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Northwest Nazarene University Athletics

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Loren Orr

NNU Set for Showdown with Central Missouri

| By: Josh Burkholder - Director of Athletic Communications
CARY, N.C. – Northwest Nazarene baseball is ready to go where no NNU team has ever gone before, making their way to North Carolina to compete in the NCAA Division II National Championships.
 
Multiple Nighthawk teams have reached the NCAA tournament, but this squad is the first to win the West Region championship and advance all the way to the final eight. NNU is also the first GNAC baseball team to win a regional.
 
The championships will take place from June 5-12 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary. The field is made up of the eight regional champions: #1 Central Missouri from the Central, #2 Seton Hill from the Atlantic, #3 Angelo State from the South Central, #4 Trevecca Nazarene from the Midwest, #5 Tampa from the South, #6 Wingate from the Southeast, #7 Southern New Hampshire from the East, and #8 NNU from the West.
 
As the eighth seed at the championships, NNU opens with a matchup against top overall seed Central Missouri. The Nighthawks and Mules will play the second game on Saturday, scheduled for a start of 6:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. MT.

For those that have traveled to Cary, admission will be free for all fans at the championships. For everyone else, all games will be streamed on NCAA.com, with NNU's opening game against Central Missouri available at this link.
 
Trevecca and Tampa will play the opening game of the tournament on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. ET. On Sunday, Angelo State and Wingate will play at 2:00 p.m. ET followed by Seton Hill and Southern New Hampshire at 6:00 p.m. ET.
 
If NNU wins, they will play the winner of Trevecca and Tampa at 6:00 p.m. ET on Monday. If they fall to the Mules, they will face the loser of those same two teams on Monday at 2:00 p.m. ET.
 
To view the full bracket, click here. See below for an overview of all eight teams at the championships.
 

No. 8 Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks

 
Record: 34-8 overall (21-3 GNAC)
NCBWA National Ranking: #15
Distance Traveled to Cary, NC: 2,446 miles
 
NCAA Championships History
  • First NCAA Regional appearance
  • First West Region title and NCAA Championships appearance
  • 3-1 all-time record in NCAA postseason play
Road to Cary
  • Won the GNAC regular season to earn the top seed at the GNAC tournament
  • Swept Central Washington in the GNAC championships series to earn the automatic qualifier to NCAA regionals
  • Dropped a heartbreaker to Western Oregon 2-1 in the West Regional opener, but proceeded to win three-straight elimination games (3-2 over Azusa Pacific, 7-5 over WOU, 12-6 over WOU) in stunning fashion to claim the regional title
Team NCAA Top-30 Stats
  • 5th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.52)
  • 6th in walks allowed per nine innings (2.78)
  • 7th in WHIP (1.26)
  • 13th in walks (218)
  • 19th in stolen bases (81)
  • 25th in scoring (8.4 runs per game)
  • 29th in home runs (62)
  • 30th in runs (352)
  • 30th in ERA (4.40)
Players to Watch
Lineup
  • Grant Kerry, OF: NCBWA HM All-American, consensus First Team All-Region, GNAC Newcomer of the Year, .359 BA, 56 hits, 10 doubles, 11 HR, 49 RBI
  • Shawn Grandmont, 3B: consensus Second Team All-Region, First Team All-GNAC, .321 BA, five doubles, four triples, 10 HR, 22-24 in stolen bases, has broken the NNU single-season record for RBI with 58 and counting, 14th in nation in RBI, 22nd in nation in stolen bases
  • Ryan Dearing, OF: ABCA Second Team All-Region, Second Team All-GNAC, .342 BA, 50 runs scored, 52 hits, eight doubles, 38 walks, .477 on-base percentage, 24-28 in stolen bases, 10th in nation in walks, 13th in nation in stolen bases
  • John Gonzalez, 1B: HM All-GNAC, has broken NNU single-season record for home runs with 17 and counting, has hit 10 HR over his last 14 games, also eight doubles, 44 RBI, and 32 walks, 13th in nation in home runs
Pitchers
  • Kyle Ethridge, SP: consensus All-Region selection, First Team All-GNAC, 6-1 record, 3.39 ERA, 63.2 IP, 86 strikeouts, 16 walks, 37th in nation in strikeouts
  • Sasha Jabusch, SP: 4.25 ERA, 48.2 IP, 54 strikeouts, 11 walks, threw a complete game in an elimination victory over Azusa Pacific at the regional
  • Max Holtzclaw, RP: consensus First Team All-Region, First Team All-GNAC, 2.31 ERA five saves, 5-1 record, 23.1 IP, .183 opposing BA, 41 strikeouts, seven walks
  • Blake McFadden, RP: ABCA Second Team All-Region, Second Team All-GNAC, 1.98 ERA, .182 opposing BA, .88 WHIP, 4-0 record, 27.1 IP, 30 strikeouts, six walks
 

