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| Daniel Dillard |
The Wolves (27-11, 17-3) posted 13-1 and 5-1 road victories to extend their win streak to 11 games and open up a one-game lead over second-place Saint Martin's in the conference race.
With a five-game edge in the loss column, WOU needs just eight wins in its last 12 contests to clinch its 10th straight conference title. The Wolves travel to Ellensburg this weekend for a four-game series before finishing their regular-season with eight consecutive home games.
Dillard had four hits in seven at bats Sunday and finished the series with nine in 15 at bats. He had four doubles and two home runs and drove in 12 runs in the four-game set.
In Sunday's opener, Dillard had three hits and plated four runs. He homered to give WOU a quick 2-0 lead in the first, then capped the scoring in the eighth with a two-run double.
The Wolves had three circuit blasts in the contest as catcher Michael Chiarelli went deep with a man on board in the third and Grant Glover hit a grand slam during a six-run sixth inning.
In the second contest, WOU struck for five runs in the first two innings. Dillard had a RBI double and Griffin Boyd had a two-run single in the first inning.
In the second, Steve Ockerman stole home and Aaron Headrick had a RBI single.
Meanwhile, the Wolf pitching staff limited MSU Billings (16-23, 7-17) to 11 hits in the twinbill. Colby Robison led the way with three in seven at bats.
Grady Wood (5-4) pitched a four-hitter in the opener, striking out 11 and not walking a batter.
In the second game, Kirk :Lind (4-1), who leads the GNAC with a 1.32 earned run average and a .190 opponent batting average, scattered seven hits over 5 2/3 innings and struck out six.
Western Oregon Blasts Yellowjackets
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| Dillard |
The Wolves (25-11, 15-3) then used an eight-run fifth inning to win the nightcap 11-5 and complete the sweep.
Ward (6-3) walked two and fanned eight while allowing just five hits. MSUB finally broke through in the eighth against reliever Brad Carter scoring on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Colby Robison.
Daniel Dillard had a huge first game for the Wolves, going four for four and driving in six runs. He doubled and scored the game's first run in the opening frame on a single by Bo Folkinga.
He had a sacrifice fly in WOU's three-run second. In the seventh he singled for two runs and then homered for three runs in the ninth.
The Wolves had a dozen hits, including two each by Folkinga and shortstop Josh Solemsaas. Jeff Ridgeway had two of MSUB's seven safeties.
In the second game, Western Oregon combined seven hits (by seven different players), eight walks, three hit batters and two MSUB errors for their 11 runs.
Dillard earned his seventh RBI of the day with a third-inning single. Meanwhile, Andre Royal drove in three runs with a second-inning single and a fifth inning fielder's choice.
Cam Nobles recorded his fifth win against two losses allowing six hits and three runs, one earned in six innings. MSUB had 10 hits, two each by Chris Stine, Jordan Kessler and Robison.
Central Washington 11-2, Saint Martin's 8-3
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| Kelly Gau |
SMU (24-19, 20-8), however, won the second game 3-2 to win the series 3-1 and take seven of nine games on the season with the Wildcats.
The Saints had eight boots in the first game leading to eight unearned runs. CWU (11-27, 4-20) had 10 hits - three by catcher David Leid and two each by shortstop Kelly Gau and DH Derrick Webb.
Jake Millbauer (2-4) pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowing 11 hits and five runs (three earned) to get the win.
In the second game, Saint Martin's snapped a 1-1 tie in the sixth, scoring twice as Colt Savage was hit with a pitch with the bases loaded and Andrew Elke hit a sacrifice fly.
Elke and Kyle Baskett each had two hits for the Saints. Nate O'Bryan (5-3) pitched six innings allowing five hits and one unearned run before Kaleb Wilson finished up the seventh and received his 11th save of the season.
Gau and Ethan Sterkel each had two hits for the Wildcats. Gau finished the series with nine hits in 16 at bats and scored five of CWU's 17 runs.
Mitchell, DeBoer Pitch Saints Past Wildcats
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| Mitchell | DeBoer |
The Saints (23-18, 19-7) scored twice in the sixth inning of the opener to overcome a 1-0 deficit, going ahead on a single by Cody Brooks before adding three more runs in the eighth.
Aaron Johnson, Travis Jones and Bobby Twedt each had two hits as Saint Martin's doubled CWU's first-game hit total (10-5).
Central leadoff hitter Kelly Gau had three of the Wildcats' hits off of Mitchell (6-2) , including a single in the opening frame when he scored on a double by Derrick Webb.
DeBoer (5-2) scattered nine hits in the seven-inning second game, including two by Gau who completed the twinbill with five hits in eight at bats. Meanwhile, the Saints ripped four CWU pitchers for 15.
Josh Grenier had three and Kyle Baskett and Andrew Elke had two apiece for Saint Martin's, which overcame a 2-1 deficit by scoring seven runs in the fourth. The inning featured eight Saint hits.
Both teams had home runs in the contest. Blaine Evans hit a solo shot for SMU in the sixth. Ethan Sterkel led off the second with a blast to get the Wildcats (10-26, 3-19) on the board.
The two wins gives Saint Martin's a one-game lead over Western Oregon in the conference race, though the Wolves, who have played 10 fewer games, still have a comfortable 81 percentage point lead for first place over the Saints.
Western Oregon Sweeps Series With SMU
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| Headrick |
WOU is now on top in the GNAC by 104 percentage points (.812 to .708) and has four fewer losses. The Saints have played eight more games.
Headrick had half of WOU's extra base hits in the series, doubling four times.
In Monday's first game, he doubled in the first to key a two-run frame, eventually scoring on a sacrifice fly by Bo Folkinga. He walked and score on a sacrifice fly by Jacob Whisler in the third.
In the sixth he doubled for a run and in the ninth he singled and later scored on a two-run double by Andre Royal figuring in all four of WOU's scoring frames.
Starter Grady Wood went 7 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and three runs. Only one was earned as Wood leveled his record at 4-4.
In the second game, Kirk Lind (3-1) pitched a six-hitter for the Wolves. He didn't walk a batter and fanned eight.
Lind currently leads the GNAC with a 1.27 earned run average. Prior to Monday's complete-game effort, he didn't have enough innings to qualify but now does.
Saint Martin's only two runs off Lind came in the first on a single by Aaron Johnson and a hit batter with the bases loaded. But, after giving up four hits, Lind only allowed two the rest of the way.
Headrick tied the game in the second with a two-run single. WOU then took the lead in the third scoring runs on a double by catcher Michael Chiarelli, a passed ball and a wild pitch.
The Wolves added insurance runs in the fifth on an error and in the sixth on a two-run single by Chiarelli.
Sunday, Apr. 17
Western Oregon Sweeps Saint Martin's
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| Griffin Boyd |
The Wolves (21-11, 11-3) now lead the Saints (21-16, 17-5) in percentage by a .786 to .773 margin, though SMU is still two ahead in the games-behind column.
In the first game, WOU overcame a 2-0 third inning deficit scoring three runs in the fourth, two in the eighth and one in the ninth. Third baseman Griffin Boyd gave the Wolves a 3-2 lead with a third-inning single.
Boyd also had an RBI in Western Oregon's two-run eighth inning. WOU added another run in the inning on a bases loaded walk to Andre Royal, then made it 6-2 in the ninth scoring on a wild pitch.
Saint Martin's got one back in their half of the ninth on a walk to Bobby Twedt before reliever Brad Carter came on to get the final two hitters and leave the bases full saving the game for starter Michael Ward (5-3), who allowed eight hits and two runs in seven frames.
WOU won the second game in extra innings as the contest, which was scheduled for seven, was tied 2-2 at the end of regulation.
The Wolves finally got the decisive runs in the ninth, combining four hits, a walk and two SMU errors for three runs. DH Aaron Headrick's RBI single broke the tie.
Western Oregon then added insurance runs on a sacrifice fly by catcher Michael Chiarelli and on a single by Boyd.
Starter Cam Nobles pitched eight innings to earn his fourth win in six decisions. Nobles allowed seven hits and two runs before Travis Bradshaw came on to get a save.
On the day, Kyle Basket and Travis Jones led SMU with three hits each. Jones had two of the Saints' four RBI.
Saturday, Apr. 16
MSUB Sweeps, CWU Turns Triple Play
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| Trevor Wilson |
Central Washington turned a 5-4-3 triple play, but was shutout for the second straight day by Seattle University in a non-conference game at Bannerwood Park in Bellevue.
Meanwhile, Montana State Billings (16-19, 7-13) outlasted Northwest Nazarene 4-3 in 13 innings in the opening game of a conference doubleheader at Dehler Park in Billings. The Yellowjackets also won the second game 2-1.
The longest game in GNAC history occurred earlier this spring in Monmouth when Western Oregon defeated Central Washington in 14 innings. Four other games have previously lasted 13 innings.
Trevor Wilson homered with one out in the bottom of the 13th to end the 3 hour, 38 minute contest and earn Brian Howe his second win in two decisions. Howe pitched the final five innings, allowing three innings and one run.
MSUB led 2-0 until the eighth when Northwest Nazarene (27-13, 12-12) tied it on a RBI single by Derek Bettinson and a sacrifice fly by Ryan VanBeek.
