SPOKANE, Wash. - Northwest Nazarene's Sean McDonald and Kalen Hruza have been named the Player and Pitcher of the Week by the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, announced by the league office in Spokane.
McDonald, (OF, 5-9, 165, So., Boise, ID) had eight hits in 16 at bats to lead the Crusaders to a three-game series sweep of Saint Martin's. The Crusader leadoff hitter had three doubles, led NNU in runs scored (7) and RBI (5) and also swiped three bases. He also earned a save on the mound allowing just one hit and no runs in the final three innings of Saturday's 10-3 win. He fanned four and didn't walk a batter to earn is second GNAC Player of the Week honor.
Hruza, (6-0, 205, Jr., Caldwell, ID) pitched in all three games and was not charged with a run or a walk in 3 2/3 innings. Hruza, who had three strikeouts, replaced Charles Pollock in the sixth inning of Saturday's opener with the bases loaded and no outs. After giving up a run-scoring single to the first batter he faced, he got the next three batters out to preserve a 5-3 lead in a game NNU went on to win 10-3. In the second game, he earned the victory holding the Saints scoreless over the final 2 1/3 innings in a 4-1 win. On the season, Hruza has pitched in 21 games and has a 2-0 record and a 2.40 ERA.
The Crusaders will travel to Western Oregon University this weekend for a key GNAC series against the Wolves. The Crusaders (18-14, 10-5 GNAC) sit just 1 1/2 games back in the conference race behind Western Oregon (16-11, 11-3 GNAC).
