MONMOUTH, Ore.— In one of the longest games in GNAC history, Western Oregon University defeated Northwest Nazarene with a walk-off win in the bottom of the 14th inning in the opener before settling for a split on Saturday.
Western Oregon (14-13, 14-6 GNAC) defeated Northwest Nazarene (10-20, 8-12 GNAC), 3-2, in the opening game before falling by a 5-4 score in the nightcap at the WOU Baseball Field.
With the setback in the finale, WOU fell into a tie for first place in the GNAC standings along with MSU Billings (19-11, 14-6 GNAC). The two frontrunners are set to face each other for a four-game set in Billings on April 6-7.
Game 1: Western Oregon def. Northwest Nazarene, 3-2 (14 inn.)
Closing in on being the longest game in GNAC history, Western Oregon University defeated Northwest Nazarene, 3-2, with a walk-off win in the bottom of the 14th inning on Saturday.
Tied 2-2 after four extra frames, Jacob Martinez opened the bottom of the 14th with a walk while
Jay Leverett followed with a single to set up first baseman Connor McCord. Swinging on a 2-2 pitch, McCord lifted a ball to center field where Martinez smoothly scampered home for the game-winning run.
The Wolves opened the account in the bottom of the 2nd with a single score and did not trail in the game.
NNU knotted the game in the 7th only to see the home side post a single run in the bottom of the inning to regain the lead. Down to their last three outs, the Nighthawks evened the contest once again as Jesse Hilyard's leadoff double led to a score two batters later on a Justin Folz grounder to second.
Both teams wasted chances to pull ahead in the 10th and 11th innings as a total of six runners were left on base.
Dylan Myers was credited with the win after closing out the final 1 2/3 innings for the Wolves. Myers did not allow a baserunner in his stint and struck out one batter.
Jacob Fricke started for WOU and lasted 6 1/3 with one run and three hits charged to his line. Fricke struck out the side in the top of the 4th
NNU starter Adam Paulson pitched 10 full frames before the team turned to its bullpen in the 11th. Paulson allowed 11 hits but just two runs.
Game 2: Northwest Nazarene def. Western Oregon, 5-4
Scoring five unanswered runs, NNU held off a late rally by WOU for a 5-4 in the series finale on Saturday.
The Nighthawks scored two in the 2nd, two in the 3rd and one in the 4th to stake the early lead. The Wolves, however, were finally able to scrape together a run in the home half of the 4th as Griffey Halle singled to center to plate Jared McDonald.
WOU tagged started Cooper Webster with three hits in the 5th with two more runs crossing the plate. The Wolves pulled to within a run in the 6th when Cody Dykstra singled in
Koty Fallon.
The Wolves placed a pair of runners on base in the final inning before NNU reliever Jalen Fuhriman forced the final out with a fly to right. Facing just the one batter, Fuhriman tallied the save while preserving the Nighthawk win.
Webster went 5 2/3 for the win with only one of the four runs scored under his watch an earned run. Craig Grubbe made the last for the Wolves and lasted four innings before being relieved by Connor McCord. Allowing one hit, McCord faced one over the minimum in three innings of work