Both teams then scored in the ninth; NNU on a single by Cameron Louie, MSUB on a one-base hit by Austin Rue.
Both starters lasted eight innings and each gave up seven hits. The Crusaders' Zeb Sneed allowed three runs and fanned 10, while MSUB's Zachary Smith was charged with two runs and fanned seven.
In the second game, MSUB scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh on a wild pitch to complete the sweep.
Colby Robison led off the inning with a triple and after a hit batter and intentional walk loaded the bases, the 'Jacket shortstop scored when pinch-hitter Sam Kinzeler struck out and reached base on a wild pitch.
Robison also scored in the second inning. After reaching on an infield hit with one out, he advanced on a wild pitch and ground out and came home on a single by Wilson.
NNU got the equalizer in the fifth as Zach Hibbard doubled and scored on a single by Louie.
Both pitchers went the distance. Brian Hutchings gave up seven hits and fanned six in earning his fourth win against three losses. Charles Pollock pitched a four-hitter, but was the tough luck loser dropping to 4-3.
Seattle University 5, Central Washington 0
Five Seattle University pitchers combined to limit Central Washington (10-24) to five hits - four singles and a leadoff double by Brandon Wang in the first inning - in a 5-0 shutout.
In the bottom of the first after the first two hitters reached on a single and hit batter, Josh Kalalau grounded to third where CWU's Glen Reser started a 5 to 4 (Wang) to 3 (Kris Henderson) triple play.
Kalalau had a little more luck in his next at bat homering with a man on board to give Seattle a 3-0 lead. The Redhawks also scored single runs in the third, seventh and eighth.
Starter Arlo Evasick gave up just four hits in six innings to earn his first win in four decisions as Seattle improved to 14-15, dropping the Wildcats to 10-24.
Friday, Apr. 15
Northwest Nazarene Sweeps MSUB
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| Bettinson |
The Crusaders won the opener by scoring four runs in the ninth to break a 3-3 tie. Ty Windall's RBI single drove in Zach Hibbard with the go-ahead run and then Bettinson's three-run home run broke it open.
VanBeek had a two-run single in the sixth and a sacrifice fly in the eighth to account for NNU's first three runs. Relievers Kalen Hruza (4-0) and Ryan Brown earned the win and save, respectively.
NNU starting centerfielder Sean McDonald moved to the mound in the second game and walked one and fanned three in lowering his ERA to a GNAC-leading 1.85.
The Crusaders scored three runs in the fourth, two on a single by catcher Justin Henry and one on a sacrifice fly by McDonald before adding three more in the sixth, the first on an infield single by Hibbard.
Bettinson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and VanBeek walked with the bases loaded to force in the final two runs.
Windall stole two bases in the first game to increase his season total to 34, but was caught in the first inning of the second game snapping a string of 37 consecutive steals without being caught.
MSUB had 13 hits in the twinbill, including a two-run home run in the fourth inning of the first game by Kevin Zukaitis to give MSUB an early 2-0 lead. Left fielder Chris Stine and centerfielder Jeff Ridgeway each had three hits on the day.
Central Washington Blanked by Redhawks
Doug Kincaid drove in the game's only runs as Division I Seattle University blanked Central Washington 3-0 Friday in a non-conference game at Bannerwood Park in Bellevue.
It was the first game between the two universities in exactly 25 years. The two-game series continues Saturday with another single game.
Kincaid had a RBI double in the fourth and a two-run double in the sixth to account for all three runs off CWU starter Brandon Rohde, who allowed just four hits in six innings.
Brandon Kizer limited Central to three hits in 7 1/3 innings in winning his fifth game against two losses. Kizer didn't walk a batter and struck out four. Conor Spink came on to get the final five outs to earn a save.
Wildcats Sweep Corban 5-4 in 10, 22-2
Central Washington banged out 35 hits and was not charged with an error in sweeping a non-conference doubleheader from Corban 5-4 and 22-2 Thursday at Salem.
The Wildcats (10-22), who won the opener in the 10th inning on a one-out single by third baseman Glen Reser, earned their first doubleheader sweep of the season.
Reser drove in catcher David Leid who had led off the inning with a single and moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Brady Kincannon. The hit made a winner of Mike Miller, who allowed just two hits and no runs in three innings of relief.
CWU trailed 4-3 in the contest before tying the game in the eighth on ground out by Reser.
In the second game, the suspense was taken out early as the Wildcats scored in the first six innings and twice (in the second and fourth) plated seven runs.
Central had 25 hits in the contest as Kelly Gau came off the bench to lead the way with four. Kris Henderson had four RBI. Palmer Brown pitched the first four innings allowing five hits and two runs to get the win and level his record at 2-2.
Baseball: Saints Extend Lead To Four Games
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| Kaleb Wilson |
The Saints (21-14, 17-3) will take a four-game lead over nine-time defending champion Western Oregon (9-3 in the GNAC) into their key four-game series this coming weekend at Lacey.
Wilson pitched the final three innings of the second game to register his ninth save of the season, the second highest total in GNAC history. Only Nick Patee who had 11 for Northwest Nazarene in 2005 has had more.
Casey Mitchell (5-1) and Nate O'Bryan (4-2) were the winning pitchers for the Saints. In the opener, Mitchell allowed just six hits and one run in 6 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out five.
SMU never trailed after scoring on a run down play in the second inning. The Saints added three runs in the third on RBI singles by Blaine Evans, Johnson and Travis Jones and added three insurance runs in the ninth, two on a home run by Johnson.
In the second game, Josh Grenier and Bobby Twedt had two hits each and Grenier and Cody Brooks each had a pair of RBIs to lead Saint Martin's.
O'Bryan threw four innings allowing seven hits and three runs before Wilson took over.
Twedt and MSUB DH Jordan Kessler both hit safely in each contest to extend their respective hitting streaks to 10 games. Kessler finished the twinbill with four hits in seven at bats.
SMU leadoff hitter Andrew Elke scored four runs and stole three bases in the doubleheader and is now 22 of 22 on stolen bases this season. The two losses dropped MSUB to 14-17, including 5-11 in the GNAC.
Baseball: Saints Sweep To Extend League Lead
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| Andrew Elke |
Saint Martin's (19-14, 15-3) then rallied for three runs in the seventh inning in the nightcap to extend its lead over second-place Western Oregon (9-3 in the GNAC) to three games with a 6-5 win.
The Saints play two more games with MSUB Monday before hosting WOU for a key four-game series this coming weekend.
Among Elke's first-game hits was a RBI single in the second to snap a 2-2 tie and put the Saints on top for good. SMU scored four runs in the inning including one on a RBI single by Zach Leonard prior to Elke's hit.
After Elke's hit, the Saints got runs on a bases loaded walk to Aaron Johnson and a sacrifice fly by Trevor Jones to go ahead 5-2. SMU eventually extended its lead to 9-3 before the Yellowjackets rallied for a run in the seventh and two in the eighth.
In addition to Elke, SMU was led by DH Blaine Evans with two hits. The Saints also benefited from 10 bases on balls by three MSUB pitchers.
DH Jordan Kessler had three hits for the Yellowjackets. Jeff Ridgeway, Colby Robison, Sam Kinzeler and Andrew Ballinger had two hits each.
In the second game, MSUB built a 5-1 lead through three innings. Dillon Ness drove in two of the runs in the second inning with a single.
Saint Martin's began its comeback in the fifth as Elke grounded out to plate a run. Josh Grenier then singled for a run in the sixth.
The Saints pulled to within one in the seventh on an error before getting a two-run single by Johnson to take the lead.
Kaleb Wilson pitched a hitless bottom of the seventh to earn his eighth save of the season. Wilson also pitched the final inning of the opener to also earn a save.
Western Oregon Posts Record Third Consecutive Shutout
Western Oregon set a GNAC record with its third consecutive shutout in defeating Lewis-Clark State 12-0 Sunday at the WOU Baseball Field.
Kirk Lind allowed just three hits in seven innings and two relievers finished up by pitching a pair of hitless innings as the Wolves (19-11) won the series 3-1 with the 16-time NAIA national champions.
Lind didn't walk a batter and fanned seven. Offensively he got plenty of support as the Wolves banged out 17 hits, including five in the first inning when they scored five runs.
Center fielder Daniel Dillard and third baseman Griffin Boyd each had three hits and Dillard and catcher Michael Chiarelli each drove in three runs. All three of Chiarelli's RBIs came in the first with a bases-clearing double.
Dillard had a RBI single in the opening frame and a two-run single in the fifth inning helping drop the Warriors to 21-10 on the season.
Western Oregon Sweeps Lewis-Clark State
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| Grady Wood |
In the opener Wood retired the game's first 17 batters before giving up a single to Billy Silvestri in the sixth. He finished the nine-inning contest with a two-hitter, facing just one over the minimum thanks to a double play in the eighth.
Nobles allowed only four hits in six innings in the seven-inning nightcap. Travis Bradshaw pitched the seventh to earn a save, getting a double play to end the game after the Warriors had loaded the bases with one out.
Center fielder Daniel Dillard drove in two of WOU's three runs. In the first game, he singled to drive in Eric Copenhagen with the game's only run in the third inning after the Wolf left fielder had singled and moved up on a sacrifice.
In the second game, Dillard plated second baseman Grant Glover in the fifth with another single. Glover set up the run with a two-out single and a stolen base.
