PACWEST SOFTBALL WEEKLY NOTEBOOK

IRVINE, Calif. -- The five PacWest teams that participated in the 2018 Desert Stinger in Las Vegas recorded a combined record of 12-13 with both Concordia and Hawai`i Hilo posting 4-1 records.

The PacWest took out some of the best teams in the West Region on Sunday. Academy of Art recorded a 7-0 victory over the GNAC’s regular season defending champion Central Washington. Concordia defeated the GNAC’s defending tournament champion 7-6. Then the Eagles also took out preseason CCAA favorite Cal State Monterey Bay, 3-1. Concordia also defeated Cal State Dominguez Hills and beat Western Oregon 12-0 with a no-hitter by Callie Nunes.

Bailey Gaspar hit three home runs on Sunday to help the Vulcans earn a split against Sonoma State and Saint Martin’s. She joined Concordia’s Nunes and Ryann Ferguson on the Desert Stinger All-Tournament Team. Hawai`i Hilo also had wins over SF State, Concordia (Ore.), and Eastern New Mexico.

Academy of Art and Azusa Pacific both went 2-3 at the Desert Stinger. Along with the win over Central Washington, the Urban Knights also defeated San Francisco State. The Cougars earned their wins against Stanislaus State and Montana State Billings before finishing the tournament with a narrow loss to UC San Diego, 11-10.

Dixie State opened its season with a sweep against Northwest Nazarene, while Biola got a sweep against La Sierra. California Baptist earned a split against Cal State San Marcos.

Concordia, Dixie State and California Baptist all have big games in the second week against in-region non-conference opponents at the Dixie State Easton Classic. The tournament features some of the best teams in both the West and South Central Regions. The RMAC defending champion Colorado Mesa will take on Concordia and California Baptist on Saturday.

Colorado Mines finished runner-up in the RMAC and will face Concordia on Saturday before taking on Dixie State on Sunday. The GNAC’s tournament champion from 2017, Western Washington, will face Dixie State on Thursday and California Baptist on Saturday. Hawai`i Hilo will also be at Dixie State’s tournament after a double-header on Tuesday against Montana State Billings. The Vulcans will play against both Colorado Mesa and Western Wash.

Academy of Art will play double-headers against Cal State East Bay, Stanislaus State and Saint Martin’s this week. The Urban Knights will have played 11 games against West Region opponents just two weeks into the season.

Weekly Awards for the week of Jan. 29- Feb. 4

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ryann Ferguson, Concordia
OF, Sr., 5-7 -- Yorba Linda, Calif.
Ferguson dominated the Desert Stinger with her bat, recording a .667 batting average over five games at the season-opening tournament. The senior hit a home run in each of the first four games before hitting three doubles in the tournament finale. She had 12 hits, 10 RBIs and five runs to go along with her seven extra-base hits. Ferguson had three hits in each of the final three games, including a 6-for-8 performance on the final day to defeat the defending GNAC Champion Western Washington and defending CCAA Champion Cal State Monterey Bay.
 
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Callie Nunes, Concordia
P, Fr., 5-5 -- Modesto, Calif.
Nunes was virtually untouchable in her collegiate debut weekend at the Desert Stinger. The freshman tossed a no-hitter against Western Oregon, striking out eight batters over five innings for a 12-0 victory. Nunes also earned the win against preseason CCAA favorite Cal State Monterey Bay, throwing seven frames with just one earned run and seven strikeouts. The lone run came on a solo home run, which was the only run she allowed in four outings. The freshman made two relief appearances to earn two saves. She had 20 strikeouts in 13.2 innings.
 
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Brooke Larsen, Academy of Art
P, Fr., 5-6 -- Sacramento, Calif.
Larsen threw 17 innings and struck out 19 batters in her collegiate debut weekend at the Desert Stinger. The freshman only allowed three runs. Larsen recorded her best game against perennial regional power Central Washington with a complete-game shutout, striking out nine batters en route to a 7-0 victory that wrapped up the tournament. Against the tournament champion, Chico State, Larsen threw a complete game with seven strikeouts and only one earned run allowed. She also recorded two singles at the plate.