the lowest batting average against at .273, and the top strikeout-to-walk ratio at 2.98. Their defensive prowess is also unmatched, as they lead the conference with a .969 fielding percentage and the best caught stealing percentage at 39.5%.
Players to Watch
Hitting:
Kaleb Karpstein has been a consistent force, hitting for a high average with a .406 BA and an impressive 1.092 OPS.
Nin Burns II provides a major spark in the lineup with a .359 batting average, a stellar 1.082 OPS, and leads the team with 11 home runs and 47 RBIs.
Bryan Rojas continues to be a key contributor, posting a .371 batting average.
Adrian Arechiga is a menace on the basepaths, having swiped 24 stolen bases.
Pitching:
Cole Calnon has been outstanding on the mound, compiling a remarkable 1.78 ERA over 76 innings and maintaining a strong 4.75 K/BB ratio.
Ernesto Lugo-Canchola has anchored the rotation with a superb 2.27 ERA across 67.1 innings, coupled with a solid 2.76 K/BB ratio and a strikeout rate of 29.2%.
Jonathan Zayas has been highly effective in his appearances, registering a 2.51 ERA and an excellent 8.5 K/BB ratio over 28.2 innings.
Landen Parker has also contributed significantly with a 3.47 ERA and a 2.75 K/BB ratio in 46.2 innings pitched.
As the #1 seed, defending champions, and leaders in nearly every major statistical category, Northwest Nazarene enters the GNAC Championship as the clear favorite. With a powerful offense led by standouts like Kaleb Karpstein and Nin Burns II, and a dominant pitching staff headlined by Cole Calnon and Ernesto Lugo-Canchola, the Nighthawks are well-equipped to navigate the round-robin format and make a strong push for back-to-back tournament titles and the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship.
#2 Seed Montana State Billings Yellowjackets
Montana State Billings enters the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament as the No. 2 seed, boasting an 30-18 overall record and a strong 21-11 mark in conference play. The Yellowjackets will kick off their tournament journey against the No. 3 seed, Central Washington, in the first game then the third game of the three-team, round-robin format on Thursday, May 8 starting with Central Washington and finishing with Northwest Nazarene
Team Stats
The Yellowjackets have demonstrated a potent and disciplined offense throughout the season, ranking among the conference's elite. They are third in the GNAC in team batting average at .309 and 2nd in team OPS at .850. Their patience at the plate is evident, as they lead the conference in walks with 210. On the pitching side, the staff has been formidable, ranking 2nd with a team ERA of 4.94. Their ability to miss bats is also noteworthy, as they also sit 2nd in total strikeouts with 301.
Players to Watch
Several individuals have been key to Montana State Billings' success this season:
Hitting:
Jack Nehler has been a consistent force at the plate, leading the team and hitting for a high average with a .382 BA.
Zack Blaszak is another key offensive contributor, posting a strong .377 BA.
Ryker Fortier has also provided a significant spark with his bat, evidenced by his .354 BA.
Kaden Kirshenbaum has been a major run producer, leading the team with 49 RBI and showcasing impressive power and on-base ability with a 1.034 OPS.
Pitching:
On the mound, Hayden Mullins has been a standout performer, posting an excellent 2.41 ERA and an impressive 4.12 K/BB ratio.
Jackson Betancourt has also been a reliable arm for the Yellowjackets, contributing a 3.43 ERA and a solid 2.81 K/BB ratio over many innings.
Brennen Chappell has demonstrated good control and strikeout ability, reflected in his 3.38 K/BB ratio.
Montana State Billings is well-positioned to make a deep run in the GNAC Tournament. Their potent offense, reliable pitching, and solid defense make them a formidable opponent. The contributions of hitters like Jack Nehler, Zack Blaszak, and Kaden Kirshenbaum, along with the pitching prowess of Hayden Mullins and Jackson Betancourt, will be crucial as they navigate the challenging tournament format and aim to capture another conference championship.
#3 Seed Central Washington Wildcats
Central Washington University enters the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament as the No. 3 seed, holding an overall record of 24-24 and a conference mark of 15-17. The Wildcats have the distinct advantage of hosting this year's championship at the CWU Baseball Field in Ellensburg, Washington. Their first test will be against the No. 2 seed, Montana State Billings, in the opening game of the tournament.
Team Stats
Offensively, Central Washington has been a strong unit, ranking 2nd n the GNAC with a team batting average of .311.
Players to Watch
Central Washington's lineup features some impactful players, with one in particular standing out based on his exceptional offensive output:
Brandham Ponce has had a remarkable season at the plate, hitting for a .364 batting average. His power and ability to get on base are highlighted by an impressive 1.179 OPS, and he has hit 18 home runs while leading the team with 62 RBI.
On the pitching side, for players with significant innings:
Logan Pierce has demonstrated good command, posting a K/BB ratio of 2.82.
As hosts of the GNAC Tournament, Central Washington will look to leverage their home-field advantage. If their pitching can find consistent success, the Wildcats could certainly challenge for the title on their home turf.
Comments