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2025 GNAC Baseball Tournament Preview

GNAC Tournament Preview 2025
The 2025 Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Baseball Tournament, scheduled for May 8-9 in Ellensburg, Washington, will feature a double-elimination competition hosted by Central Washington University at the CWU Baseball Field. The top three teams by regular-season win percentage—the No. 1 Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks, No. 2 Montana State Billings Yellowjackets, and No. 3 Central Washington Wildcats—will compete for the conference championship. While the GNAC champion no longer receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament due to an offseason rule change, the tournament remains a critical showcase for regional recognition and postseason aspirations.

Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks (38-12, 27-5 GNAC)

The Nighthawks enter as the top seed with a .309 team batting average and a pitching staff allowing 4.8 runs per game. They went 8-0 against Central Washington and split 4-4 with Montana State Billings in the regular season.

Key Hitters

  • Kaleb Karpstein: .406 AVG, 4 HR, 36 RBI, .506 OBP
  • Nin Burns II: .356 AVG, 11 HR, 47 RBI, 15 SB
  • Adrian Arechiga: .316 AVG, 24 SB, 16 2B
  • Bryan Rojas: .371 AVG, 6 HR, 37 RBI, 17 2B
  • Gavin Brubaker: .335 AVG, 4 HR, 49 RBI, 12 SB
Karpstein’s .406 average leads a dynamic offense. Burns II and Rojas deliver power, while Arechiga and Brubaker add speed and extra-base hits, positioning the Nighthawks to exploit the CWU field’s scoring potential.

Key Pitchers

  • SP Cole Calnon: 9-0, 1.78 ERA, 76.0 IP, 57 SO, 8 CG
  • SP Ernesto Lugo-Canchola: 9-0, 2.27 ERA, 67.1 IP, 80 SO
  • RP Wade Duncan: 4-1, 2.28 ERA, 23.2 IP, 3 SV
  • RP Jonathan Zayas: 3-0, 2.51 ERA, 28.2 IP, 1 SV
Calnon and Lugo-Canchola, both undefeated with sub-2.30 ERAs, anchor a formidable rotation. Duncan and Zayas provide reliable late-inning options from the bullpen.

Montana State Billings Yellowjackets (30-18, 21-11 GNAC)

The Yellowjackets match Northwest Nazarene’s .309 team batting average and allow 5.6 runs per game. They hold a 6-2 regular-season edge over Central Washington, including a 3-1 series win in May, and split 4-4 with Northwest Nazarene.

Key Hitters

  • Jack Nehler: .382 AVG, 32 RBI, 8 2B
  • Zack Blaszak: .377 AVG, 4 HR, 15 SB
  • Kaden Kirshenbaum: .346 AVG, 8 HR, 49 RBI
  • Ryan Jeffrey: .339 AVG, 5 HR, 15 2B
  • Bodee Wright: .333 AVG, 3 HR, 12 SB
Nehler and Blaszak drive the offense with high averages and speed. Kirshenbaum’s power and Jeffrey’s consistency add depth, ready to capitalize on the high-scoring CWU Baseball Field.

Key Pitchers

  • SP Jackson Betancourt: 4-3, 3.43 ERA, 63.0 IP, 54 SO
  • SP Sam Coxen: 7-2, 3.81 ERA, 52.0 IP, 46 SO
  • RP Hayden Mullins: 4-3, 2.41 ERA, 41.0 IP, 38 SO
  • RP Andy Evans: 1-4, 3.86 ERA, 28.0 IP, 26 SO
Betancourt and Coxen form a solid rotation foundation. Mullins’ 2.41 ERA and Evans’ experience strengthen the bullpen for crucial moments.

Central Washington Wildcats (24-24, 15-17 GNAC)

The host Wildcats, with a .294 team batting average and 6.7 runs allowed per game, benefit from playing at their home field in Ellensburg. They went 0-8 against Northwest Nazarene and 2-6 against Montana State Billings in the regular season.

Key Hitters

  • Brandham Ponce: .364 AVG, 18 HR, 62 RBI
  • Marcus Manzardo: .325 AVG, 2 HR, 30 RBI
  • Ben Leid: .315 AVG, 7 HR, 31 RBI
  • Andrew Sharp: .301 AVG, 1 HR, 8 2B
  • Logan Blank: .294 AVG, 0 HR, 6 2B
Ponce leads the GNAC with 18 home runs and 62 RBIs, anchoring the offense. Manzardo, Leid, Sharp, and Blank provide consistent support, poised to thrive in their home park.

Key Pitchers

  • SP Daniel Charron: 3-5, 5.60 ERA, 70.2 IP, 49 SO
  • SP Jonathan Garza II: 4-3, 6.11 ERA, 63.1 IP, 58 SO
  • RP Kellen Berg: 1-1, 5.86 ERA, 27.2 IP, 3 SV
  • RP Gabe Bustamante: 2-2, 3.38 ERA, 16.0 IP, 1 SV
Charron and Garza II log significant innings but struggle with run prevention. Bustamante and Berg, with Berg’s 3 saves, offer stability in relief roles.

Tournament Site

The CWU Baseball Field, hosting the tournament, has averaged 14.90 runs per game this season, 1.52 runs more than the next closest GNAC venue. With power hitters like Brandham Ponce (18 HR), Nin Burns II (11 HR), and Kaden Kirshenbaum (8 HR) in the lineups, the venue’s high-scoring nature could lead to offensive outbursts throughout the event.

Format

The GNAC Championships qualify the top three teams based on regular-season win percentage. Day one (May 8) consists of a round-robin, with each team playing the others once. On day two (May 9), the format depends on round-robin outcomes:
  • If teams finish 2-0, 1-1, and 0-2, the 0-2 team is eliminated, and the 2-0 and 1-1 teams compete for the championship in one or two games to complete the double-elimination format.
  • If all teams are tied at 1-1, the No. 1 seed advances to the championship game, while the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds play an elimination game, with the winner facing the No. 1 seed.

Schedule

Thursday, May 8
  • Game 1: 10:00 AM PT – Montana State Billings vs. Central Washington
  • Game 2: 1:00 PM PT – Northwest Nazarene vs. Central Washington
  • Game 3: 4:00 PM PT – Northwest Nazarene vs. Montana State Billings
Friday, May 9 (If Three Teams Tied at 1-1)
  • Game 4: 12:00 PM PT – No. 2 Seed vs. No. 3 Seed
  • Game 5: 3:00 PM PT – No. 1 Seed vs. Winner of Game 4
Friday, May 9 (If Two Teams Remain)
  • Game 4: 12:00 PM PT – 2-0 Team vs. 1-1 Team
  • Game 5: 3:00 PM PT (if necessary) – Same teams as Game 4, 30 minutes after Game 4

Viewing and Tickets

The 2025 GNAC Baseball Tournament at CWU Baseball Field in Ellensburg will highlight top talent, with the high-scoring venue amplifying the impact of players like Ponce, Karpstein, and Nehler. Northwest Nazarene’s pitching depth, Montana State Billings’ balanced attack, and Central Washington’s home-field advantage will shape the competition for the GNAC title. Follow the action on May 8-9 to see who emerges as champion.

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