No. 1 Central Missouri Mules

 
Record: 43-6 overall (30-3 MIAA)
NCBWA National Ranking: #2
Distance Traveled to Cary, NC: 1,031 miles
 
NCAA Championships History
  • 31st NCAA Regional appearance
  • 19th regional title and NCAA Championships appearance
  • Two Division II Championships (1994, 2003)
  • 109-61 all-time record in NCAA postseason play
Road to Cary
  • Won the MIAA regular season title and went undefeated in the MIAA tournament to earn the automatic qualifying bid
  • Went 4-0 at the Midwest Regional to take the title on their home field
  • Current 13-game winning streak
Players to Watch
Lineup
  • Dusty Stroup, 3B: NCBWA Second Team All-American, consensus Central Region Player of the Year, MIAA Player of the Year, .405 BA, .838 slugging percentage, 56 runs scored, 75 hits, 18 doubles, 20 HR, 63 RBI, 21 walks
  • Erik Webb, OF: NCBWA Third Team All-American, consensus All-Region selection, First Team All-MIAA, .335 BA, 56 runs scored, 69 hits, 12 doubles, 15 HR, 52 RBI
  • Alex Madera, SS: consensus All-Region selection, First Team All-MIAA, .361 BA, 44 runs scored, 69 hits, six doubles, nine triples, 45 RBI
  • Josh Schumacher, OF: consensus All-Region selection, First Team All-MIAA, .422 BA, .517 on-base percentage, 53 runs scored, 73 hits, 16 doubles, seven HR, 37 RBI
Pitchers
  • Mason Green, SP: NCBWA Third Team All-American, consensus First Team All-Region, First Team All-MIAA, 2.55 ERA, 14-0 record, .186 opposing batting average, .93 WHIP, 91.2 IP, 108 strikeouts, 24 walks
  • Evan Rathburn, RP: First Team All-MIAA, 1.31 ERA, .160 opposing BA, .97 WHIP, nine saves, 20.2 IP, 22 strikeouts
 

No. 2 Seton Hill Griffins

 
Record: 38-6 overall (28-4 PSAC)
NCBWA National Ranking: #4
Distance Traveled to Cary, NC: 487 miles
 
NCAA Championships History
  • 10th NCAA Regional appearance
  • Second Atlantic Region title and NCAA Championships appearance
  • 16-18 all-time record in NCAA postseason play
Road to Cary
  • Won the PSAC East regular season title, but fell in the PSAC championship series to Bloomsburg
  • Earned an at-large bid to the Atlantic Regional with 35-6 record
  • Won all three games they played at the regional, outscoring opponents 28-10
Players to Watch
Lineup
  • Tommy Pellis, OF: consensus All-American selection (NCBWA Second Team, ABCA Third Team, D2CCA HM), consensus Atlantic Region Player of the Year, PSAC West Athlete of the Year, .371 BA, 53 runs scored, 53 hits, eight doubles, 14 HR, 42 RBI, 24 walks
  • Derek Orndorff, OF: consensus All-Region pick, First Team All-PSAC West, .367 BA, 53 runs scored, 47 hits, six doubles, 15 HR, 42 RBI, .797 slugging %, 22 walks, 18-21 in steals
  • Owen Sabol, SS: PSAC West Rookie of the Year, .357 BA, 45 runs scored, 46 hits, eight doubles, 26 RBI, 37 walks, .509 OBP, 22-28 in steals
Pitchers
  • Ben Vicini, SP: ABCA & D2CCA Second Team All-Region, 6-1 record, 4.12 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 54.2 IP, 67 strikeouts, nine walks
  • Bryan Nash, RP: 1-0 record, six saves, 15 relief appearances, 1.35 ERA, .95 WHIP, .176 opposing BA, 20.0 IP, 31 strikeouts, seven walks
 

No. 3 Angelo State Rams

 
Record: 42-7 overall (25-5 Lone Star)
NCBWA National Ranking: #10
Distance Traveled to Cary, NC: 1,438 miles
 
