Monday, May 14, 2012

Western Oregon will host the 2012 NCAA West Regional Baseball Championships at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer, Ore. beginning Thursday.

The Wolves (40-9) will face fourth-seed Chico State (37-16) in their opening game at 5 p.m.

The first game at 1 p.m. will match second-seed Dixie State (32-18) against third-seed UC San Diego (32-22).

This marks the seventh time Western Oregon has been selected to the NCAA Division II regionals. The Wolves have qualified for the West Regionals in four of the past five years and six of the past eight.

WOU also hosted the regional tournament at Volcanoes Stadium in both 2006 and 2009.

WOU completed its regular-season Saturday sweeping a doubleheader at Montana State Billings by scores of 18-0 and 11-3.

First baseman Bo Folkinga led the Wolves in the doubleheader with seven hits in 10 at bats and also drove in seven runs.

In the opener, WOU pounded out 17 hits, including four by catcher Scott David and three by Folkinga. Folkinga and third baseman Griff Boyd homered. Kirk Lind allowed five hits in seven innings to record his seventh win against two losses.

In the second game, Folkinga and shortstop Blake Miller each had four hits. Matt Nylen had three as the 2-3-4 hitters in the lineup went 11 for 14. Folkinga homered again and drove in five runs, while Nylen had three RBI.

Colby Robison led Montana State Billings (22-24, 13-19) on the day with four hits, including two in each game.

Northwest Nazarene, meanwhile, swept a doubleheader from Central Washington by 13-7 and 5-1 scores.

Jon Matos and Zach Steele each had three RBI to lead the Crusaders (27-22, 16-16) to their first-game win. Steele had three hits including a homer. Brady Kincannon and David Leid homered for the Wildcats (19-31, 11-21).

Derek Bettinson had three hits and three RBI and Ryan Brown pitched a three-hitter to key NNU's second-game win. Bettinson and Jamie Mitchell homered for the Crusaders and Kincannon went deep again for the Wildcats.

NCAA West Regional (May 17-20 at Salem, Ore.): Thursday - #2 Dixie State vs. #3 UC San Diego, 1 p.m.; #1 Western Oregon vs. #4 Chico State, 5 p.m. Friday – Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 1 p.m.; Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5 p.m. Saturday – Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4; Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5. Sunday – Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 (if necessary).