The Wolves first run came in the second on a single by shortstop Josh Solemsaas.
Crusaders Sweep Central Washington With Late Rally
Northwest Nazarene overcame a 6-1 deficit scoring six runs in the last two innings to defeat Central Washington 7-6 and complete a sweep of a Great Northwest Athletic Conference baseball doubleheader at Vail Field.
The Crusaders (25-11, 10-10) won the opener 8-3 as Derek Bettinson drove in four runs.
Bettinson completed the twinbill with five hits and five RBI. Among his hits were three singles, a double and a home run.
In the opener, Bettinson singled for a run in the third, doubled to drive in two in the fourth and homered to lead off the seventh. Sean McDonald also had a two-run double in the Crusader fourth.
Charles Pollack pitched four innings in relief, allowing just two hits and two runs (one earned) to get his fourth win against two losses.
CWU rightfielder Jimmy Ryerson had a two-run home run in the fourth and a RBI single in the eighth to lead the Wildcats (8-22, 3-17).
Central built a 6-1 lead in the second game, scoring three runs in the first, two in the fourth and one in the sixth, but NNU got four runs in the sixth, two on a single by Drew Drlik, and two in the seventh on singles by Zach Morse and Ryan Udy to win it.
Morse pitched the top of the seventh retiring the side in order to earn the win.
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Wallen |
Six Hits |
Northwest Nazarene (23-11, 8-10) won the first game 6-4 as Sean McDonald, Ty Windall and Cameron Louie each drove in two runs for the Crusaders.
All three players had single RBIs in both the fifth and sixth innings to stake NNU to a 6-1 lead. J.T. Broderick pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits to get the win.
In the second game CWU pounded out 16 hits including home runs by Leid and shortstop Derrick Webb. Webb had five RBIs including a three-run blast in the fifth to put the Wildcats (8-20, 3-15) ahead 12-2.
Nate Wallen had four hits and Kelly Gau, Glen Reser, Kris Henderson and Jimmy Ryerson each had two hits for CWU. Wallen finished the twinbill with six hits in nine at bats.
McDonald had three hits, including a pair of home runs and a RBI single, to lead NNU. The Crusaders also got two hits each from Windall, Derek Bettinson, Ryan VanBeek and Drew Drlik. Drlik had a three-run home run in the seventh to cut the final margin to five runs.
In a non-conference game, Lewis-Clark State pounded Western Oregon 10-1 scoring six runs in the ninth. The Wolves' lone run came in the sixth on a solo home run by Daniel Dillard.
Robison Leads Yellowjackets To Sweep of Minot State
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| Robison |
Meanwhile, Pacific Lutheran ended Saint Martin's six-game winning streak defeating the Saints 5-1 at the Regional Athletic Complex in Lacey.
In the first game in Billings, MSUB scored three runs in the seventh to overcome a 6-3 deficit. Robison had a RBI triple and then scored the tying run on an infield single by second baseman Jordan Kessler.
MSUB then won it in the ninth as right fielder Dillon Ness doubled, moved to third after back-to-back walks and scored on an error.
In the second game, Robison had RBI doubles in the first and third inning and Brian Hutchings (3-2) allowed just three hits in six innings in recording the win.
Brian Howe (1-0) picked up the win in the first game pitching the ninth and had a save (his fifth) in the second game.
In his two appearances, he allowed just one hit. In the latter game, he struck out two batters after the first two hitters reached on errors.
Saint Martin's (17-14) had eight hits against Pacific Lutheran, but got just one run on a sixth-inning home run by first baseman Travis Jones. Jones and DH Blaine Evans each had two hits.
Saints Beat Puget Sound For Sixth Straight Win
Shortstop Cody Brooks keyed a five-run third inning with a three-run double down the left field line to lead Saint Martin's to an 8-3 home win against Puget Sound Tuesday.
The Saints, who used seven pitchers, have won six straight to improve to 17-13. Michael McIver, who retired all three hitters he faced, picked up the win to go to 5-2.
Brooks and second baseman Bobby Twedt each had two hits to pace a 10-hit attack for SMU.
Wolves Split, Remain Two Back in GNAC Race
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| Lind | Bettinson |
The Crusaders won Saturday's first game 6-5 getting the winning run in the bottom of the ninth on a bases-loaded single by first baseman Derek Bettinson.
Central Washington and Montana State Billings also split two games at Tomlinson Field in Ellensburg. The Wildcats won the opener 8-3 before MSUB bounced back for an 11-5 win to take the series 3-1.
Lind, who ranks second in the GNAC in saves with five, walked four and struck out two before leaving with a 7-0 lead.
The Crusaders then put together four hits in the seventh, including a two-run double by Bettinson, before reliever Brad Carter could nail down the final out
Second baseman Aaron Headrick had three hits and three RBI to stake Lind to the 7-0 lead. Center fielder Daniel Dillard also drove in two runs with a single and sacrifice fly.
Western Oregon (16-10, 9-3), which trails GNAC leader Saint Martin's (13-3) by two games, led the first contest 5-4 before Logan Parker drove in the tying run in the eighth with a two-out infield hit.
Then in the ninth, the Crusaders (22-9, 7-8) loaded the bases on a walk, a fielder's choice bunt and a bunt single by Sean McDonald to set up Bettinson's one-out game-winning hit.
Ty Windall, who stole his league-leading 24th base of the season, led a 12-hit Crusader attack with three safeties. Bettinson and McDonald, who pitched the ninth to get the win, had two each.
Central Washington 8-5, Montana State Billings 3-11
Shortstop Derrick Webb and left fielder Chaz Ocbina each had three hits as Central Washington (7-19, 2-14) snapped a six-game losing streak in the opener.
Ocbina had a two-run single during a four-run fourth to stake the Wildcats to a 4-0 lead.
Montana State Billings (12-13, 5-7) scored three runs in the seventh to cut CWU's lead to 5-3, but the 'Cats got a RBI double by Webb and RBI singles by Ocbina and Kelly Gau in the eighth to go ahead by five.
MSUB then loaded the bases in the ninth with one out but reliever Palmer Brown came on and got Kevin Zukaitis to bounce into a double play to save the win for starter Jake Millbauer.
In the second game, the Yellowjackets scored nine runs in the second inning to take command. Third baseman Dillon Ness and center fielder Jeff Ridgeway had three hits each for MSUB. Ness also had three RBI.
Starter Zachary Smith allowed 12 hits but pitched long enough (5 1/3 innings) to earn his third win against one loss. Gau had four of CWU's hits and finished the doubleheader with five hits in eight at bats.
MSU Billings, WOU Earn Road Sweeps
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| Kody Kennedy |
Kody Kennedy, who came into the game with a 9.14 ERA, pitched a two-hitter and struck out nine in MSUB's 3-0 opening game win at Central Washington. CWU's only hits were singles by Nate Wallen and Kelly Gau in the third and sixth innings, respectively.
MSUB (11-12, 4-6) got unearned runs off of CWU starter Brandon Rohde in the third and sixth innings and an earned run in the ninth on a single by Blake Loran off of reliever Palmer Brown.
Rohde allowed six hits in seven innings in lowering his ERA to a league-best 2.30, though he has only one win in four decisions to show for it.
In the second game, Central (6-18, 1-13) had seven hits in the first three innings, but stranded two runners in each frame in a 4-2 loss. Archie Smith (4-1) then came on to limit the Wildcats to just two hits over the final 4 2/3 innings, fanning six without walking a batter.
Second baseman Zachary Smith had a RBI single in the second and a RBI double in the sixth to key the Yellowjacket offense.
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| Dillard |
Michael Ward and Grady Wood had solid outings to pick up the wins. In the opener Ward improved to 4-2, allowing just five hits in eight innings. He walked one and struck out 10.
Wood pitched a two-hitter in the seven-inning nightcap to win his second game in six decisions. Daniel Dillard broke up a scoreless deadlock in the fifth with a grand slam home run.
In the opener, WOU pounded out 15 hits, including two each by Bo Folkinga, Michael Chiarelli, Miles Kizer, Griffin Boyd, Austin Potter and Eric Coppenhagen.
NNU catcher Ryan Udy had three hits and third baseman Ryan VanBeek had two including an infield single to drive in the Crusaders' lone run in the sixth.
Shortstop Josh Solemsaas had two of WOU's six hits in the nightcap, while VanBeek and Logan Parker had NNU's only two safeties off of Wood.
All five of WOU's runs came on home runs as third baseman Griffin Boyd went deep in the sixth. Folkinga, who leads the GNAC in batting with a .419 average, went 0 for 3 ending his 11-game hitting streak.
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| Johnson |
The Saints (16-13, 13-3) now lead second-place Western Oregon (6-2) by three games, though most of that lead is a result of SMU having played eight more conference games than the Wolves.
Johnson had a two-run single to key a five-run third inning for the Saints. He then added a RBI single in the fourth and a sacrifice fly during SMU's three-run eighth inning.
Saint Martin's had 14 hits including three by Andrew Elke and two each by Kyle Basket, Johnson, Travis Jones and Josh Grenier.
Casey Mitchell pitched 6 2/3 innings in picking up his fourth win against one loss.
