#1 Azusa Pacific Cougars (33-8, 18-6 PacWest)

5th NCAA Regional Appearance (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021)
Record at Regionals: 10-8

Schedule  |  Roster  |  2021 Stats

Team Preview
Azusa Pacific (33-8) has been nationally ranked all season long and won the PacWest AQ last weekend with a 4-0 sweep of Academy of Art and Hawai'i Hilo. The Cougars won the PacWest SoCal Pod with a 18-6 conference record and won five of six series against the other three SoCal teams (Concordia, Biola, Point Loma). Ranks second in division II in home runs as a team with 99 on the season and is currently enjoying a 10-game win streak which is their second longest of the season. During the 10-game win streak the Cougars offense has been the main catalyst, here is what it looks like by the numbers.

104 runs scored (10.4 per game), outscored opposition 104-32
115 hits (11.5 hits per game)
30 home runs (3 per game)
54 walks (5.4per game), 22 batters hit by pitch
.318 team batting average

All-West Region and PacWest Player of the Year Osvaldo Tovalin leads the team with a .402 average this season with 14 HR and 49 RBI. Tovalin won the Triple Crown in 24 conference games hitting .442 with 10 HR and 36 RBI. The Cougars have eight starters in their lineup hitting over .340 this season. Among other standouts Casey Dykstra, and Aaron Roose have been designated as First-Team All-West Region selections and First-Team All-PacWest. Dykstra is hitting .397 with 10 HR and an OBP of .497% while Roose is hitting .358 with 12 HR and 44 RBI out of the leadoff spot. Starting pitcher AJ Woodall was awarded All-West Region and PacWest Pitcher of the Year and is currently 8-0 with a 2.02 ERA and 65 strikeouts over 66.2 innings. Hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of his 11 outings and has three shutout performances on the season. Among other pitchers, Westmont transfer Cory Dawson was given Second-Team All-PacWest and Korey Shepard was selected to First-Team All-PacWest and Second-Team All-West Region as a relief pitcher.

#2 Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks (31-7, 21-3 GNAC)

1st NCAA Regional Appearance
Record at Regionals: 0-0

Schedule  |  Roster  |  2021 Stats

Team Preview
The Nighthawks have enjoyed the best season in their 21-year NCAA DII history, achieving an impressive 31-7 overall record. NNU also went a staggering 21-3 in conference play to claim their first outright GNAC regular season title before sweeping Central Washington in the GNAC Championship series to earn the automatic bid and their first-ever NCAA Regional berth. Early in the year, NNU also routed current #1 Colorado Mesa 18-6, handing the Mavericks one of their five losses on the season. The Nighthawks have been in the NCBWA Top-25 nearly all season, climbing as high as sixth in the nation for one week in early May. Outfielder Grant Kerry (.369 BA, 9 2B, 11 HR, 48 RBI) was named the GNAC Newcomer of the Year and First Team All-Region, while skipper Joe Schaefer earned Coach of the Year honors both regionally and in the conference. Closer Max Holtzclaw (2.45 ERA, .95 WHIP, 4-0 record, 5 saves, 22.0 IP, 37 K's, 4 BB) also received First Team All-Region and All-GNAC honors, while third baseman Shawn Grandmont (.329 BA, 41 runs, 9 HR, 54 RBI, 22 SB), second baseman Colton Moore (.271 BA, 40 runs, 11 2B, 7 HR, 32 RBI), utility/pitcher Ben Johnson (.333 BA, 21 runs, 15 RBI, 4.45 ERA, 3-0 pitching record, 22 K's), and starting pitcher Kyle Ethridge (4.02 ERA, 6-1 record, 1.14 WHIP, 53.2 IP, 74 K's, 14 BB) were each named Second Team All-Region and First Team All-GNAC.

#3 Western Oregon Wolves (20-6, 19-5 GNAC)

8th NCAA Regional Appearance (2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2021)
Record at Regionals: 5-14

Schedule  |  Roster  |  2021 Stats

Team Preview
WOU enters this year's West Regional marking the seventh overall trip to the NCAA postseason and first since 2012. The Wolves have won five postseason games and bring a 20-6 record into the 2021 field. Connor McCord was tabbed the GNAC Player of the Year and Mike Peterson as the GNAC Pitcher of the Year lead the Wolves, with three pitchers holding ERAs in the 3.00, with Peterson going 6-0. McCord's .395 average, 9 HR and 33 RBI lead an offense that holds a .328 average and have nine players on the regular roster hitting over .300 this season. The Maiben twins provide constant leadoff pressure at the top of the lineup for the Wolves with Derek hitting .417 and Jacob at .360, as the two combined have 76 hits and 49 runs scored.