PORTLAND, Ore. – The Western Oregon Wolves delivered a well-rounded win in their first game of the 2019 season, handling the Central Washington Wildcats 13-1 Monday afternoon at Porter Park.

The offense started early for Western Oregon (1-0, 0-0 GNAC) as they tallied multiple runs in three of the first four innings including a four-run first.

Connor McCord ripped a three-run homer to right in the first to highlight the early scoring. It proved to be the only home run of the day in the spacious ballpark. McCord finished the day 2-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored.

The pitching was equally stellar for the Wolves, allowing just one run on five hits in the game. Alex Roth (1-0) threw the first five innings for WOU, striking out nine batters while allowing one run on four hits. The nine strikeouts ties a career-high for Roth, tying his mark set last May also against Central Washington (3-4-1).

As a team, the Wolves' pitching staff combined to strike out 17 batters in the game, falling just one shy of tying both the school and conference record. 18 strikeouts have been thrown in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference just three times before.

Western Oregon went on to score the first 11 runs of the game before CWU was able to get on the board. Thomas Ahlstrom knocked in four runs between the third and fourth innings including a bases-clearing double to left with the bases loaded. He was one of five players for WOU to record multiple hits.

Collin Runge put together a 3-for-5 day at the plate, scoring two runs and knocking in another.

In relief, three pitchers combined to throw shutout baseball over four innings. Kolbe Bales struck out four in two innings, Koty Fallon retired all three of his outs in strikeout fashion and Cam Walker closed out the game with another whiff to leave WOU just one shy of the conference record for total strikeouts.

Jared McDonald cranked out three RBI in a 2-for-3 performance, adding on two runs scored and a walk.

The only Wildcat to register multiple hits in the game was Justin Hampson who finished 2-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts.

Next up for Western Oregon is their first series of the season at WOU Baseball Field. The Wolves will host MSUB for four games in doubleheaders played March 2 and 3. Both days will begin their twin bills at 12 p.m. in Monmouth.