PacWest Tournament Preview
- Robert Frey
- May 7
- 7 min read
Get ready for thrilling baseball action as the 2025 Pacific West Conference Baseball Championships are set to take place from Wednesday, May 7th, through Friday, May 9th. Hosted at Fresno Pacific University's Dan Martin Stadium, the tournament will feature the top four teams from the regular season battling it out in a double-elimination format to crown the conference champion.
The field is now set, featuring regular-season champion and No. 1 seed Westmont, who secured their top spot over a week ago. Joining them are No. 2 seed Point Loma and No. 3 seed Hawai'i Pacific, who both clinched their berths earlier in the week. Rounding out the competitors is No. 4 seed Biola, who punched their ticket on the final day of regular season play.
The championship action kicks off on Wednesday, May 7th, with No. 1 Westmont facing No. 4 Biola, followed by No. 2 Point Loma taking on No. 3 Hawai'i Pacific.
Fans looking for bracket updates, game schedules, ticket information, and more details on the championship can visit the official PacWest tournament page: https://thepacwest.com/tournaments/?id=205.
For those unable to attend in person, all games from the 2025 PacWest Baseball Championships will be streamed live on pacwestnetwork.tv. This is a pay-per-view subscription service, and access can also be gained by purchasing a tournament pass to get every pitch of the action live.
#1 Seed Westmont Warriors
The Westmont Warriors head into the 2025 Pacific West Conference Baseball Championship as the regular season champions and the #1 seed. They compiled an impressive 38-12 overall record and a dominant 33-10 mark in conference play. Westmont will kick off their tournament run in the double-elimination event against #4 seed Biola on Wednesday, May 7th, at 12 PM PT.
Team Stats
The Warriors have demonstrated a potent and well-rounded squad throughout the season. Offensively, Westmont ranks in the top five in the PacWest for team batting average (4th - .300) and OPS (4th - .891), and they are among the top three in stolen bases (3rd - 75), showcasing their ability to generate runs in multiple ways. Their pitching staff has been exceptional, leading the conference with the lowest team ERA (4.35) and the best batting average against (.262). They also rank second for total strikeouts (352) and are in the top three for strikeout-to-walk ratio (2nd - 2.41), indicating both dominance and control.
Players to Watch
Hitting:
Bryce McFeely has been a central figure in the offense, leading the team with 43 RBIs. He also boasts an impressive 1.042 OPS and has hit 11 home runs.
Jesse DiMaggio consistently hits for a high average, sporting a .370 BA, and shows considerable pop with a 1.020 OPS.
Shane Hofstadler brings a powerful bat to the lineup, evidenced by his 1.010 OPS.
Trey Dunn has been a major source of power, launching 12 home runs.
Daniel Patterson adds to the offensive firepower with 10 home runs on the season.
Pitching:
Ryan Humphreys has had an excellent season on the mound, posting a 2.47 ERA over 73 innings. He combines this with a strong 3.61 K/BB ratio and a notable strikeout rate of 33.6%.
Zach Yates has been a dominant force, featuring a stellar 2.27 ERA and an exceptional 6.57 K/BB ratio. His strikeout rate is also very high at 35.1% across 31.2 innings of work.
Bryan Peck has demonstrated excellent control over 73.1 innings, maintaining a 4.69 K/BB ratio.
As the regular season champions and the top seed, Westmont enters the PacWest Tournament with high expectations. Their balanced attack, featuring impactful hitters like Bryce McFeely and Jesse DiMaggio, combined with a formidable pitching staff anchored by Ryan Humphreys and Zach Yates, makes them a strong contender for the tournament title.
#2 Seed Point Loma Sea Lions
The Point Loma Sea Lions enter the 2025 Pacific West Conference Baseball Championship as the #2 seed, bringing a strong regular season performance into the postseason. They finished with an overall record of 36-14 and a conference mark of 32-12. As a historically strong program, having won the PacWest regular season title from 2022-2024 and the tournament championship in 2024, the Sea Lions are no strangers to playoff pressure. Their first game in the double-elimination tournament will be against #3 seed Hawaii Pacific on Wednesday, May 7th, at 4 PM PT.
Team Stats
Point Loma comes into the tournament with a formidable offensive attack, ranking third in the PacWest with a .315 team batting average and a .928 OPS. Their patient approach at the plate is evident as they lead the conference in walks. On the mound, the Sea Lions are equally impressive, holding the second-best team ERA in the league (4.62) and the second-most strikeouts. They excel at limiting opponent success, reflected by the third-lowest batting average against in the PacWest, and they lead the conference in strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Players to Watch
Hitting:
Jake Entrekin has been a dominant force at the plate, leading the team with an impressive 62 RBIs. He also showcases a powerful bat with 19 home runs, a .416 batting average, and a remarkable 1.369 OPS.
Luke Reece consistently produces, hitting for a .353 average and achieving a 1.013 OPS.
Matt Bernath contributes significantly with a .351 batting average.
