Baseball | 3/25/2014 4:07:00 PM
Box Score PORTLAND, Ore. – The Western Oregon University baseball team eased to a 12-6 non-conference victory at Concordia University (Ore.) Tuesday.
On a chilly and wet day, the Wolves (19-10, 12-4 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) took the single game faceoff with the future GNAC member. WOU, now ranked eighth in the NCBWA West Region poll, won the 78th meeting between the schools and avenged a 6-3 loss earlier this season in the Wolves' home opener. Western Oregon now leads the all-time series 59-19.
Concordia of the NAIA has accepted an invitation to join the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in 2015. The invitation is contingent upon Concordia being admitted into the NCAA's membership process. Concordia applied for NCAA membership, with a decision rendered by the NCAA Division II Membership Committee expected this summer.
This week's conference Player of the Week,
Parker Miles, finished 3-for-4 at the plate with four RBI. The senior became the ninth player in WOU history to hit a pair of triples in a single game and the first since 2003.
Michael Sherwin went 3-for-5 and drove in three runs.
Chris Bradshaw was also 3-for-5 and was walked once. Sherwin and
Garret Harpole helped WOU become just the second team in Porter Park history to hit two home runs in a single game. Concordia last did on April 1, 2012.
Jesse Pratt (1-0) picked up his first victory of the season on the mound. The junior allowed no runs and gave up only one hit in four innings of work. He struck out two Cavaliers, and threw four walks. Four other Wolves made an appearance in the game.
Sherwin's first home run of the season opened the scoring in the top of the second inning. The junior's shot over the left field fence scored two runs. WOU added three runs in the third inning. Miles hit a triple to left field that brought in Bradshaw. Miles was then driven in off of a
Daniel McNabb single. Harpole hit his second home run of the season bringing in McNabb.
In the fourth, Miles' second triple of the season, and the day, drove in two runners. Leading 8-0, the Wolves tacked on four runs in the fifth inning. Sherwin and Miles both hit RBI singles, and
Matt Taylor connected on a two-RBI single to right field.
Concordia (17-10) scored a run in the sixth and made a rally attempt with five runs in the bottom of the ninth. Christian Lichtenthaler was 2-for-5 and had two RBI. He hit two doubles. Ryan McMonigle was 2-for-3 and hit a triple. Brad Bearden (2-1) lost his first decision on the mound. The junior gave up two earned runs on two hits in the first two innings of the game.
The Wolves are now 15-2 when they out-hit their opponent. They had a conference season-high 18 hits on 45 at-bats, also a high this season in the GNAC. Concordia had 10 hits. WOU stranded 11 runners on base, while the Cavaliers left 10. CU committed two errors, and Western Oregon had one.
Western Oregon has a break until April 5, when it opens the second half of GNAC play at Central Washington. The Wolves took three of four against CWU (12-11, 5-7 GNAC) earlier this season in Monmouth. The Wildcats host Saint Martin's in four games this weekend.
Western Oregon 12, Concordia 6 (03/26/14 at Portland, Ore.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Western Oregon...... 024 240 000 - 12 18 1 (19-11)
Concordia........... 000 001 005 - 6 10 2 (17-10)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Western Oregon - Pratt,Jesse; Ampi,Vince(6); Trautmann,Spencer(7);
Morrison,Christian(9); Keller,Nick(9) and Sherwin,Michael. Concordia - BEARDEN; EVETTS(3);
YASUI(4); MOSSHOLDER(6); McMONIGLE(8) and TALBOT; WEAVER.
Win-Pratt,Jesse(1-0) Loss-BEARDEN(2-1) T-2:50 A-25
HR WOU - Harpole,Garret; Sherwin,Michael.
