Baseball | 5/2/2013 1:31:00 PM

BASEBALL – SAINT MARTIN'S AT WESTERN OREGON
Friday, May 3, 2013 – 1:00 p.m. – Ellensburg, Wash. - (DH)
Saturday, May 4, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – Ellensburg, Wash. – (DH)

LIVE STATS: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/cwu.portal#

Monmouth, Ore.- The Western Oregon baseball team closes out the regular season with a regular season conference championship on the line as the Wolves travel to second-place Central Washington for a four game series that opens with a doubleheader on Friday, May 3 at 1:00 p.m. and concludes with a doubleheader on Saturday, May 4 at 12:00 p.m.

WOU enters the series in first-place at 28-18 overall and 21-7 in GNAC play, while second place CWU enters the series at 27-19 overall and 18-10 in conference play. The Wolves, seeking their 12th consecutive GNAC title, are one victory away from clinching the conference, while the Wildcats need to sweep the series to win the conference title and end WOU's streak.

The Wolves are led at the plate by conference batting leader Blake Miller, batting .394. The shortstop went 8-for-15 last week and looks to continue his strong play. WOU has three other players who rank in the top ten in hitting with Daniel McNabb (.356, fifth), Scott David (.352, eighth) and Matt Nylen (.347, 10th). As a team, the Wolves are batting .293 and have scored 261 runs.

WOU's pitching staff continues to lead the GNAC as the Wolves rank first in ERA (4.57) and opposing batting average (.272). A.J. Burke, who is 6-3 on the season, leads the starting rotation, ranking first in the GNAC in ERA (3.18) and strikeouts (73) in 73.2 innings pitched. The right-hander is coming off a strong, complete game victory last week, pitching all nine innings while allowing five hits, one earned run, and striking out seven Saint Martin's batters. Reliever Kody Stone has anchored the bullpen as he has tied a GNAC record with 12 saves and carries a 2.41 ERA into the series.

The Wildcats, batting a conference best .326, are led at the plate by Kyle Sani. The catcher is batting .343 and ranks first in the GNAC with 17 home runs. Stuart Fewel leads CWU on the mound as he posted a 5-2 record with a 4.41 ERA in 65.1 innings pitched. The Wildcats pitching staff ranks second in ERA (4.84) and runs scored (297).

The outcome of the series will determine who hosts next week's Great Northwest Athletic Conference Baseball Championship. The double elimination tournament will be played on the campus of the regular season champion and will begin on Thursday, May 9.