NCAA Championships History
  • Ninth NCAA Regional appearance
  • Fourth South Central Region title and NCAA Championships appearance
  • 24-19 all-time record in NCAA postseason play
Road to Cary
  • Finished second in the Lone Star Conference standings to reach the LSC tournament
  • Went 5-1 at the conference tournament to earn the automatic bid to the South Central Regional
  • Hosted the regional and had little trouble, taking down #1-ranked Colorado Mesa 5-2 and defeating West Texas A&M twice by a combined score of 28-6
Players to Watch
Lineup
  • Josh Elvir, OF: consensus All-American selection (First Team ABCA), consensus First Team All-Region, Lone Star Conference Player of the Year, .397 BA, 79 runs scored, 75 hits, 21 doubles, four triples, 13 HR, 58 RBI, 44 walks, .522 OBP, 16-20 on steals
  • Aaron Walters, UT: First Team NCBWA All-American, Second Team ABCA All-American, consensus First Team All-Region, First Team All-LSC, .415 BA, 51 runs scored, 71 hits, 15 doubles, nine HR, 65 RBI, 34 walks, .520 OBP
  • Jordan Williams, 3B: consensus Second Team All-Region, First Team All-LSC, .374 BA, 50 runs scored, 70 hits, 13 doubles, 50 RBI, 36 walks
Pitchers
  • Trent Baker, SP: consensus First Team All-American, NCBWA South Central Region Pitcher of the Year, First Team ABCA All-Region, LSC Pitcher of the Year, 13-1 record, 96.1 IP, 2.06 ERA, .97 WHIP, four complete games, three shutouts, 110 strikeouts, 16 walks
  • Benjamin Elder, SP: ABCA First Team All-Region, NCBWA Second Team All-Region, First Team All-LSC, 8-1 record, 76.0 IP, 2.96 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 73 strikeouts, 19 walks
 

No. 4 Trevecca Nazarene Trojans

 
Record: 36-11 overall (23-5 Great Midwest)
NCBWA National Ranking: #21
Distance Traveled to Cary, NC: 528 miles
 
NCAA Championships History
  • First NCAA Regional appearance
  • First Midwest Region title and NCAA Championships appearance
  • 4-1 all-time record in NCAA postseason play
Road to Cary
  • Won the GMAC regular season to earn the top seed at the GMAC tournament
  • Swept four games in the tournament to claim their fourth GMAC championships crown, with this being the first time that they have won the title with the GMAC having an automatic qualifying bid
  • Won their first three games at the Midwest Regional before falling to Davenport 6-2 in the first game of the final
  • Came back to outscore Davenport 11-9 in a winner-take-all championship to clinch a spot in the Championships
Players to Watch
Lineup
  • Braden Odom, OF: D2CCA Second Team All-Region, NCBWA Second Team All-Region, First Team All-GMAC, .361 BA, 47 runs scored, 69 hits, 12 doubles, five triple, eight HR, 51 RBI, 20 walks, 15-17 in steals
  • Ethan Harrison, OF: Second Team All-GMAC, .351 BA, 42 runs scored, 54 hits, 10 doubles, 35 RBI, 23 walks
Pitchers
  • Jay Benard, RP: D2CCA Second Team All-American, consensus All-Region selection, First Team All-GMAC, 16 appearances, nine saves, 26.0 IP, 1.04 ERA, 27 strikeouts, six walks
  • Tiger Cox, RP: D2CCA First Team All-Region, First Team All-GMAC, 26 appearances, 5-0 record, three saves, 35.2 IP, 3.53 ERA, 23 strikeouts, seven walks
 

No. 5 Tampa Spartans

 
Record: 20-4 overall (15-3 Sunshine State)
NCBWA National Ranking: #13
Distance Traveled to Cary, NC: 674 miles
 
NCAA Championships History
  • 35th NCAA Regional appearance
  • 19th South Region title and NCAA Championships appearance
  • Eight National Championships (1992, 1993, 1998, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2019)
  • Two Runner-Up finishes (1987, 2003)
  • 131-61 all-time record in NCAA postseason play
Road to Cary
  • Won the Sunshine State Conference regular season title to earn the automatic qualifying bid to regionals (no conference tournament)
  • Rolled through the South Regional, going 4-0 and outscoring opponents 44-27, including a pair of wins over NCBWA #3-ranked West Florida
Players to Watch
Lineup
  • E.J. Cumbo, OF: NCBWA & ABCA Second Team All-Region, First Team All-SSC, .409 BA, 29 runs scored, 38 hits, eight doubles, seven HR, 24 RBI
  • Nicholas Winkelmeyer, 2B: NCBWA Second Team All-Region, First Team All-SSC, .324 BA, 22 hits, four doubles, 15 walks
Pitchers
  • Jordan Leasure, RP: consensus All-American (First Team ABCA & D2CCA), consensus First Team All-Region, SSC Pitcher of the Year, 14 appearances, 32.1 IP, 2-1 record, five saves, 1.11 ERA, 49 strikeouts, four walks
  • Michael Paul, SP: consensus Second Team All-Region selection, First Team All-SSC, 7-0 record in eight starts, 47.0 IP, 3.83 ERA, 43 strikeouts, 11 walks
  • Eric Linder, SP: ABCA Second Team All-Region, Second Team All-SSC, 5-1 record in six starts, one save, 42.0 IP, 1.93 ERA, 37 strikeouts, 16 walks
 