Pitching:
Michael Sarhatt has been a key arm for the Sea Lions, posting a 3.41 ERA over 29 innings. He also exhibits excellent strikeout capability with a 34.8% K rate and maintains a strong 4.0 K/BB ratio.
Branden Jackel has delivered quality innings, recording a 2.64 ERA across 61.1 innings pitched.
Ray Cebulski has shown good command in his 61.2 innings, evidenced by a 3.22 K/BB ratio.
Jonathan Kozasky has contributed effectively over 43.1 innings with a K/BB ratio of 2.8.
Jack Bunnell has been reliable in his appearances, maintaining a K/BB ratio of 3.44 over 26 innings.
Bobby Brown has also demonstrated good control on the mound with a 3.2 K/BB ratio across 37.2 innings.
With a rich history of success in the PacWest and a potent roster, Point Loma is well-positioned for a deep run in the tournament. The offensive firepower led by Jake Entrekin and Luke Reece, combined with a strong pitching staff featuring arms like Michael Sarhatt and Branden Jackel, makes them a formidable opponent. Their experience and statistical strengths suggest they will be strong contenders for the PacWest tournament title and the accompanying automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship.
#3 Seed Hawaii Pacific Sharks
The Hawaii Pacific Sharks have secured the #3 seed in the 2025 Pacific West Conference Baseball Championship, following a strong season where they achieved an overall record of 30-20 and a conference record of 28-16. The Sharks, who previously won the PacWest regular season title in 2010, will begin their tournament journey against the #2 seed, Point Loma. This opening game is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7th, at 4 PM PT.
Team Stats
Hawaii Pacific boasts the most potent offense in the PacWest, leading the conference in both team batting average (.340) and OPS (.986). Their disciplined approach at the plate has also earned them the second-most walks in the league. On the pitching side, the Sharks rank fifth in the conference for total strikeouts. Defensively, they have been very reliable, ranking second in the PacWest with a .972 fielding percentage.
Players to Watch
Hitting:
Noah Blythe has had a phenomenal season, hitting for an exceptional .462 batting average and a remarkable 1.332 OPS, which includes 13 home runs.
Bronson Rivera is a major run producer, leading the team with 71 RBIs. He also displays significant power with 16 home runs, a .378 batting average, and an impressive 1.194 OPS.
Kan Taguchi has been a consistent threat, posting a .431 batting average and a 1.044 OPS.
Skyler Agnew contributes significantly to the offense with a .356 batting average and a 1.072 OPS.
Tyler Arnold provides additional power with 14 home runs and a 1.100 OPS.
Pitching:
Ryan Inouye has demonstrated good command over 27.1 innings, maintaining a strong K/BB ratio of 4.14.
As the #3 seed with the top offense in the PacWest, Hawaii Pacific is a dangerous team in this tournament. Their lineup, packed with high-average and high-OPS hitters like Noah Blythe, Bronson Rivera, and Kan Taguchi, can put immense pressure on opposing pitchers. If their pitching, led by arms like Ryan Inouye, can effectively navigate the strong competition, the Sharks have the offensive firepower to make a significant impact and challenge for the PacWest tournament crown and the automatic NCAA bid.
#4 Seed Biola Eagles
The Biola Eagles clinched the #4 seed in the 2025 Pacific West Conference Baseball Championship after defeating Concordia on the final day of the regular season. They finished with an overall record of 26-25 and a conference record of 23-21. The Eagles will face a tough challenge in their opening game of the double-elimination tournament, taking on the #1 seed and regular-season champion, Westmont. This matchup is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7th, at 12 PM PT.
Team Stats
Offensively, Biola has shown they can swing the bats, ranking second in the PacWest with a team batting average of .317 and fourth in OPS at .894.
Players to Watch
Hitting:
Noah Ruiz has been a standout performer, hitting for a high average with a .391 BA and an impressive 1.062 OPS. He also leads the team with 47 RBIs.
Adiel Torres has also been a key offensive weapon, boasting a .404 batting average and a 1.113 OPS.
James Whitman provides significant power in the lineup with 14 home runs and a 1.076 OPS.
Isaiah Leon has hit for both average and power, with a .393 BA, a 1.082 OPS, and 10 home runs.
Pitching:
Nathan Hernandez has demonstrated good control on the mound over 13.1 innings, posting a K/BB ratio of 3.75.
Dylan Alanis has been a frequent arm out of the bullpen, and while his ERA is 5.28, he has accumulated 30.2 innings pitched.
Luke Ballantyne has started 13 games, throwing 60.1 innings.
Andrew Zittel has also been a significant contributor to the rotation with 11 starts and 56.1 innings pitched.
Gabe Magallan has made 13 starts, logging 57.2 innings.
Jack O'Brasky has pitched 27.1 innings, striking out 27 batters.
Blake Wentz has contributed 31.2 innings on the mound.
Biola faces an immediate test against the top-seeded Westmont. The Eagles will rely on their strong offensive players like Noah Ruiz, Adiel Torres, James Whitman, and Isaiah Leon to generate runs. Their pitching staff, with several arms having logged significant innings, will need to be at its best to navigate a challenging tournament field.
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