ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Coming down to the final game of the tournament, No. 2-seeded Western Oregon outlasted No. 1-seeded Montana State Billings for an 8-4 win to claim the 2018 GNAC Championship title.
The win gives the Wolves four tournament championships in the last six season and the first back-to-back occurrence since the tourney's inception in 2013.
Western Oregon's
Jacob Martinez was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after finishing the tournament by going 9-for-16 with two RBI and a .750 on-base percentage as the leadoff hitter.
| GNAC Championship History |
| Year |
Champion |
Runner-Up |
| 2018 |
Western Oregon |
MSU Billings |
| 2017 |
Western Oregon |
Northwest Nazarene |
| 2016 |
Northwest Nazarene |
Western Oregon |
| 2015 |
Western Oregon |
Northwest Nazarene |
| 2014 |
Central Washington |
Western Oregon |
| 2013 |
Western Oregon |
Central Washington |
Entering the final game averaging 11.5 runs per game in the tournament, MSUB was limited to just four runs on six hits as the Wolves'
Jacob Fricke tossed nine innings for his first complete game of the year.
After falling to the Yellowjackets earlier in the day with a 6-4 defeat, Western Oregon rebounded for 13 hits and seven walks. Montana State Billings finishes the year 32-18 overall while the Wolves improve to 27-21.
Western Oregon opened the game on a high note after putting up five runs in the first inning. The five RBI came off the bat of five different players.
Montana State Billings scratched back a couple of runs in the 2nd and 3rd innings.
Hayden Humphrey drove in his first RBI of the game in the top of the 2nd before
Wyatt Setian drilled his fourth home run of the year over the right-field fence in the 3rd.
Kade Hall became the Yellowjackets' all-time hits leader after drilling the 75th of his career in that same inning.
With two outs in the 6th inning,
Kaleo Johnson nailed his fifth home run of the tournament after driving a solo shot to left field to cut Western Oregon's advantage 5-3.
Connor McCord notched his sixth RBI of the tournament and added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly to extend WOU's advantage to 6-3.
Jared McDonald put the contest to rest after lining a two-RBI single down the right-base line to give the Wolves an 8-3 lead.
The Yellowjackets'
Ryan Myers pulled a run back in the top of the 9th after smashing a solo shot to right field. He finished the tournament with five home runs.
