PORTLAND, Ore. – The Western Oregon baseball squad spilt a doubleheader Saturday and earned the series spilt during opening weekend of Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
GAME ONE: Western Oregon 4, Concordia 1
The Wolves tallied runs in the first three innings and added insurance in the fifth to support a complete-game effort on the hill from senior pitcher Garrett Alvarez. Run-scoring singles from Brandon Oliver and Koty Fallon preceded an RBI sacrifice fly from Steven Etheridge for a 3-0 lead after three innings. Trevor Podratz provided the pop with a one-out solo home run to left center field in the fifth.
 
Alvarez did the rest for Western Oregon. He scattered one run on five hits while striking out six to improve to 3-0 on the season.
 
Brock Pradere from the lead-off spot joined Podratz and Fallon with two hits each for the Wolves.
 
GAME TWO: Concordia 1, Western Oregon 0
A pitcher's duel between the Cavaliers' Austin Hadley and WOU's Gary Steindorf was decided in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Cavs earned the series finale with a 1-0 decision.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Steindorf hit the leadoff batter and saw him advance to second on a comebacker and to third on a balk. Two pitches later, a single into left field allowed the lone run of the game to cross.
 
The quality outing from Steindorf earned him a hard luck loss (0-1) despite allowing just one run on six hits with six strikeouts.
 
Hadley held the Wolves to three hits over his seven innings, earning the win while fanning 10 batters. The Wolves had a prime chance with runners on the corners in the third inning before a double play erased the rally. WOU got only three more baserunners aboard with a pair of walk and once Concordia error.
 
Next up: The Wolves will make their home debut Saturday, March 13 at 12 noon with a doubleheader against Saint Martin's. The four-game series continues Sunday with another double-dip.