Clifton Coulter had four of Central Washington's 12 hits. CWU shortstop Derrick Webb had a solo home run in the seventh.
In the nightcap, Saint Martin's took a 3-1 lead with three runs in the fourth, but the Wildcats (6-15, 1-10) tied the game with runs in the sixth on a single by Kris Henderson and in the seventh on an error.
But, the Saints then put together a single by Jones, a walk and an error to win the game in the bottom of the seventh.
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| Parker |
NNU tacked on 14 more runs in the second game in a 14-2 win to complete the sweep of the four-game series. The Crusaders are now 21-7 on the season.
Meanwhile in the only conference games on Saturday, Saint Martin's got outstanding pitching in sweeping Central Washington, 5-1 and 2-0.
The Saints (14-13, 11-3) opened up a two-game lead over nine-time defending champion Western Oregon with the sweep.
Parker, McDonald and Windall, who comprised the NNU starting outfield, combined to score 11 runs and drive in eight in the first contest. The trio also had seven hits and walked four times.
Northwest Nazarene did most of its damage one base at a time. In fact of the eight extra base hits in the game (all doubles), Academy of Art had five of them.
The Crusaders had three doubles, two by first baseman Derek Bettinson and one by Windall, along with 17 singles and 13 walks. Four other NNU batters were hit by pitches.
Bettinson led NNU's 19-hit attack with four, while Windall and DH Zach Morse had three each. Zeb Snell pitched the first five innings and got the win for the Crusaders despite allowing five hits and walking seven.
In the second contest, third baseman Ryan VanBeek had three RBI and shortstop Cameron Louie and McDonald each drove in two runs. Louie had three of NNU's 13 hits, while Bettinson, VanBeek and Parker had two each. Parker has hit safely in nine straight games.
McDonald also had a stellar pitching performance allowing just three hits in five innings to earn his first win of the season. He left the contest after five with a 10-0 lead.
In 25 1/3 innings this spring, McDonald, who has four saves, has allowed just three runs (two earned) and 16 hits.
Saint Martin's 5-2, Central Washington 1-0
Starters Michael McIver and Tommy DeBoer limited Central Washington to five and two hits, respectively, in the Saints' sweep.
In the opener, McIver gave up five hits in six innings. CWU's only run on the day came in the sixth on a home run by first baseman Brady Kincannon.
Two relievers - Sean Meehan (1 hit in1 inning) and Antone Saltvick (2 hits in 2 innings) - finished up.
Andrew Elke had two hits to pace a 10-hit SMU attack, while Nate Wallen and Glen Reser had two each for the Wildcats.
In the second game, Saint Martin's scored the game's only two runs in the first inning on back-to-back doubles by Aaron Johnson and Travis Jones after a one-out single by Elke.
DeBoer went 6 1/3 innings for the Saints allowing only two hits (singles by Kelly Gau and Chaz Ocbina). DeBoer also walked two batters, the only walks by either team in the twinbill which took just three hours, 55 minutes to play.
Northwest Nazarene Earns Sweep of AAU
Second baseman Zach Hibbard had four hits, scored three runs and drove in two to lead Northwest Nazarene to a 11-4, 8-3 doubleheader sweep of Academy of Art Friday at Vail Field.
The Crusaders (19-7) banged out 22 hits in the doubleheader, including 15 in the first game.
Seven different players had two hits in the opener and three - first baseman Derek Bettinson, catcher Ryan Udy and Hibbard - drove in two runs.
Sean McDonald got NNU off to a quick start in the second game homering on the first pitch in the bottom of the first inning. McDonald also walked twice in the game. For the twinbill, he was three for six and reached base five times.
J.T. Brodrick pitched eight innings in the opener, allowing just eight hits and three runs as he improved to 5-1. He didn't walk a batter and struck out seven.
In the second game, Patrick Patterson, the second of three pitchers for the Crusaders, received credit for the victory.
CWU's Long Holds Whitworth To Three Hits
Kyle Long held Whitworth to three hits in six innings as Central Washington blanked the Pirates 7-0 Tuesday to split a non-conference home twinbill. The Bucs won the opener 6-4.
Long, who had allowed 33 hits and 24 runs in 24 2/3 previous innings, didn't walk a batter and fanned three. He faced just two over the minimum in his six innings.Mike Miller retired the side in order in the seventh to finish up the shutout.
Third baseman Glen Reser led a 14-hit Wildcat attack with three singles and a double and also had two RBI. Shortstop Kelly Gau and first baseman Kris Henderson each had two hits.
In the opener, CWU outhit Whitworth 13-12, but the Pirates (9-12) built a 6-1 lead before the Wildcats (6-12) scored twice in the eighth on a single by catcher David Leid and once in the ninth on a base hit by Gau.
Reser had four hits in that game as well as he finished the twinbill with eight hits in nine at bats. Henderson, Gau and DH Brady Kincannon all had two safeties.
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| Jason Wilson |
Saint Martin's managed just six hits but still was able to earn a split of a doubleheader at Western Oregon Monday as it moved into a tie for first place with the Wolves in the GNAC race.
WOU won the opener 6-0 before the Saints rebounded to win the nightcap 2-1 and earn a split of the four-game series.
Both teams now have identical .750 winning percentages. SMU (11-13 overall) is 9-3, while nine-time defending conference champion WOU (13-9) is 6-2. That gives the Saints a one-game edge in the games-behind column.
Jason Wilson allowed just two hits in seven innings in the opener pitching the Wolves to the win. Wilson walked three and fanned seven. Gavin Hite finished up allowing one hit in two frames.
"Jason did a phenomenal job," WOU head coach Jeremiah Robbins said. "He came out set the tone and did a very good job controlling the game. It was a gutty effort from him in a must-win game."
WOU scored all six of its runs in the first four frames. Catcher Michael Chiarelli, first baseman Kevin Clark and left fielder Eric Copenhagen all had two hits. Center fielder Daniel Dillard hit a two-run home run to give WOU an early 2-0 lead in the first inning.
Shortstop Cody Brooks had two of SMU's three hits. The Saints managed just three hits in the nightcap as well, but scored two runs as third baseman Josh Grenier singled for a run in the fourth and DH Blaine Evans homered to give SMU a 2-0 lead in the fifth.
Nate O'Brien gave up five hits in 4 1/3 innings, including WOU's only run in the fifth which scored on an error though it turned out to be earned because of subsequent action.
Kaleb Wilson came on to get the final eight outs, pitching out of a bases load jam in the fifth.
Wilson allowed just one hit and fanned four in 2 2/3 innings to earn his fifth save of the season.
Sunday, Mar. 20
Saints, Wolves Split In Showdown For First
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| Blaine Evans |
Western Oregon bounced back to win the second game 3-1 as Grady Wood allowed just six hits and one run in six innings before Kirk Lind came on to earn his league-leading fifth save in the seventh.
The split left each team with a claim on first-place in the GNAC. The Wolves (12-8, 5-1) are officially in first place based on their conference .833 winning percentage, though they trail the Saints (10-12, 8-2) by one game in the games-behind column.
SMU snapped a 3-3 tie in the opener with a RBI single by Bobby Twedt in the sixth, then broke it open in the eighth combining five hits, including another RBI single by Twedt, for five runs.
The Saints' Michael McIver, who ranks third in the GNAC with a 2.72 ERA, allowed nine hits and four runs in 7 2/3 innings to improve to 3-2.
Bo Folkinga drove in three of WOU's four runs homering with a man on board in the fourth and singling for a run in the eighth. Grant Glover doubled for a run in the fifth.
The Wolves snapped a 1-1 tie in the nightcap on a two-run home run in the third by Daniel Dillard. Dillard and SMU catcher Zach Leonard each accounted for two of their team's seven hits in the contest.
Saturday, Mar. 19
Crusaders, Yellowjackets Split Twinbill, Series
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| Ridgeway |
In Saturday's opener, Ridgeway had a RBI single in the fifth and a two-run home run in the seventh to stake MSUB (9-12, 2-6) to a 6-3 lead.
NNU (17-7, 6-6) rallied for two runs in the ninth on a double by Ryan VanBeek and a single by Logan Parker before reliever Brian Howe got the final out to record his fourth save. Kyle Gieselman pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings, fanning two to earn the win.
NNU outhit MSUB 12-7 in the contest as Derek Bettinson, Parker, Ryan Udy and Zach Hibbard. Ridgeway was the only player with two hits for MSUB.
Both starters went nine innings in the scheduled seven-inning second game. Sean McDonald allowed just six hits for NNU, while Brian Hutchings surrendered nine in his stint.
Kalen Hruza gave up one hit in the 10th, then got his third win against no losses when NNU scored in the bottom of the frame on a double by Josh Hatfield following a two-out single by Parker.
Parker and Bettinson each had three hits, while Hatfield had two. Riley Rosvold and Kevin Zukaitis had two each for MSUB.
The teams also split a doubleheader on Friday. The final three games of the series were all decided by one run.
Friday, Mar. 18
Yellowjackets, Crusaders Divide Pair
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| Ridgeway |
Jeff Ridgeway's solo home run in the the third inning turned out to be the deciding run as Montana State Billings held on to defeat Northwest Nazarene 6-5 and earn a split of a GNAC doubleheader at Vail Field in Nampa Friday night.
