BILLINGS, Mont.—After smothering the Yellowjackets, 23-10, in the opener, Western Oregon left Montana with a four-game series split as MSU Billings took the final game, 7-3, on Saturday.
With the results, Western Oregon (18-10) moved to 15-10 in GNAC play for a .600 winning rate in league games. After nabbing the win in the series finale, MSU Billings (19-17) managed to maintain a slim lead in the conference standings with a 19-9 record (.678).
The Wolves will return home next week for a four-game series against Central Washington on April 19-20.
Game 1: Western Oregon def. MSU Billings, 23-10
Scoring multiple runs in six of the nine innings, Western Oregon reached 20 runs in a game for the second time this season in a 23-10 win over MSU Billings.
Western Oregon has now scored at least 10 runs on 11 occasions this season, including a GNAC record 32-run output against Central Washington on March 11.
Despite the final differential, WOU found itself trailing 5-2 through two frames. The Wolves erased the deficit by sending six runners home in the 3rd and continued to pad its total with eight additional runs over the next two innings.
The Wolves tallied 17 hits in the contest compared to 10 for the Yellowjackets.
Senior catcher
Jared McDonald posted the best line of the game with a 4-for-5 performance that included five RBI and five runs scored.
Mitchell Hulse went 3-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored while leadoff hitter
Collin Runge recorded three RBI and three runs.
Working 3 1/3 innings in relief,
Kolbe Bales picked up the win after allowing two runs on four hits. Striking out nine batters, WOU starter
Alex Roth was lifted after 4 2/3.
Game 2: Western Oregon def. MSU Billings, 7-3
Posting a four-run 5th inning to break a mid-game tie, MSU Billings defeated Western Oregon, 7-3, in the final game at Dehler Park on Saturday.
MSU Billings scored single runs in three straight innings, beginning with a solo homer in the 3rd by Sam Powers, before striking for four runs in the 6th.
The Wolves were held scoreless in six of the seven stanzas by starter Kevan Mackintosh.
Using four hits, the Wolves got on the board with three runs in the top of the 4th. With a pair of runners already on,
Joshua McIntyre brought WOU's first run home on a single up the middle.
Mitchell Hulse followed by placing a single to right to score teammates
Jacob Maiben and
Griffey Halle.
Settling down after the early barrage, Mackintosh retired the Wolves in order in each of the final three frames.
MSUB finished with a 11 to 6 edge in total hits. The six WOU hits came from six different players while
Collin Runge provided the lone extra-base swing with a double to right in the 3rd inning.
Mackintosh struck out five and walked one in the win. Not factoring into the decision,
Austin Crowson started for the Wolves and went 5 1/3 with four strikeouts and one walk.
