Baseball | 4/23/2010 9:09:25 PM

Box Score [Box score]

CHICO, Calif. - The Western Oregon University baseball team scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning to come from behind and take game one of the series from Chico State 4-3, Friday, Apr. 23.

Devon Bouvier led off Western Oregon's (27-11) ninth with a double and scored on a throwing error by Chico State's (27-16) pitcher when Cesar Lopez attempted to sacrifice him to third to tie the game at 3-3. On the overthrow, Lopez went to second and would later score the game-winning run two batters later on a single by Grant Glover. The single by Glover extended his hitting streak to 19 games.

Wolves' starter Michael Ward (5-1) held the Wildcats' bats in check for most of the evening, as he surrendered four hits, three runs (two earned) and two walks while striking out eight. Kirk Lind then posted a perfect ninth inning for his fourth save of the year.

WOU scored the first run of the game in the sixth on back-to-back doubles by Jason Moseby and Kyle Boe. It then went on top 2-0 in the seventh on a double by Cesar Lopez and a run scoring single by Garrett Breda.

Chico State erased the two-run deficit with two in the seventh, and took the lead with one run in the eighth. However, the Wolves had one more rally left in them, as they put two on the board in the ninth for their 17th straight victory.

Six of the Wolves' nine hits were doubles, including three by Jason Moseby. Cesar Lopez went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

"Our guys stayed focused and stuck with the gameplan," said Western Oregon head coach Jeremiah Robbins. "We stayed with it and were able to scratch out some runs.

Chico State's starter Michael Gleason (6-1) struck out 11 Wolves' batters in his 8.1 innings of work and was charged with all four runs to suffer his first loss of the season.

"Gleason was the best right handed pitcher we have seen all year," noted Robbins. "When two quality teams play it usually comes down to who makes a mistake."

"Chico State is a very good team and when you give them a chance they will capitalize on it," Robbins continued. "This series still has a long ways to go and we have to stay with it because Chico will come back focused tomorrow."

Western Oregon and Chico State will come back with games two and three of their four-game series Saturday (Apr. 24), beginning at noon.