The victory was the first conference win for the Yellowjackets (8-11, 1-5), who lost the opener to the Crusaders 7-3.
Ridgeway's blast gave MSUB a 6-0 lead and the Yellowjackets then held on as NNU scored one run in the fourth, three in the sixth and one in the seventh on a lead-off home run by Ryan VanBeek.
Reliever Brian Howe, however, then retired the next three batters to earn his third save of the season.
MSUB's first five runs all came in the opening frame off of Charles Pollock. Ridgeway drove in one of the runs on a fielder's choice and Chris Stine, who went three for three, had a two-run single.
Dillon Ness also had three hits as MSUB outhit NNU 8-6. Logan Parker and Justin Henry had two hits each for the Crusaders.
In the opening game, NNU built the early lead going ahead 6-1 after five innings before Jacob Hiler pitched three hitless innings, striking out five to earn the save.
Parker paced the Crusaders with three hits and VanBeek and Ryan Udy had two each. Shortstop Colby Robison and second baseman Jordan Kessler had three each for MSUB.
Tuesday, Mar. 15
Sixth Inning Sinks Saints
Lewis-Clark State (13-5) scored 10 runs in the sixth inning in defeating Saint Martin's 15-3 Tuesday in a non-conference game at the Regional Sports Complex in Lacey.
The Warriors (9-11) had six hits in the inning including a three-run double by Kevin Lovelace and a two-run home run by Brian Gaylord.
Connor Moore and Trent Bridges each had four hits in the contest, while Bridges, Lovelace and Garrett Patterson all drove in three runs for the Warriors. Adam Hudspeth had two of SMU's seven hits.
Monday, Mar. 14
Saints Complete Sweep of Yellowjackets
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| Josh Grenier |
Saint Martin's (9-10) improved to 7-1 in the GNAC with the victories. The four-game series were the conference openers for MSUB (7-10).
In the opener, Grenier walked to drive in a run during a five-run first inning. SMU also scored in the frame on a leadoff home run by center fielder Kyle Baskett, on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Cody Brooks, on a double by first baseman Spencer Dodd and on a single by catcher Colt Savage.
Brooks also had a RBI in the fifth when he singled to drive in Grenier who led off the frame with a double.
SMU led 9-3 before center fielder Jeff Ridgeway hit a grand slam home run in the eighth to pull MSUB within two. Wilson, however, came on in the ninth and struck out the side to preserve the win for starter Casey Mitchell, who allowed just one earned run in 5 1/3 frames.
In the second game, Wilson gave up two hits and walked a batter to load the bases in the final frame before getting a popup to save the win for starter Nate O'Bryan. O'Bryan pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing just two hits and one run.
Grenier had two hits including a two-run single in the fifth to give SMU a 5-1 lead at that point. Brooks and Dodd also had two hits. DH Jordan Kessler had two safeties for MSUB.
Sunday, Mar. 13
SMU's DeBoer Nearly Perfect in 4-0 Victory
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| DeBoer |
DeBoer retired 15 of the 16 hitters he faced, five on strikeouts, in his five-inning stint. The only runner to reach base - Yellowjacket shortstop Colby Robison - struck out to lead off the second but reached on an error.
Austin Rue singled in the sixth off reliever Antone Saltvick for MSUB's only hit.
Saint Martin's scored three of its four runs in the third on a single by Andrew Elke, on a wild pitch and on a bases-loaded walk to Blaine Evans. Aaron Johnson singled for the Saints' final run in the sixth.
McIver allowed just four hits in 7 2/3 innings in his win. MSUB's lone run came on a sacrifice fly by Jordan Kessler in the sixth and was unearned.
Saint Martin's got two hits each by Josh Grenier and Bobby Twedt. Johnson, Grenier and Spencer Dodd all had RBIs.
Saturday, Mar. 12
Northwest Nazarene Sweeps Central Washington
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| McDonald |
Northwest Nazarene also won the second game 8-6 to win three of the four games in the series.
McDonald's bunt moved Cameron Louie, who had walked, to second. Louie was later forced at third. Then after Blaine Holbrook hit a batter to load the bases, McDonald scored the game-winner on a wild pitch.
Central outhit the Crusaders 9-6 as Glen Reser, Chaz Ocbina, Kelly Gau and Brett Bielec all had two. Bielec drove in two runs.
NNU's Jacob Hiler pitched two innings, allowing just one hit and fanning four to record the win. Jake Millbauer pitched nine innings for the Wildcats, surrendering just five hits, but came away with a no decision.
In the second game, NNU built a 8-1 lead through four innings as Josh Hatfield drove in three runs and Derek Bettinson had two RBI.
Central then struck for five runs in the fifth, three on a home run by Brady Kincannon, before the Crusader bullpen shut down the Wildcats in the final two frames.
Nate Wallen had three hits and Ocbina and Clifton Coulter had two each for the Wildcats. Bettinson, Logan Parker and Hatfield had two apiece for the Crusaders.
Friday, Mar. 11
Wolves Split With No. 8 Chico State
Western Oregon tied its own GNAC record for consecutive home victories defeating Chico State 4-1, but then dropped a 5-2 decision to the nationally eighth-ranked Wildcats as the teams split a twinbill at Monmouth Friday.
Meanwhile at Ellensburg, Central Washington and Northwest Northwest split a twinbill. The Wildcats won the opener 4-3 by scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth. The Crusaders, however, bounced back to win the second game 5-2.
Western Oregon (11-7) matched the GNAC record for consecutive home wins of 17 it set between Apr. 12, 2006 and May 6, 2006 as Michael Ward allowed just five hits and a single unearned run in 7 1/3 innings.
Kirk Lind pitched the final 1 2/3 innings to record his fourth save. He faced six batters allowing just a single hit that loaded the bases in the eighth with two outs.
Lind, however, got pinch-hitter Justin Manci to pop out to short and then retired the side in order in the ninth. Daniel Dillard had a two-run double to key a three-run third inning for the Wolves.
The Wolves had seven hits in the contest, including two each by designated hitter Bo Folkinga and third baseman Griffin Boyd.
In the second game, Chico scored three runs in the sixth - one on a double by Ben Manlove and one on a single by Cody Foster - to break open a close game.
Central Washington 4-3, Northwest Nazarene 3-5
Pinch-hitter Deren Jones' sacrifice fly drove in pinch runner Scott Cooper with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as Central Washington won the opener.
NNU took a 3-1 lead into the ninth scoring twice in the seventh and once in the eighth. Catcher David Leid led off the ninth for CWU with a single and Kris Henderson then doubled sending Leid to third.
Pinch-hitter Chaz Ocbina singled to plate Leid and Henderson scored the tying run on an error. After a popup and walk, a balk sent Cooper, who was running for Ocbina to third, setting up Jones' game-winning RBI.
Blaine Holbrook got the win for the Wildcats pitching the ninth after starter Brandon Rohde had pitched eight innings giving up seven hits and just three unearned runs.
In the nightcap, Josh Hatfield drove in two runs, one in the second on a ground out and one in the fourth on a double to key the NNU win.
Ty Windall and Zach Hibbard had two hits each for the Crusaders who outhit Central 7-5.
Sunday, Mar. 6
Western Oregon Rallies To Sweep Series
Western Oregon came from behind in both games to complete a four-game sweep of a Great Northwest Athletic Conference baseball series with Central Washington Sunday.
The Wolves overcame a 4-1 eighth-inning deficit to win the opener 7-6, then won the nightcap 4-1 after surrendering the initial run of the contest.
WOU scored six runs in the eighth inning to win the first game. The big blow of the inning was a three-run triple by Eric Copenhagen. Earlier in the frame, Aaron Headrick had a two-run double. Headrick also had a RBI double in the fourth.
CWU came back to score two runs in the ninth on a fielder's choice and RBI single by Brady Kincannon - his fourth hit of the game - before Brad Carter got the final out leaving the potential tying run at second.
Kincannon and Glen Reser each had two RBI for the Wildcats. Catcher Michael Chiarelli and Headrick had three hits apiece for the Wolves.
In the second game, Scott Cooper singled to drive in CWU's only run of the game in the second off of Cam Nobles, who scattered six hits.
WOU scored two runs in the bottom of the inning on a passed ball and single by Potter, then added two insurance runs in the sixth on an error and single by Griffin Boyd.
Headrick had three hits and Boyd had two for the Wolves. Kincannon had two safeties for the Wildcats.
Saturday, Mar. 5
Wolves Open GNAC Campaign With Two Wins
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| Boyd |
WOU (8-6) won the opener 4-3 in 14 innings - one inning longer than the previous record - then completed the sweep with a 5-1 win in the nightcap as Mike Ward tossed a four-hitter.
Meanwhile, Saint Martin's (5-10, 3-1) earned a split of a twinbill with Northwest Nazarene (12-4, 1-3) to win the series 3-1. The Saints won the opener 5-2 before the Crusaders salvaged the final game of the series with a 3-2 victory.
Five previous GNAC games - including two conference tilts - had shared the previous record for longest game of 13 innings.
CWU was four outs away from a win until the Wolves got a two-out RBI single by Griffin Boyd in the eighth to tie the game.
WOU finally broke through for the winning run six innings later on a one-out bases loaded single by Boyd in the 14th as three relievers limited Central to six hits and no runs in 7 2/3 innings.
