Baseball | 5/7/2009 8:14:51 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 [Game 1: Box score]  [Game 2: Box score]

BILLINGS, Mont. - The Western Oregon University baseball team swept Montana State Billings, 8-1 and 15-5, in a doubleheader Thursday, (May 7) as it continues to improve on its resume in an attempt to host the 2009 NCAA West Regional.

The Wolves are currently ranked No. 2 in the region with a 32-11 season record and a 29-9 in-region mark. WOU has already clinched its eighth consecutive Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship with a 23-3 record. The losses dropped the Yellowjackets to 23-27 on the season and 15-15 in conference.

Game 1
Blake Keitzman took a no-hitter two outs into the eighth inning as he improved to 8-0 on the season and led the Wolves to an 8-1 win in game one of the doubleheader.

In his 7.2 innings of work, Keitzman struck out 11 Yellowjackets while walking six and yielding just one hit. The lone hit came in the form of a Nick Harris home run which broke up both the no-hitter and shutout. Rye Phillips would take over after that and retire the next four batters in order as WOU scattered just one hit in the game.

However the Wolves bats came through with 12 hits and eight runs. Bill Clontz led the way going 3-for-4 with three runs and an RBI while Eric Renander and Thomas McCarthy delivered two hits apiece. Jason Moseby's three-run homer in the fifth inning was followed by another long ball from Kyle Boe as the Wolves' duo went back-to-back to put WOU up 7-0.

"It was phenomenal job once again by Blake," Western Oregon head coach Jeremiah Robbins said. "The guys hit the ball well and the bats came through with some big home runs."

Game 2
The Wolves' offense put up eight runs in the top of the second inning and Mike Eisenhauer went the distance as WOU won game two 15-5.

Bill Clontz and Kyle Boe each had two RBI in the second inning while Jason Moseby added three as the Wolves took control of the game early. Moseby started the inning's scoring off with a triple to plate Clontz then Boe followed with a homer to left. The Wolves would have the base loaded when Clontz returned to the plate for the second time in the inning. He singles to score two runs and would be brought in on a two-run single by Moseby as Western Oregon jumped to the 8-0 lead.

For the game Moseby went 3-for-4 with five RBI. Travis Fox matched a season-high with four RBI while JJ Mascolo added three runs scored.

Eisenhauer improved to 4-2 on the season as he went seven innings allowing seven hits and five runs while walking two and striking out four.

"It was a good effort all day by our guys," Robbins noted. "I believe we are focused and in a position to do some good things tomorrow."

The Wolves will be looking for the season sweep of MSU Billings tomorrow (May 8) at 1:00 p.m.