Baseball | 3/9/2012 5:48:00 PM

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

MONMOUTH, Ore. - The Wolves received a pair of strong starting pitching performances and their bats came up with a couple of clutch innings to defeat Northwest Nazarene, 5-0 and 3-2, in Western Oregon's home opener on Friday, Mar. 9.

The wins move the No. 4 regionally ranked Wolves' record to 13-6 on the season and to 2-0 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The losses drop No. 7 regionally ranked NNU to 11-6 on the season and to 0-2 in the GNAC.

Game 1
Grady Wood dominated Northwest Nazarene as he threw a three-hit shutout to lead WOU to a 5-0 win in game one.

Wood needed just 79 pitches to get through the nine inning game. He induced 15 groundball outs and struck out six Crusaders to improve to 5-0 on the season. Two of NNU's three hits were infield singles, and between the Crusaders' second and third hits Wood retired 12 straight batters.

"I was very impressed with Grady's effort today," said Western Oregon head coach Jeremiah Robbins. "He commanded three pitches today and really bought in with setting the tone for the weekend. Our hitters took a little while to get going, so for Grady to go out and throw zeros on the board was huge for us. "

The Wolves' offense would put up four of their five runs in the third inning as they capitalized on their best scoring opportunity. Michael Gange doubled with one out and then went to third on a single by David Amberson. Matt Nylen would drive in both runners on a single to right field. Blake Miller would follow up with another single, and then Miller and Nylen would both march home on a two-out, two-RBI single by AJ Royal. These runs seemed to energize Wood as he allowed just two base runners over the final six innings.

Royal and Nylen finished with two RBI apiece to lead the Wolves. David Amberson was the only student-athlete in the game to record two hits as he went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Game 2
Michael Gange did not flinch with the baseball flying at his elbow as the junior second baseman wore the pitch with one out and the bases loaded in the bottom ninth inning to lift Western Oregon to a 3-2 extra innings win over GNAC rival Northwest Nazarene.

Gange's hit by pitch capped off the Wolves' game-winning rally. AJ Royal, who would score the winning run, led off the inning by fighting off an inside pitch and dropping it into left field. After Kyle Blackwell sacrificed him to second base, NNU chose to intentionally walk Griff Boyd to set up the double play. Coach Robbins then went to his bench for pinch hitter Grant Mascolo. Mascolo patiently looked at four wide pitches to draw the walk and load the bases up for Gange. Gange opened up the at-bat by falling behind 0-2 was plunked on a 1-2 count to earn the Wolves the win.

Western Oregon was able to have the chance to win the game in overtime thanks to the strong pitching it received out of its starter and the bullpen. Jason Wilson went the first 6.1 innings allowing two runs and three hits while striking out three and walking one. Wilson did not allow a NNU hit till the fifth inning. He retired 11 straight batters between the first and fourth innings.

"I think Jason fed of Grady's performance," said Robbins. "He didn't get the decision but he went out there today and did a very good job."

Ian MacDougall (1-1) took over for Wilson with one out in the seventh inning and went the next 2.2 innings, allowing just two hits while striking out two for his first win of the season.

"We have been telling our guys we have to go up there and pitch to contact, and not try to strike everyone out," Robbins continued. "NNU is a good hitting team but we kept the ball down all game. I just loved the way our pitchers competed, not just with the fastball but by mixing and matching with their changeup."

Western Oregon originally took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning thanks to a couple of costly NNU errors. The first was a misplayed grounder by the third baseman which brought in Bo Folkinga for the first run of the game. Griff Boyd would cross the plate on a fielding error by the second baseman to put WOU in front 2-0.

Northwest Nazarene would come back to tie the game at 2-2 in the fifth inning. Fernando Robles had the big hit with an opposite field double to drive in both runs.

NNU would outhit WOU 5-3 in the game but the Wolves had 10 base runners to the Crusaders' six thanks to six walks and a hit by pitch from the NNU pitchers.

Next games
These teams will play another doubleheader on Saturday, Mar. 10 at noon to close out their four-game series.