Tuesday, May 7, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. – Western Oregon went on the road last weekend and won three of four games at Central Washington clinching the host role for the GNAC Baseball tournament  which begins Thursday at the WOU Baseball Field.

That accomplishment also earned the Wolves GNAC Team of the Week honors.

WOU needed just one win in the series to clinch its 12th straight regular-season title and they got that in Friday’s opener winning 9-7. 

After losing Friday’s second-game 5-4, WOU completed its regular-season  by sweeping the Wildcats 9-0 and 5-3 Saturday.

"It was a good effort by our guys to win the series on the road against a very good Central Washington team,” first-year coach Kellen Walker said.  “It was important to our club to earn the opportunity to host the inaugural GNAC tournament. We are excited to host two very good teams in this exciting event."

The Wolves (31-19) are the No. 1 seed and will host third-seed Montana State Billings (21-25-1) in Thursday’s first game at 10 a.m. 

The second game at 1 p.m. will match MSUB and second-seed Central Washington (28-22) at 1 p.m.  Central and WOU will then complete the first round at 4 p.m.

The tournament then continues Friday with games at noon and 3 p.m. (if necessary).

WOU got outstanding pitching in its series win at Ellensburg, compiling a 2.90 earned run average.  WOU’s four starters  gave up just four earned runs.

A.J. Burke pitched a four-hit shutout in Saturday’s first game improving to 7-3 and lowering his ERA to a GNAC-best 2.83.  Spenser Watkins (7-6) and Zach Nuno (6-2) also got wins in the series.

Offensively, WOU hit .311 in the series by  led rightfielder Chris Bradshaw with seven hits. Centerfielder Tim Rausch and left fielder Matt Nylen had six hits apiece.  Nylen also had a team-high six RBI.