The Wildcats outhit the Wolves 16-13 and the teams combined to strand 32 runners. WOU left on 18, one shy of the GNAC record.
Ian MacDougall, who retired the side in order in the 14th, got the win after Kirk Lind has pitched four scoreless innings allowing just three hits.
Palmer Brown pitched five hits allowing five hits and only the winning run for the Wildcats. Top hitters in the marathon were second baseman Brandon Wang for the Wildcats with four. CWU's Nate Wallen had three.
Four players including Boyd, Austin Potter, Bo Folkinga and Miles Kizer had two each for Western Oregon.
Center fielder Daniel Dillard provided the offense with a pair of doubles, a single and three RBI to back the pitching of Ward in the second contest.
Saint Martin's 5-2, Northwest Nazarene 2-3
Casey Mitchell and Kaleb Wilson combined to pitch a five-hitter as the Saints won the opener. Mitchell pitched eight innings allowing both runs before Wilson struck out two of the three hitters in faced in recording a save in the ninth.
Sean McDonald ruined Mitchell's shutout in the eighth with a two-run double. Kyle Baskett, Andrew Elke, Josh Grenier all had two hits helping SMU build a 5-0 lead after seven.
The Saints jumped to a 2-0 lead on a single by Travis Jones in the first inning of the nightcap, but NNU got single runs in the first and second to tie the game, then added the eventual game-winner in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Derek Bettinson.
Kalen Hruza struck out the only batter he faced to end the fourth and got the win as Sean McDonald earned his third save of the season pitching the final three innings and allowing just two hits.
SMU had twice as many hits (12-6) as NNU including three each by Beckett and Elke. McDonald and Ryan VanBeek had a pair each for the Crusaders.
Friday, Mar. 4
Saint Martin's Sweeps Northwest Nazarene
Michael McIver and Tommy DeBoer each pitched seven innings as Saint Martin's swept a GNAC conference doubleheader from Northwest Nazarene Friday at Vail Field by scores of 11-3 and 3-0.
The wins were just the third and fourth for the Saints (4-9) while the Crusaders fell to 11-3. The games were the conference openers for both schools.
In the opener, McIver allowed eight hits and four runs before Sean Goforth finished up in the eighth and ninth innings. SMU jumped to an early 5-2 lead, then after NNU had scored twice in the seventh to close its deficit to one, the Saints scored three times in the eighth and three in the ninth.
Bobby Twedt had the big blow in the eighth with a two-run single and Josh Grenier drove in two runs with a single in the ninth. Aaron Johnson had three hits and drove in three runs to also key the SMU win.
Ryan VanBeek had three hits for NNU and Sean McDonald had two hits and two RBI.
McDonald also had two hits in the nightcap, but the Crusaders managed just four safeties in the seven-inning game off of DeBoer who went the distance to record the shutout. He walked two and fanned three.
All three of Saint Martin's runs came in the third on a sacrifice fly by Johnson, a fielder's choice and a single by Cody Brooks.
Thursday, Mar. 3
Yellowjackets Sweep College of Idaho
Colby Robison and Chris Stine each drove in two runs and four pitchers limited College of Idaho to three runs as Montana State Billings swept a non-conference doubleheader by 3-2 and 3-1 scores Thursday at Caldwell.
In the opener, Robison drove in a run in the sixth on a force out and then had a RBI double to extend MSUB's lead to 3-0 in the eighth.
The Coyotes got two runs in the bottom of the inning. But, Archie Smith pitched a scoreless ninth to save the game for his brother Zachary Smith. Both pitchers gave up one run; Zachary in seven plus innings and Archie in two frames.
In the second game, Chris Stine had a two-run double to snap a 1-1 tie in the seventh. Kody Kennedy didn't allow a hit in 1 2/3 innings and fanned four to get the win after Kyle Gieselman pitched a solid 5 1/3 innings allowing just one run on five hits.
On the day, MSUB, which improved to 7-6, had 10 hits, including three by Dillon Ness and two by Blake Nelson.
Monday, Feb. 28
Chico State Edges MSU Billings
Adrian Bringas had a pair of hits and drove in two runs to lead Chico State (8-1) to a 5-4 win over Montana State Billings Monday at Chico as the Wildcats completed a three-game sweep of the series.
Bringas doubled to drive in what turned out to be the eventual winning run in the seventh inning.
That gave Chico a 5-2 lead. MSUB got two back in the eighth on a single by Jordan Kessler and an error, but left two runners on base.
Kessler and Colby Robison each had two hits for MSUB, which continues its road trip heading to Caldwell, Idaho for a doubleheader Thursday with College of Idaho.
Sunday, Feb. 27
Yellowjackets Swept by Chico State
Chico State swept a NCAA Division II West Region baseball doubleheader from Montana State Billings Sunday, rallying in the second game from a 5-1 deficit to win 10-5. The Wildcats also won the opener 4-2.
The Yellowjackets played the perennial national powers tough, going ahead 5-1 in the second game with two runs in the first and three in the fourth, including two on a single by Kevin Zukaitis.
But the Wildcats then exploded for seven runs in its half of the fourth, combining five hits and an error. The finishing blow was a three-run double by Jon Peters.
In the opener MSUB led 1-0 after 4 1/2 innings and were tied 2-2 until Chico got two runs in the bottom of the sixth on a single by catcher Ben Manlove.
On the day, centerfielder Jeff Ridgeway had five hits to lead the 'Jackets. Colby Robison went 0 for 3 in the opener, snapping his eight-game hitting streak, but bounced back to get two hits and a RBI in the nightcap.
Saturday, Feb. 26
Brodrick Improves to 4-0, NNU Now 11-1
J.T. Brodrick allowed two runs in six innings pitching Northwest Nazarene to a 13-7 win over Hawaii Pacific Saturday in Waipahu.
The Crusaders won five of the six games in the series and are now 11-1 on the season.
Brodrick allowed eight hits, walked one and fanned three as he improved to 4-0 on the season. He left the game with a 12-2 lead.
Offensively, the Crusaders banged out 15 hits, including three by right fielder Ty Windall and two each by Sean McDonald, Zach Hibbard and Kramer Uvila. McDonald and Zach Morse each drove in two runs.
Baseball: Northwest Nazarene Improves to 10-1
Logan Parker had four hits and Sean McDonald and Ryan VanBeek each had three as Northwest Nazarene defeated Hawaii Pacific 10-5 Friday in the fifth game of a six-game series in Hawaii. The Crusaders lead the series 4-1 and are now 10-1 on the season.
After both teams scored four first-inning runs, NNU dominated getting a run in the third, two in the sixth and three more in the ninth. Kramer Uvila drove in the go-ahead run in the third with a sacrifice fly.
Kalen Hruza picked up the win in relief getting the final two outs in the fifth. McDonald pitched three innings allowing just one hit to record a save.
Tuesday, Feb. 22
Crusaders Improve To 7-0
Logan Parker's bases-clearing triple in the second inning led Northwest Nazarene to a 6-2 victory over Hawaii Pacific Tuesday afternoon at Hans L'Orange Field in Waipahu.
NNU starter J.T. Brodrick (2-0) earned the win, giving the Crusaders (7-0) eight strong innings and Ryan Brown handled the ninth in relief.
Kramer Uvila led the Crusaders at the plate, going two for four, while Zach Hibbard had two RBI.
Sunday, Feb. 20
Yellowjackets Win Three Against Regis as Robison Stays Hot
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| Robison |
Shortstop Colby Robison continued his early-season offensive exploits banging out eight hits in 14 at bats and driving in five runs as Montana State Billings won three of four games over the weekend against Regis in Denver, Colo.
Robison has hit safely in all eight MSUB games and is batting .586. He has had 17 hits in 29 at bats and has driven in 15 runs sparking the Yellowjackets to a 5-3 start.
On Sunday, Robison had three hits and drove in three runs as MSUB blasted Regis 18-4 in the opening game of a doubleheader at Regis Field.
The Yellowjackets put the game away early scoring six runs in the first and two each in the fourth and sixth. They added one more in the seventh, five in the eighth and two in the ninth.
First baseman Sam Kinzeler also had three hits and three RBI as MSUB supported starting pitcher Zachary Smith with 16 hits. Smith went seven innings allowing seven hits and three runs, two earned.
In the second game. MSUB used a three-run fifth which featured a two-run double by Austin Rue go go ahead 8-5 and then held on to win 8-7. Robison had one hit to keep his hitting streak alive.
DH Jordan Kessler had a two-run single in the first and Kevin Zukaitis had a two-run single in the second to provide the early offense. Brian Hutchings allowed five runs in the third but gave up just two hits in his five other innings of work and got the win.
On Saturday, the teams split two games with MSUB winning the opener 6-5 as Robison snapped a 5-5 tie in the seventh with a home run. Archie Smith pitched the final 4 2/3 innings allowing just two hits and fanning four to get the win.
Regis used a five-run first inning to win the nightcap 9-2. Robison had two of MSUB's six hits and its only RBI.
Wolves Finish Lewiston Tournament With 3-1 Record
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| Dillard |
Daniel Dillard had five hits and Aaron Headrick and Griffin Boyd each drove in three runs as Western Oregon (6-6) outscored Saint Martin's 16-7 Sunday in a tournament at Lewiston, Idaho.
