MONMOUTH, Ore.—Connecting on his third walk-off hit in the last 16 days, senior Spencer Bennion once again came through for Western Oregon University with a game-winning home run to secure a sweep, 8-5 and 4-3, over Central Washington University on Sunday.
Having already clinched a postseason spot, Western Oregon (22-17, 22-13 GNAC) moved to within one game of securing a No. 2 seed in the GNAC Tournament with Sunday's results.
Despite the losses, Central Washington (24-22, 19-17), the host for the league's postseason tournament on May 9-11, is one win away from securing a No. 3 seed in the four-team tournament.
Western Oregon will play a single game at home against Concordia on Tuesday, May 1 before closing out the regular season at Northwest Nazarene on May 3-4.
Game 1: Western Oregon def. Central Washington, 8-5
Aided by nine errors from Central Washington, Western Oregon used a four-run 6th inning to erase an early deficit and take the opening game against the Wildcats, 8-5.
Trailing 5-3 heading into the bottom of the 6th, the Wolves took the lead with only two hits in the frame, but received extra life via four CWU errors. Before the miscues in the field,
Justin Wakem provided the key swing with a two-run double to plate teammates Connor McCord and Nyles Nygaard.
The Wolves added an insurance run in the 7th for reliever Kolby Bales, who tossed the final 3 1/3 innings to earn the win. Bales allowed just one hit and one walk in the appearance.
Game 2: Western Oregon def. Central Washington, 4-3
Belting a two-out home run deep over the fence in right-center field, senior Spencer Bennion recorded his third walk-off hit of the month as the Wolves closed out the doubleheader with a 4-3 win.
Bennion hit a two-run homer to defeat Concordia on April 16 and singled with the bases loaded in a walk-off win against Saint Martin's on April 21.
WOU starter Craig Grubbe placed the Wolves in position for the win with an eight-inning complete game performance from the bump. Grubbe allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out a career best 12 batters.
