Baseball | 3/21/2011 5:31:05 PM

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

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Western Oregon pitchers yielded only two runs over 16 innings however, the Wolves managed just a split in the doubleheader against Saint Martin's on Monday, Mar. 21.

The Wolves won the opener 6-0 behind a strong start from Jason Wilson, but Saint Martin's was able to prevail in the second game, 2-1.

With the split, Western Oregon (13-9, 6-2 GNAC) remained one game back of Saint Martin's (11-13, 9-3 GNAC) in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings.

Game 1
Jason Wilson gave up just two hits while striking out seven in seven innings of work to lead the Wolves to a 6-0 win. This was the first shutout of the season for Western Oregon, as Wilson improved to 3-0 in the victory.

"Jason did a phenomenal job," Western Oregon head coach Jeremiah Robbins noted. "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."

Western Oregon's offense was aggressive early as it put all six runs on the board by the end of the fourth inning. Daniel Dillard got the Wolves' scoring started with a two-run homer in the first. It was the second consecutive game Dillard hit a long bomb for WOU.

The Wolves then added one in the second on a two-out single by Eric Copenhagen, before scoring two in the second on a run-scoring double by Bo Folkinga and a single by Kevin Clark. Their final run came in the fourth inning on a single by Michael Chiarelli.

Dillard went 1-for-3 with a home run and also added two RBI and two runs scored. Grant Glover also scored two runs for the Wolves, while Chiarelli, Clark and Copenhagen all recorded multi-hit games.

Cody Brooks had two of Saint Martin's three hits in the game.

Game 2
Cam Nobles did not allow a hit in the first 3.2 innings of work and gave up just two runs in the game, but he was outdueled by SMU's Nate O'Bryan and Kaleb Wilson as the Saints won game two 2-1.

Nobles cruised through the first three innings allowing just one walk while striking out four. Then in the fourth inning, he walked Andrew Elke to lead off the inning, and after Elke stole second base, Josh Grenier lined a two-out single to left field for the Saints' first run of the day. They added their second on a solo home run by Blaine Evans to leadoff the fifth inning to go up on Western Oregon 2-0.

Western Oregon would cut the lead in half on a failed pickoff in the fifth, which allowed Andre Royal to trot in from third. This would be as close as WOU would get, as it went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position the rest of the game.

Nobles (2-2) was charged with the loss despite giving up just two runs and three hits in 4.2 innings, while striking out seven. He gave way to Ian MacDougall who pitched the final 2.1 innings without yielding a hit.

"Nobles came in and pitched great and kept us in the game," Robbins said. "MacDougall was also resilient and pitched great."

The Wolves' were unable to capitalize on opportunities as they left eight runners on base, including three in the fifth and two apiece in the fourth and sixth innings.

"You have to have consistent hitting to win," Robbins explained. "You can have consistent pitching but you have to mix in hit, and that was the disappointing thing today.

"We were prepared for the pitching today but (the offense) just didn't happen and that is sort of starting to become a trend for our hitters," Robbins continued. "We have some serious things we need to address but we will keep working."

Next games
After playing the last three weekends at the friendly confines of the WOU Baseball Field, the Wolves will take to the road to take on Montana State Billings on Mar. 25-26.

"The awesome thing about the game of baseball is it's a short turnaround and we are back on the road this week for the big trip to Billings," the sixth-year head coach said. "We are going to get right back out there and go after it."