ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Senior first baseman Nathan Etheridge blasted a pair of home runs in the opening slugfest and senior pitcher Garrett Alvarez threw a complete-game gem later in the afternoon as the Western Oregon University baseball team swept a doubleheader at Central Washington University by scores of 9-8 and 4-1 on Saturday at the CWU Baseball Field.
 
The Wolves are now 12-13 overall and 7-8 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play, moving into fourth play in the league. Central Washington is 13-12 overall and fell two games behind conference-leading Northwest Nazarene at 9-7.
 
GAME ONE: Western Oregon 9, Central Washington 8
The Wolves bounced back from giving up an early lead by scoring seven of their nine runs via the long ball in a 9-8 series-opening victory.
 
WOU took a 3-0 lead in the first inning after senior Cody Sullivan battled through four pitches with a two-strike count before sending a pitch over the wall in left-center field. A two-out RBI single by senior Brandon Oliver in the second innings and Etheridge's first homer, a solo shot to right field, in the third inning made the score 5-0.
 
Central Washington scored four times in the bottom of the fourth and once in the fifth, taking advantage of a pair of WOU errors over the span. The game was tied 5-5 after five complete innings.
 
Three pitches into the Wolves' half of the sixth inning, the visiting team grabbed the lead back after Oliver touched them all after a home run to right field. Insurance came in the form of a two-run blast from Etheridge, his second of the game. With senior Trevor Podratz at first, Etheridge squared to bunt on three different occasions. The third time, Etheredge pulled his bat back, swung away and sent a laser line drive over the wall in left field for a WOU 8-5 lead.
 
A final tally posted in the ninth inning, one that turned out to be necessary. Junior Erik Long doubled to lead off the frame, advanced to third on a balk and scored on a sacrifice fly by senior Marcus Madden.
 
The Wildcats chipped at a 9-5 deficit in their final at-bats. Two singles, a dropped pop up and an RBI double put CWU within a run, 9-8, with runners at first and second with one out. WOU called to the bullpen for freshman lefty Jacob Fricke. On the second pitch in relief, the southpaw delivered inducing a game-ending double play to ensure a victory.
 
Sophomore pitcher Brady Miller threw six frames allowing five runs, only one earned, on seven hits. He struck out five on his journey in becoming the Wolves' first six-game winner on the season. Junior Elias Bedolla fanned four over 2.1 frames before Fricke earned his first save.
 
Half of Western Oregon's eight team hits were home runs. Oliver went 3 for 5 with two RBI while Etheridge and Sullivan each knocked home three. CWU had 11 hits, with three coming from the number nine spot in the lineup. Dylan Freyer drove in three for the Wildcats.
 
GAME TWO: Western Oregon 4, Central Washington 1
Hits were a little scarcer as the afternoon continued Saturday, but Western Oregon got a key pinch-hit double from junior Nick Snyder in the top of the sixth inning leading to a 4-1 victory.
 
The Wolves scored first with an error after a sacrifice bunt attempt by senior Kyle Vanderkin. WOU left the bases loaded in an attempt to build on the 1-0 lead. CWU rallied in the next half inning with a solo home run, but also missed scoring more after stranding three men on base.
 
Over the next four innings, WOU senior Garrett Alvarez and CWU hurler Justin Adams combined to allow just one hit.
 
WOU took the lead in the sixth inning with Snyder's two-run double, and then tacked on a run when junior Forrest Garcia singled back up the box to plate Snyder for a 4-1 lead.
 
Alvarez, meanwhile, went the distance for the third time this season to improve to 4-0 on the year. In his seven innings of quality work, he allowed one run on five hits while striking out three. He was able to get 12 of his 21 outs via ground balls in the game.
 
The Wolves totaled six hits, with Snyder's being the only one for extra bases.
 
Western Oregon will wrap up the first round of conference play Sunday with another doubleheader at CWU beginning at 12 noon.