MONMOUTH, Ore. – Trevor Podratz extended his team-leading hitting streak to 20 games, falling a triple shy of a cycle in game one and beating out an infield single in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Western Oregon baseball team took two games Friday from visiting Central Washington, 16-8 and 10-7, at the WOU Baseball Field.
 
With the wins, the Wolves remained in the hunt to win the 2016 Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular-season crown and host next week's GNAC Baseball Championship after improving to 28-20 on the season and 23-15 in conference. CWU fell to 26-22 and the Wildcats are now 22-16 in conference action.
 
Game 1 – Western Oregon 16, Central Washington 8
Setting the tone early, Western Oregon plated three runs in the first and used a seven-run third inning to build a 10-0 lead. Podratz did not wait long in extending his streak, lining a run-scoring double to left-center field to score Jay Leverett. Four pitches later, Kyle Vanderkin blasted a pitch over the 375-foot sign in right-center field for his seventh home run of the season.
 
Marcus Madden and Podratz added two-run hits in the third as the Wolves batted around sending 12 men to the plate.
 
CWU scored four times in the fourth and four more times in the sixth inning to shave WOU's lead to three, 11-8.
 
The Wolves put the game out of reach with another five runs in response in the bottom of the sixth inning. Two singles and heads up running from Cody Poznanski on a Leverett bunt loaded the bases with nobody out. The first run crossed on a balk while Erik Long singled to shortstop. Podratz stepped up to the plate and lifted a fastball over the wall in left field for a three-run homer.
 
The offensive output backed up the start on the mound from Brady Miller. The sophomore battled the strike zone by walking six batters and allowing seven hits, but improved to 9-2 on the season. Southpaw Jacob Fricke tossed 2 1/3 strong innings allowing one hit and Koty Fallon surrendered one hit over the final frame.
 
The Wolves jumped all over CWU starter Mitch Yada, who exited after loading the bases early in the third inning. The Wildcats ended up using five pitchers, and Kyle Blankenship, the final of the five, was the only one not to surrender a run.
 
WOU benefitted from four walks and one hit batsman by the CWU pitching staff.
 
Game 2 – Western Oregon 10, Central Washington 7
After the top of the second inning, the probability if the Wolves gaining another victory would parallel the odds of Leicester City to win the Premier League prior to their season. The Wildcats plated seven runs on six hits and used a pair of WOU errors to take a big lead. But Garrett Alvarez rebounded from the shaky inning while combination of big hits let the Wolves back into the game.
 
The comeback began with a single run in the bottom of the second without the benefit of a hit. Vanderkin walked and advanced to third when an errant throw from shortstop on a ground ball from Nathan Etheridge sailed high past first base. Justin Wakem followed with a slow roller to second base to plate Vanderkin.
 
Western Oregon was held without a hit by CWU starter Jake Levin until the third inning with two outs. Levin lost command and walked three straight batters to load the bases for Etheridge. After a great battle, Etheridge lined a double to left center that cleared the bags to bring WOU within three, 7-4.
 
Still facing a deficit heading to the fifth inning, the Wolves officially erased CWU lead and took their first lead with a five-run spurt. Once again, WOU was able to load the bases with nobody out. Vanderkin fell behind in the count, but was able to line an outside pitch down the left field line, plating two runs. Etheridge drew an intentional walk. After a strikeout, Wakem singled to the opposite field plating Podratz with the tying run and Vanderkin with the go-ahead tally. Cody Poznanski followed with a sacrifice fly to left for a 9-7 lead.
 
After a shut-down inning from WOU reliever Elias Bedolla, Vanderkin notched an insurance run on a sacrifice fly after Leverett led off the sixth inning with a double. Bedolla retired the side in order in the seventh to close out the doubleheader sweep and earn his third win of the season.
 
The Wolves were held to just six hits for the game, but were led by three runs batted in from Vanderkin and Etheridge.
 
Western Oregon and Central Washington will close out the series and the regular season with a doubleheader beginning at 12 noon on Saturday. WOU will honor the Senior Class of 2016 with a ceremony between games.