Baseball | 3/9/2013 11:26:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

NAMPA, Idaho – A.J. Burke and Zach Nuno each had outstanding starts for the Western Oregon baseball team as the Wolves swept a pair of games from Northwest Nazarene on Saturday, defeating the Crusaders, 6-2, in game one before a 3-1 victory in game two. With the wins, WOU improves to 11-8 on the season and 6-2 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

“A.J. (Burke) and Zach (Nuno) really picked us up when we needed it,” head coach Kellen Walker said. “We were able to get the hits we needed in key situations and it allowed us to come away with an important series victory.”

Burke was the star in game one as he picked up his first win of the season and improved to 1-3 after allowing two runs on just two hits in 8.0-plus innings of work. The right-hander struck out nine as WOU jumped out to a 6-0 lead before NNU posted two runs in the ninth.

Blake Miller got the scoring started as he blasted a two-run shot over the left field wall in the fourth inning to give the Wolves a 2-0.

WOU would add a pair of runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth to grab a commanding, 6-0 lead.

Miller finished the game with four RBU as the All-American went 3-for-4 with a run scored and four RBI. Daniel McNabb added three hits and a pair of runs while Chris Bradshaw also scored twice for the Wolves.

Flannery took the loss for NNU and fell to 0-3 on the season after allowing four runs on eight hits in seven innings of work.

In game two, Nuno allowed only one run in seven innings as he picked up the complete game win to move to 3-0 on the season.

The Crusaders grabbed a lead with a run in the fifth inning; however, WOU answered with two in the sixth to take the lead for good.

Josh Wong delivered the deciding blow as he lifted a two-run home run over the left field wall, his first of the season, to score Matt Nylen and give the Wolves a 2-1 edge in the contest.

Tim Rausch would provide an insurance run with a solo shot to left field in the ninth as Zuno managed to shut the Crusaders down in the seventh to give the Wolves the series victory.

Robles took the loss for NNU and fell to 1-2 on the season after allowing two runs on five hits in five innings of work.

WOU will return to action when the Wolves travel to Seaside, Calif., for the start of a three-game series against Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday, March 15, at 3:00 p.m.