No. 6 Wingate Bulldogs

 
Record: 34-12 overall (20-10 South Atlantic)
NCBWA National Ranking: #16
Distance Traveled to Cary, NC: 130 miles
 
NCAA Championships History
  • Eighth NCAA Regional appearance
  • First Southeast Region title and NCAA Championships appearance
  • 9-14 all-time record in NCAA postseason play
Road to Cary
  • Finished fourth in the South Atlantic Conference standings, reaching the conference tournament
  • Lost their second game at the tourney, but rattled off three-straight victories, including a win over 7th-ranked Catawba, to claim the title and the automatic qualifying bid to regionals
  • Swept their four games at the Southeast Regional, outscoring opponents 40-17, including 30-11 in two wins over #11 Mount Olive
Players to Watch
Lineup
  • McCann Mellett, 2B: Honorable Mention All-SAC, .350 BA, 57 runs scored, 56 hits, 15 doubles, 11 HR, 47 RBI, 38 walks, .495 OBP
  • Logan McNeely, C: Honorable Mention All-SAC, .338 BA, 30 runs scored, 44 hits, 16 doubles, four HR, 44 RBI, 23 walks
  • Michael Dansky, SS: Honorable Mention All-SAC, .325 BA, 33 runs scored, 41 hits, five doubles, six HR, 26 RBI, 24 walks
Pitchers
  • Brody McCullough, RP: ABCA Third Team All-American, ABCA First Team All-Region, D2CCA Second Team All-Region, First Team All-SAC, 18 appearances, four starts, 6-2 record, four saves, 55.1 IP, 2.11 ERA, .196 opposing BA, 66 strikeouts, 20 walks
  • Hunter Dula, UT/SP: D2CCA Second Team All-Region, Second Team All-SAC, 7-1 record, four complete games, 56.2 IP, 2.86 ERA, 64 strikeouts, 19 walks, also .268 BA, eight doubles, eight HR, 35 RBI from the plate
 

No. 7 Southern New Hampshire Penmen

 
Record: 28-7 overall (19-5 Northeast-10)
NCBWA National Ranking: #14
Distance Traveled to Cary, NC: 752 miles
 
NCAA Championships History
  • Ninth NCAA Regional appearance (all consecutive since 2012)
  • Third East Region title and NCAA Championships appearance
  • 27-18 all-time record in NCAA postseason play
Road to Cary
  • Won the NE-10 regular season title
  • Went 5-1 at the NE-10 championships, including four-straight victories to claim the title and the automatic qualifying bid
  • Won their first three games of the East Regional with ease before falling to Molloy 8-3 in the first game of the championship
  • Bounced back to defeat Molloy 9-2 to advance to Cary
Players to Watch
Lineup
  • Dakota Mulcay, DH: ABCA Third Team All-American, consensus First Team All-Region selection, First Team All-NE10, .349 BA, 40 runs scored, 44 hits, 11 doubles, 14 HR, 48 RBI, 24 walks, .770 slugging %
  • Marcus Chavez, C: ABCA Second Team All-Region, Second Team All-NE10, .417 BA, 45 runs scored, 53 hits, 11 doubles, five HR, 40 RBI, 28 walks, .537 OBP
Pitchers
  • Nick Artymowicz, SP: D2CCA Honorable Mention All-American, consensus First Team All-Region selection, NE-10 Northeast Player of the Year, 10 appearances, eight starts, 8-2 record, 46.1 IP, 2.33 ERA, 68 strikeouts, 27 walks
  • Wesley Tobin, SP: consensus All-Region selection (First Team ABCA & D2CCA), First Team All-NE10, seven starts, 4-1 record, four complete games, 51.2 IP, 2.09 ERA, 66 strikeouts, 19 walks
  • Alex Gomes, SP: ABCA Second Team All-Region, Second Team All-NE10, nine starts, 6-0 record, 67.1 IP, 2.54 ERA, 54 strikeouts, 20 walks
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