FRESNO, Calif. – Alan Vasquez gave the Western Oregon University baseball team the start on the mound they were looking for early in the season. The junior transfer in his first season with the Wolves delivered big time striking out 11 in just five innings to help WOU gain the split with Fresno Pacific Friday afternoon. The Sunbirds took the first game 10-7, before WOU came back for the 4-1 win in the nightcap.
While WOU (1-2) was able to tally four runs in the second game, it was the dominant performance from Vasquez that gave the Wolves a chance to get the bats going later in the game.
"I felt good today. I prepared well and was happy with how my body felt going into the game, my slider and cutter were working well throughout the game," Vasquez said. "My fastball wasn't at the velocity I wanted it to be at, but I commanded it well. It felt great getting the first win of the season."
WOU opened the scoring in the first inning as Jacob Maiben walked and advance to second on a sacrifice bunt. After moving to third on a wild pitch, Connor McCord singled to third base to put runners at the corners. Following a strikeout, Maiben came home on a wild pitch for the early 1-0 lead.
Fresno Pacific (4-5) rallied in the home half to get the tying run and as it would turn out, the only run in the seven inning affair. Vasquez kept the Sunbirds off the board over the next four innings of work and WOU regained the lead for good in the fifth. With back-to-back walks to Joshua McIntyre and Mitchell Hulse, they both moved up on a sacrifice bunt. Jayden Hanna was hit-by-pitch to load the bases for McCord and he delivered hitting a deep sacrifice fly to left-center to bring in McIntyre for the 2-1 lead.
Vasquez capped his five innings of work with three more strikeouts in the fifth and the offense tacked on two more in the sixth to put the game out of reach. Justyn Herzog doubled and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. He then scored on a wild pitch before McIntyre launched a solo home run to left for the 4-1 lead.
Logan Hatley came on in relief of Vasquez and tossed two strong innings of relief to pickup the save in leading WOU to the 4-1 victory.
Both teams ended up with three hits, as Vasquez finished the game allowing just the one earned run in five innings for the win with 11 strikeouts to just one walk. Hatley allowed just two walks in his two innings of work and added three strikeouts.
Matt Stearns took the loss (0-2) for the Sunbirds allowing two runs (one earned) in five innings. Ethan Wenter went the final two innings and allowed two earned runs.
In the first game of the day, WOU tried to make a late run, but fell short despite putting up five runs in the ninth inning.
Fresno Pacific tallied runs in five innings to take the 10-7 victory. WOU opened the game strong with Derek Maiben walking and later his brother Jacob Maiben walked in front of an RBI hit from McCord through the right side that ended up scoring both runs after a throwing error by the catcher.
The Sunbirds tied the game with two in the home half of the first and then added a run in the third, two in the fourth, two in the sixth and three in the seventh to open a 10-2 lead.
Down to their last at-bat, WOU got the offense rolling. The first four batters reached in the ninth with McIntyre singling, Tyler Brandenburg walked and Derek Maiben singled to load the bases. Blayze Arcano came on to pinch-hit and he delivered an RBI single to right field. With the bases still loaded, Jacob Maiben picked up an RBI with a fielder's choice groundout to shortstop. Later a throwing error brought in the third run of the inning to trim the deficit to 10-5. Herzog walked to re-load the bases and then on a strikeout of Anthony Zellner, the ball got away on a wild pitch and he was able to reach first and bring in Jacob Maiben with the fourth run of the inning. McIntyre came up for the second time in the inning and hit another single, this time to third base to bring in another run and trim the deficit to three at 10-7. WOU then brought the potential go-ahead run to the plate, but a strikeout ended the game.
Fresno Pacific outhit WOU 11-10, with six players tallying a hit as McCord and McIntyre each recorded three hit games. Luke Turner started on the mound and ended up with the loss (0-1) allowing five runs (three earned) in 3.2 innings. He added four strikeouts. Trae Perkins was the first one on in relief and tossed 2.1 innings and allowed five earned runs before Joe Kinsky went the final two innings and allowed just a hit.
Garrett Cooper, Andrue Lackey and Angel Flores led the Sunbirds with two hits apiece, while Lackey drove in two runs. On the mound, Justin Fuson grabbed the win (2-1) going six innings and allowing just two runs (one earned). Tyler Rumbaugh later finished the final third of an inning to get his first save of the season.
WOU and Fresno Pacific will finish their four-game series Saturday with a single game starting at 12 p.m.
