Written by Matt Rawlings, Sports Information Intern

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Led by a 4-for-6 performance at the plate by senior Matt Taylor, Western Oregon University baseball's team was able to get the lopsided 17-0 victory against Point Loma Nazarene in Game #1 of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. In Game # 2, the Wolves were unable to take advantage of a solid pitching performance by junior Houston Samuel, as the Wolves dropped the finale of the doubleheader by a score of 2-0.

Senior Garret Harpole also had a monster day at the plate in the first game for Western Oregon (1-7) going 3-for-4 with six RBI, while senior Marcus Hinkle also had three hits in the victory in the first game. Taylor, as well as junior Nathan Etheridge, junior Cody Sullivan, and junior Brandon Oliver recorded one hit apiece in the second game of the doubleheader.

Junior Darrien Moran got the start on the mound for Western Oregon in the first game and he, along with junior Tyler Bennett combined for the eight-hit shutout. Samuel, who got the start in the second game, would go 5.0 innings, giving up two runs on five hits and striking out seven.

GAME #1 — WESTERN OREGON 17, POINT LOMA NAZARENE 0

The Wolves were able to strike quickly in the 1^st inning getting two runs on an RBI groundout by Etheridge (reached on error) and a sacrifice fly by senior Michael Sherwin. After giving up back-to-back singles in the bottom of the 1^st, Moran was able to get out of the jam. After not scoring in the 2^nd inning, the Wolves were able to string together six hits in the 3^rd inning, and were able to take advantage of a crucial throwing error by PLNU to explode for seven runs in the inning, giving the Wolves a 9-0 lead.

While Moran continued to silence the PLNU offense, the Wolves offense continued to increase their lead. The Wolves got three more runs in the in the 4^th inning, highlighted by singles by Taylor and Sherwin. The Wolves struck again for a run in the 6^th inning, as well as two runs in the 8^th and 9^th innings, highlighted by a solo home run by Harpole in the 6^th inning and a RBI double by Harpole in the 8^th inning. Junior Brenden Shaffer also had a two-run triple in the 9^th inning, capping off the blowout victory.

GAME # 2 — POINT LOMA NAZARENE 2, WESTERN OREGON 0

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Wolves just could not emulate the offensive explosion that they experienced in the first game. The Wolves threatened in the top of the 2^nd inning after Etheridge doubled down the left field line and Sullivan singled past the shortstop, but the Wolves were unable to capitalize with any runs.

Samuel completely dominated the PLNU hitters for the first five innings, but PLNU finally broke the seal in the bottom of the sixth when Ryan Garcia hit a RBI double in the gap and then PLNU cleanup hitter Devin Carter hit a RBI groundout to put PLNU up by a score of 2-0. The Wolves had their last chance to extend the game in the top of the seventh, but were unable to do so.

Western Oregon returns to action next weekend when the Wolves head back to California on Friday, February 13, to begin a four-game series against California State University Monterey Bay at 2 p.m in Seaside, California.