BILLINGS, Mont. – Junior Garrett Alvarez earned his fifth win of the season via a three-hit shutout, as Western Oregon University's baseball team split a pair of seven-inning games with Montana State University Billings dropping the first game, 4-3, before earning the split with a 5-0 victory in Game #2 Saturday at Dehler Park.

Despite sitting a mere percentage points behind Montana State Billings (20-19, 15-8 GNAC) in the current Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) standings, Western Oregon (22-22, 17-10 GNAC) is tied at the top with two games separating each squad in the win and loss columns, respectively. The Wolves have won four-of-seven games in the series so far this season with the eighth and final game, which will be a single nine-inning contest, being played tomorrow – Sunday, April 19 – beginning at 11 AM (MT) at Dehler Park in Billings, Montana.

Senior Matt Taylor led the Wolves with a combined four hits on the afternoon, while fellow senior Marcus Hinkle added three hits from his leadoff position. Senior Garret Harpole and junior Brandon Oliver each tallied a pair of hits in the two games, while Taylor, Harpole, and junior Cody Sullivan drove in a team-high two runs each for WOU.

Game #1 would see senior Jesse Pratt get the start, as he allowed three earned runs on four hits in 5.0 innings of work to go along with a game-high eight strikeouts before turning the ball over to senior Clark McKitrick for the sixth inning where he allowed one earned run on one hit en route to suffering his fourth loss of the season when MSUB registering the game-winning hit in its final at-bat. Alvarez would go the distance for Western Oregon in the night cap, as he allowed a mere three hits over the 7.0 innings to go along with a game-high five K's. The junior right-hander would face only five batters over the limit and allowed only three runners to reach second base throughout the game.

Montana State Billings was led offensively by Corey Morris, Luke Reinschmidt, and Kevin Toon with two hits each, while four different Yellowjackets – Myles Berkram, Morris, Reinschmidt, and Toon – registering a RBI each for MSUB. Game #1 would see Tanner Johnson get the start for the 'Jackets, as he allowed three earned runs on nine hits in 6.0 innings of work en route to earning his fourth win of the season, while Lucas Blehm pitched the seventh and final inning en route to earning his second save of the year. Cody Cooper would go the distance for MSUB in Game #2, as he allowed five earned runs on seven hits and suffered his fourth loss of the season.

GAME #1 – MONTANA STATE BILLINGS 4, WESTERN OREGON 3

In Saturday's opener, Western Oregon jumped out to a 2-0 lead in its first at-bat when Harpole ripped a two-run single through the left side that scored both Hinkle and Taylor after the pair reached base via a pair of singles.

Montana State Billings would answer with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning when Morris singled to right field to score the 'Jackets' first run before Berkram drew a bases loaded walk that tied the game at 2-2.

In the top of the fifth inning, Western Oregon would retake the lead (3-2) on a RBI single through the right side by Taylor that scored Hinkle after he reached via a leadoff double to right center.

The Yellowjackets wasted little time in tying the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Reinschmidt roped a triple into the gap in left center that brought home Toon following his one-out single one batter earlier.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Montana State Billings would retake the lead (4-3) on a single to left center by Toon that scored Nix and turned out to be the game-winning hit for the Yellowjackets.

Western Oregon would put runners on first and second in the top of the seventh inning after back-to-back walks by Harpole and junior Nathan Etheridge, but MSUB's pitching and defense would induce a game-ending foul out that extended the Yellowjackets' winning streak to five games.

Hinkle led Western Oregon with a 3-for-4 performance offensively that also included a pair of runs scored, while Taylor was the only other Wolf to register more than one hit with a 2-for-4 showing with one run scored and an RBI.

Montana State Billings was led by Toon and Reinschmidt with two hits each, while Morris was the only other Yellowjacket to register a hit against WOU pitching.

GAME #2 – WESTERN OREGON 5, MONTANA STATE BILLINGS 0

In Saturday's finale, Western Oregon would snap a three-game losing streak against Montana State Billings thanks to Alvarez's pitching gem as well as late-inning offense that broke a scoreless tie and help lead the Wolves to their 22nd win of the season.

A pitcher's dual would break out over the opening three innings, as both teams combined to register four hits in the first six at-bats.

In the top of the fourth inning, Western Oregon would get on the scoreboard via a RBI single into the right center gap by Etheridge that scored Sullivan after he drew a walk to lead off the inning.

One inning later, the Wolves extended their lead to two runs (2-0) on a run-scoring single up the middle by Taylor that brought home junior Cody Poznanski after he was walked to lead off WOU's at-bat.

Two innings later, Western Oregon would add three more runs in the top of the seventh inning when Oliver scored on a wild pitch before Sullivan registered a two-run double to center field that cleared the bases and scored both Poznanski and Taylor to extend the Wolves' lead to 5-0.

Montana State Billings would not mount much of a threat throughout the game, as the Yellowjackets put a runner on second in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively, but could not capitalize on either scoring opportunities.

Taylor led Western Oregon with a pair of hits, while Sullivan, Harpole, Etheridge, Oliver, and senior Jacob Whisler each tallied a hit in the finale to go along with Sullivan's team-leading two RBIs.

Montana State Billings would get hits from Trevor Nix, Morris, and Casey Merritt, as the Yellowjackets would not mount any other offense in Game #2.