The Wolves beat host Lewis-Clark State 5-2 and Central Washington 7-3 on Saturday and finished 3-1 in the tournament.
Saint Martin's (2-9) ended up with a 1-3 record shutting out Linfield 5-0 on Saturday for its only win. Central's loss to WOU left it with a 1-1 record in the event and 4-4 on the season.
WOU led by just a 9-7 score until adding on seven runs in the bottom of the eighth. The Saints had scored four in the top of the frame to cut their deficit to two.
The big blow in the Wolves' half of the inning was a three-run double by Boyd. Cody Brooks had a three-run double in the top of the frame for the Saints, who were outhit 15-7.
Cam Nobles allowed just four hits and an unearned run in pitching Western Oregon past Lewis-Clark State on Saturday handing the Warriors (6-1) their first loss of the season.
WOU took a 3-1 lead in the sixth on a two-run triple by Headrick, then added two insurance runs in the eighth on a double by Andre Royal and a sacrifice fly by Boyd.
Michael Ward pitched the Wolves past Central allowing eight hits and a pair of earned runs in six innings before Brad Carter earned a save with three scoreless innings.
DH Miles Kizer doubled in the first to stake the Wolves to an early 1-0 lead and also doubled for a run in a three-run seventh inning. Kris Henderson drove in two of CWU's three runs with a second inning home run.
Casey Mitchell pitched a five-hit shutout, fanning 12 and not walking a batter in Saint Martin's win over Linfield. The Saints scored four runs in the seventh to break up a scoreless tie getting RBI singles from Cody Brooks and Bobby Twedt in the inning.
Sunday, Feb. 13
Shortstop Colby Robison drove in seven runs and first baseman Sam Kinzeler had five as Montana State Billings outslugged Colorado State Pueblo 21-15 in the opening game of a doubleheader Sunday in Colorado.
MSUB also won the second game 6-5 to earn a split of the four-game series as first-year coach Rob Bishop made his debut for the Yellowjackets in the series.
MSUB had four big innings, scoring four runs in the first, eight in the fourth, six in the seventh and three in the eighth and never trailed as they outhit the ThunderWolves 22-16.
Robison and Austin Rue each had four, while Jeff Ridgeway and Kinzeler had three each.
MSUB used a four-run fourth inning to win the second game. Robison had two of MSUB's five hits, including a RBI single in the first. Meanwhile, Brian Hutchings got the win, giving up just four hits in six innings.
Central Washington 12, Cal State East Bay 2
Central got three hits from Jimmy Ryerson, Derrick Webb and David Leid in a 12-2 win to take the series with the Pioneers 3-1 and finish its road trip to California with a 3-3 record.
Leid had a RBI single in the third as CWU built a 3-0 lead, then drove in two more during a four-run seventh. The 'Cats then tacked on four more runs in the eighth.
Pitcher Palmer Brown pitched six innings and allowed just six hits and one run to get the victory.
Saint Martin's 10, Puget Sound 5
Josh Grenier scored four runs and drove in two to lead Saint Martin's to a 10-5 win against Puget Sound as the Saints (1-6) earned their first win of the season.
Among Grenier's hits was a solo home run in the fifth. Travis Jones also homered in the first inning to drive in the first two runs of the game.
Jones and Bobby Twedt each had three RBI, while Aaron Jones, Jones and Twedt had two hits each to back the pitching of Tommy DeBoer, who gave up three hits in five innings.
Saturday, Feb. 12
Crusaders Sweep Four-Game Series
Zeb Sneed and Jesse Gwaltney earned wins and Logan Parker had four hits as Northwest Nazarene completed a four-game sweep of Minot State with 6-4 and 12-3 wins Saturday at Vail Field.
In the opener, Sneed allowed just five hits and two runs in seven innings, while fanning eight. Sneed left with a 5-2 lead. Minot then got two runs in the eighth, but Ryan Brown pitched a scoreless ninth to nail down the win.
Parker, Zach Hibbard, Ryan VanBeek and Cameron Louie all had two hits for the Crusaders. Hibbard's RBI single in the eighth gave Brown a two-run cushion in the final inning.
Gwaltney pitched four innings in the nightcap, allowing three hits while striking out four. NNu scored in each of the first five innings, putting up crooked numbers in the first (2), third (2), fourth (4) and fifth (3).
Parker and Ty Windall had two hits each, while Ryan Udy, Drew Drlik and VanBeek had a pair of ribbies apiece.
Central Earns Split With Cal State East Bay
Central Washington put together six hits for six runs in the third inning and went on to defeat Cal State East Bay 9-5 in the opening game of a doubleheader Saturday at Hayward, Calif.
The Pioneers, however, bounced back to win the second game 3-2, their first win in the four-game series that concludes Sunday with a single game.
DH Chaz Ocbina had a two-run single in the big frame. Catcher David Leid also had two RBI, including one on a ground out in the third and another on a solo home run in the fifth.
Ryan Hastings pitched the first five innings, giving up five hits and three runs to get the win. Blaine Holbrook picked up a save, pitching one-hit ball over the final 2 2/3 innings.
CWU jumped to a 2-0 lead in the nightcap, but East Bay tied it on a two-run single by Nick McManus in the third, then won it with a fifth-inning RBI double by Charlie Sharrer.
Both starters - Jake Millbauer for CWU and A.J. Gallardo - went the distance and allowed six hits a piece. Millbauer walked four, while striking out two. Gallardo had six strikeouts and no walks.
Yellowjackets Swept By Colorado State Pueblo
Catcher Kyle Wager snapped a 4-4 tie with a solo home run in the sixth inning of the opener and then hit a game-winning three-run home run in the fifth inning of the nightcap as Colorado State Pueblo swept a baseball doubleheader from Montana State Billings 6-4 and 6-5 Saturday at Pueblo.
In the opener, the Yellowjackets got a two-run home run by Jeff Ridgeway and a bases-loaded walk to Blake Nelson to go ahead 4-2 in their fifth, but Pueblo tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs After scoring in the sixth, they added an insurance run in the seventh.
Nelson had a bunt single in the second for MSUB's first run. Travis Capps pitched the final 3 2/3 innings for MSUB, allowing just two hits but absorbed the loss.
Jordan Kessler, Ridgeway and Colby Robison all had RBI hits during a four-run fifth inning of the nightcap - Robison's plated two - as MSUB went ahead 5-3.
But, Wager then blasted a three-run home run in his team's half of the inning.
Friday, Feb. 11
Crusaders, Wolves Sweep; CWU Get First Win
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| Brodrick |
J.T. Brodrick, who was used mostly as a reliever last year making just five starts out of 18 appearances, allowed only two hits and fanned nine in 6 2/3 innings pitching Northwest Nazarene to a 5-1 win over Minot State Friday at Vail Field.
Brodrick helped NNU successfully open its 2011 baseball season with a doubleheader sweep as they also won the second game 6-4.
Western Oregon also swept a doubleheader earning a split of a four-game series with Cal State Dominguez Hills with 8-4 an 6-5 victories. The Wolves finished their eight-game road trip to California with a 3-5 record.
Central Washington, meanwhile, earned its first win after two losses outscoring Cal State East Bay 9-4 in the Bay area in the first game of a four-game series.
Brodrick took a one-hit shutout into the seventh before Minot got an unearned run, using two singles and an error.
Charles Pollock earned the win in the second game, giving up five hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings. Jeremy Burk pitched the seventh to record the save,
Second baseman Zach Hibbard led NNU offensively in the twinbill with five hits and three RBI. In the opener, Hibbard had three hits and a pair of RBI.
In the second game, Hibbard, Sean McDonald, Ryan VanBeek and Ty Windall all contributed two hits to an 11-hit attack.
NNU scored early in both games, jumping to a 5-0 lead in the opener by scoring one run in the first, three in the second and one in the third. A five-run third gave the Crusaders a 6-0 lead in the nightcap.
Western Oregon 8-6, Cal State Dominguez Hills 4-5
Daniel Dillard had three hits and drove in four runs to power the Wolves to a first-game victory.
WOU was clinging to a 5-4 lead until Bo Folkinga, Grant Glover and Dillard all had RBI hits in the ninth. Glover's safety was a double. Dillard earlier had put WOU ahead 3-2 with a three-run home run in the third.
Glover also had three hits, while Aaron Headrick and Folkinga had two each. Jason Wilson got the win pitching eight innings and giving up nine hits and four runs.
In the second game, WOU overcame a 5-1 deficit scoring five runs in the fourth. Glover's two-run single tied the game and Michael Chiarelli plated the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly.
Folkinga had three more hits to finish the doubleheader with five safeties in seven at bats.
Three relievers protected the lead allowing just three hits and no runs in 4 2/3 innings. Gavin Hite pitched two innings to get the win. Kirk Lind threw the final two frames to record the save.
Central Washington 9, Cal State East Bay 3
Brandon Wang had a two-run double and Glen Reser hit a three-run home run to key an eight-run second inning as the Wildcats earned their first win.
Reser and Nate Wallen each had three hits and Wang had two hits and three RBI in the victory.
Kyle Cruzen pitched six innings allowing six hits and all three runs to record the victory.
