Baseball | 3/8/2014 6:35:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Oregon University baseball team won its second straight series with a split, 4-7 and 8-0, against Montana State University Billings Saturday.

The Wolves (12-9, 6-2 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) have opened their conference schedule with consecutive 3-1 series' victories. On a cold and rainy day, Chris Bradshaw continued his big weekend with a 6-for-9 batting performance, with three RBI and three doubles Saturday. The senior finished the series 10-for-17 with eight RBI. Clark McKitrick pitched a two-hit complete game in the second contest. He tossed a seven-inning shutout in the win.

In the first game, which went 11 innings, WOU opened the scoring in the bottom of the third inning. Matt Taylor drove in Jacob Whisler on a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning. In the fifth, Whisler then hit an RBI single that brought in Garret Harpole. MSU Billings countered with four runs in the eighth inning to take the lead. After two RBI singles, Brody Miller hit a two-RBI single through the left side to give the Yellowjackets their first lead all weekend. In the bottom of the ninth, Marcus Madden tied the game when he scored on a MSUB throwing error. After a scoreless 10th, the Yellowjackets sealed the win with three runs in the 11th.

Bryon Baker (1-0) picked up the victory on the mound. He threw the final four innings, giving up no runs, and only one hit. The freshman struck out five Wolves. Taylor Hetrick (2-1) was credited with the loss, giving up three earned runs on four hits. Seven pitchers made an appearance for Western Oregon. Whisler went 3-for-6, and Kevin Toon was also 3-for-6 for Montana State Billings.

The teams combined for 24 hits, which matched a conference-high for two teams this season. The teams also combined for 37 runners left on base, which is a new conference-high this season. WOU stranded 17 on base.

McKitrick (2-0) was dominant in the second game. During his seven-inning shutout performance, he struck out three Yellowjackets and had seven walks. Forty-nine of his 104 pitches were strikes. Three Bradshaw doubles drove in three of the eight runs. Jake Campeau (0-2) had the loss for MSUB (2-14, 1-3 GNAC).

Western Oregon welcomes Northwest Nazarene (9-11, 4-2) in a pair of doubleheaders next Friday and Saturday. Friday's start is scheduled for 1 p.m.

MSU Billings 7, Western Oregon 4 (03/08/14 at Monmouth, OR) (Game 1)
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MSU Billings........ 000 000 040 030  -  7 14  2      (2-13, 1-2)
Western Oregon...... 001 110 001 00X  -  4 10  1      (11-9, 5-2)
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Pitchers: MSU Billings - Muller; Mills(5); Knoll(8); Baker(8) and Nix. Western Oregon -
Huson,Eric; Morrison,Christian(6); Pratt,Jesse(7); Egli,Zev(8); Tokunaga,Chase(8);
Storedahl,Jacob(9); Hetrick,Taylor(10) and Turner,Jarrod.
Win-Baker(1-0)  Loss-Hetrick,Taylor(2-1)  T-2:45  A-63
Knoll faced 1 batter in the 8th.

Western Oregon 8, MSU Billings 0 (03/08/14 at Monmouth, OR) (Game 2)
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MSU Billings........ 000 000 0 -  0  2  1      (2-14, 1-3)
Western Oregon...... 232 010 X -  8  8  0      (12-9, 6-2)
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Pitchers: MSU Billings - Campeau; J.Andriolo(2); Cooper(5); Blehm(6) and . Western Oregon -
McKitrick,Clark and .
Win-McKitrick,Clark(2-0)  Loss-Campeau(0-3)  T-1:40  A-0