Baseball | 4/14/2012 5:10:00 PM

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

NAMPA, Idaho - The Western Oregon baseball team hit nine home runs today (Apr. 14) and split a doubleheader with Northwest Nazarene, 9-8 and 22-3, to win another series on the road.

The Wolves (28-7, 16-2 GNAC) have now won five straight series, and seven of eight this season. The only series they did not win was a four-game split with Cal State Stanislaus on the road. The doubleheader split with NNU today also kept Western Oregon eight games up in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings.

Bo Folkinga had a big doubleheader to lead the Wolves offense in both game. He went 5-for-7 with two home runs, four runs scored and four RBI.

Game 1
Northwest Nazarene rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth to snap Western Oregon's 10-game winning streak with a 9-8 victory.

The Crusaders had just a runner on second with two out in the ninth before a walk and a single by Sean McDonald knotted the game at 8-8. Greg Hata then singled in pinch runner Zeb Sneed from second base to get the Crusaders' first win over the Wolves in seven tries this season.

Western Oregon had led for much of the game after scoring in each inning between the second and the sixth to go in front 7-5. NNU then tied the game at seven all on a two-runner homer in the seventh. Western Oregon answered right back to take the lead in the top of the eighth on a single by Bo Folkinga to take the 8-7 lead into the bottom of the ninth.

Griff Boyd had three RBI to lead the Wolves. Folkinga had three hits to pace the squad, while Josh Solemsaas and Boyd each had two base knocks. Solemsaas and AJ Royal also tacked on solo home runs.

McDonald had four hits to lead the Crusaders. NNU scored nine runs while leaving just three runs on base.

Game 2
Michael Gange and Bo Folkinga each homered twice and Western Oregon put up a season-high 22 runs in game two to get the series split.

The home runs were Gange's first of the season and helped the junior second baseman put together a career day at the plate. He finished the game 3-for-3 with three runs scored and four runs batted in. He was one of seven Wolves hitters that recorded a multi-RBI game.

Gange's first long ball came as part of an 11-run third inning for the Wolves. Western Oregon used the inning to erase a two-run deficit and take control of the game. Brady Locker, Kyle Blackwell and Griff Boyd also homered in the inning.

Western Oregon would carry the momentum through the rest of the game as they scored in each of the next four innings, including putting up four-spots in the fourth and seventh innings.

Bo Folkinga connected on two homers of his own as he finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored. Locker and Miller each knocked in two runs, and Boyd was 2-for-2 with a homer, two RBI and three runs scored.

AJ Burke (3-0) benefitted from the run support to pick up the win. He went four innings giving up five hits and three runs while striking out four. Zach Nuno and Gary Steindorf pitched the final three innings without allowing a run to seal the win.

In addition to their seven homers in the contest, the Wolves also had six doubles among their 19 hits.

Next games
Western Oregon will be off this week before continuing GNAC play at home on Apr. 28th against Central Washington for its final home series of the year.