Thursday, Feb. 10
Wolves, Wildcats Lose in California
Carlos Levya's three-run, two-out home run in the bottom of the ninth powered Cal State Dominguez to a 8-6 win over Western Oregon Thursday at Toro Field in Carson, Calif.
Central Washington fell to 0-2 on the season losing at Cal State Stanislaus 11-4.
Leyva's home run came after Western Oregon (1-5) had scored four runs in the top of the ninth to go ahead 6-5. Wolf closer Kirk Lind, however, hit the first batter he faced and then after a popup on a bunt, he walked a batter.
He got a fly out for the second out, but Levya then went down the right field line for the game-winner.
WOU had just one hit in its four-run ninth, a leadoff double by Daniel Dillard, but scored runs on a walk, ground out, fielder's choice and error to briefly go ahead.
The Wolves, who were outhit 10-9, also scored twice in the sixth on a wild pitch and ground out.
Right fielder Bo Folkinga, who had three safeties, was WOU's only batter with more than one hit.
Leyva had three hits for the Toros (4-1), including two off of Michael Ward, who pitched the first eight innings surrendering nine hits and five runs, four of them earned.
Cal State Stanislaus 11, Central Washington 4
Derrick Webb's two-run home run in the third got the Wildcats off to a 2-0 lead and they led until the Warriors scored two in the fifth on a single by Fred Atkins and a double by Thomas Shull.
Stanislaus then added four more in the sixth and four in the eighth to cruise to the win.
The CCAA school had a total of 15 hits - three each by Atkins and Shull - while Central had nine, three by third baseman Glen Reser and two by Webb.
Wednesday, Feb. 9
Central Washington Loses to Stanislaus 9-3
Cal State Stanislaus broke up a scoreless deadlock with four runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth to defeat Central Washington 9-3 Wednesday at Turlock, Calif. in the season opener for both schools.
David Contreras drove in three with a bunt in the fifth and a two-run single in the sixth to back the pitching of starter Andrew Stueve who allowed six hits in seven innings.
Two relievers fanned five hitters in two innings as Central struck out 12 times on the day. Nate Wallen, who fanned three times, and Brandon Wang had CWU's RBIs.
Wolves Lose To No. 20 Cal State Dominguez Hills
Cal State Dominguez Hills jumped out with four early runs and continued to tack on en route to an 8-1 win over Western Oregon in the first game of the four-game series Wednesday at Carson, Calif.
The Wolves (1-4) scored their only run of the game in first, but the Toros answered back with a pair of two-out, two-run rallies in the first and second.
Abel Medina drove in three runs for CSUDH, while four others had two Rbi. Shane Youngdale (1-1) picked up the win allowing nine hits, but just one run in six innings.
Michael Chiarelli, Austin Potter, Aaron Headrick and Tim Rausch each collected two hits for the Wolves.
Sunday, Feb. 6
Wolves Beat Top-Ranked UCSD
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| Kirk Lind |
Andy Fox and Aaron Headrick each had two hits and Grant Glover had a pair of doubles leading Western Oregon to a 7-5 win over top-ranked UC San Diego in the final game of a four-game series at Triton Ballpark Sunday.
UCSD won the first three games of the season-opening series in La Jolla, Calif.
The Wolves scored four runs in the seventh to open up a 7-1 lead, then survived a four-run UCSD seventh as Kirk Lind came in to pitch the final 2 2/3 innings to get a save.
Lind gave up three hits, including a RBI single to the first hitter he faced, but wasn't charged with a run. He walked one and fanned one.
Glover started WOU's seventh with a double and later scored on a double by DH Miles Kizer. The inning also featured a RBI single by Griffin Boyd and a RBI double by Headrick.
Saints End Road Trip Winless In Six games
Cal State Dominguez Hills built a 3-2 lead through seven innings before adding three insurance runs in the eighth to earn a 6-2 win over Saint Martin's Sunday at Toro Field in Carson, Calif.
Shortstop Ricky Vasquez and catcher Brian Gregory each drove in two runs for the Toros who survived six errors in allowing just two runs. SMU had just four hits including a RBI single in the first by Michael McIver.
The Saints, who play a four-game series this weekend against the University of Puget Sound, also scored in the fourth on an error to go ahead 2-1.
But, Dominguez Hills went ahead in the bottom of the inning scoring on s sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly as they improved to 2-1 on the season.
Saturday, Feb. 5
Saints, Wolves Each Lose Twice
Saint Martin's rallied for two runs in the ninth before Carlos Leyva got a game-winning single in the bottom of the frame to give Cal State Dominguez a 4-3 victory Saturday morning.
The Saints also lost to Cal State L.A. 7-3 in the afternoon to fall to 0-5 in their season-opening road trip to California.
Meanwhile, Western Oregon was swept by nationally top-ranked UC San Diego 10-2 and 6-1. WOU second baseman Grant Glover went 0 for 2 in the second game, ending his GNAC-record 32-game hitting streak.
Saint Martin's had just one hit in the ninth - a single by pinch-hitter Michael McIver - but scored two unearned runs on a ground out and an error to force the bottom of the frame against Dominguez.
SMU's first run came in the second on a single by catcher Colt Savage.
The Saints were outhit 10-6. Leyva had three safeties for the Toros and Travis Jones had two for the Saints, who turned three double plays.
SMU also got good pitching from starter Casey Mitchell (6 innings, 6 hits, 3 runs, 3 strikeouts) and Sean Meehan (2 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs). Nate O'Bryan pitched the ninth getting just one out and was tagged with the loss.
SMU was held to four his, three of them in a three-run seventh inning, by five CSLA pitchers. Aaron Johnson drove in all three Saint runs with a home run cutting a 6-0 deficit in half.
The Saints, who complete their road trip Sunday with another game at Dominguez, were retired in order in both the eighth and ninth innings.
UC San Diego 10-6, Western Oregon 2-1
The nationally top-ranked Tritons broke open a close game with four runs in the seventh and then added two in the eighth to beat the Wolves in their opener.
WOU starter Michael Ward allowed five hits and four runs in six innings leaving with a 4-2 deficit. The Wolves scored their runs in the first on a single by Kizer and in the sixth on a double by Boyd.
Glover and Daniel Dillard each had two hits for WOU. The Wolves, however, managed just three hits - one each by Michael Chiarelli, Austin Potter and Tim Rausch in the second game.
Its lone run came in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Glover. Glover had one more opportunity to extend his 32-game hitting streak in the seventh but he flied to center for the final out of the contest.
Friday, Feb. 4
Saints Swept By Cal Poly Pomona
Michael McIver had a solid pitching outing in Saint Martin's 5-2 loss to Cal Poly Pomona in the opening game of a baseball doubleheader at Scolinos Field Friday.
The Broncos also won the second game 7-6 overcoming a 5-4 deficit in the bottom of the fifth of the seven-inning game with three runs.
Meanwhile Western Oregon dropped a 4-1 decision to defending national runner-up UC San Diego 4-1 in its opener.
McIver allowed just six hits and didn't walk a batter in seven innings before leaving trailing 4-2 in the opener. He fanned four and allowed just two earned runs.
Pomona's runs off of McIver came on a rundown play in the first, an infield out in the third and on an error and another rundown play in the fifth.
Jenzen Torres had a sacrifice fly for the Broncos final run off of reliever Nate O'Bryan in the eighth.
The Saints had seven hits, two by left fielder Aaron Johnson and two by shortstop Cody Brooks. Centerfielder Andrew Elke and Johnson had RBIs.
In the second game, Travis Taijeron had two hits, including a two-run home run in the third and a RBI single in the first to lead Pomona. Elke and Johnson each had two hits and three of SMU's four RBI.
Elke singled for two runs during the Saints' three-run fourth when it went ahead. Johnson had a RBI double in the seventh to pull his team within one run. He advanced to third on a wild pitch, but winning pitcher Scott Sibley then got a strikeout and fly to preserve the victory.
UC San Diego 4, Western Oregon 1
UC San Diego scored two unearned runs in the first inning and Tim Shibuya threw seven innings of one-run ball to lift the No. 1 Tritons over the Wolves in the first of a four-game series.
Grady Wood allowed four runs (two unearned) while striking out four and allowing four hits in seven innings in his Wolves' debut.
Grant Glover and Aaron Headrick each went 2-for-4 out of the top spots in the lineup. The hit for Glover in the first inning extended his hitting streak to 31 games, dating back to last season.
The Wolves scored their lone run in the sixth inning. Glover and Headrick both singled to lead off the inning, with Glover advancing to third on Headrick's hit. Dillard then drove him home with a sacrifice fly to center. However, Shibuya then got a foul out and a strike out to difuse the rally.
Thursday, Feb. 3
CSLA Rallies to Beat Saints 8-5
Cal State L.A. hit five home runs including a pair in the sixth inning to overcome a 5-3 deficit and went on to beat Saint Martin's 8-5 Thursday in the season opener for both teams.
Brian Moon led off the sixth with a four-bagger and two batters later Noe Flores hit a two-run shot.
CSLA then added insurance runs in the seventh on another home run by Chad Nacopy and eighth on a single by Daniel Duran. Nacopy's four-bagger was his second of the game.
Saint Martin's scored four of its runs in the top of the sixth including two on a single by Andrew Elke. Elke and Kyle Baskett each had two hits for the Saints.
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