MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Oregon baseball team got their first home game of the year in on Saturday, beating the Montana State Billings Yellowjackets 11-1 in the first of a doubleheader before game two would be suspended after six innings of play at WOU Baseball Field.
 
Western Oregon (3-2, 1-0 GNAC) jumped on offense quickly, scoring in five consecutive innings to start the game and establish a lead that at one point grew to 11-0. MSUB (8-3, 0-1 GNAC) starter Tevin Hall (1-1) struggled on the hill, giving up eight runs on six hits, striking out six and walking one. Only three of the runs would be earned, however, as the Yellowjacket defense struggled to play clean baseball in game one, committing four total errors.
 
The Wolves got their first run of the game across in the bottom of the first after Jacob Maiben doubled down the right field line for the first hit of the afternoon. Maiben scored in the next at-bat when Connor McCord singled through the right side to score him from second. McCord finished game one 4-for-4 with a run and four RBI. It was his third game in five appearances that he has recorded two doubles now totaling seven for the season.
 
The Wolves' lead extended in the second when Ryan Santa Cruz scored on a wild pitch. McCord singled in Maiben again in the third and by the bottom of the fifth the Wolves led 4-0. That's when Western really turned things into gear, scoring seven runs in the frame on five hits and two errors. After a swinging strikeout to start the inning, WOU put seven consecutive batters on base, including a triple from Mitchell Hulse to score two runs. In total, the Wolves had six extra-base hits in game one.
 
Mike Peterson (1-0) was outstanding on the mound, throwing eight innings in the start and pitching perfect baseball through 5.1 innings. Peterson allowed just one run on four hits, striking out three and not issuing a walk. The right-hander needed only 80 pitches to get through his eight innings of work.
 
"I was just sticking to the game plan," said Peterson. "My defense did a great job behind me and played a clean game to make my job that much easier."
 
Sophomore Jacob Maiben added to the slugging with three doubles in a 3-for-5 performance that included three runs scored.
 
"I was feeling really comfortable at the plate," said Maiben after the win.  "I was looking to jump on early pitches. The guys ahead of me in the lineup were attacking well so that set me up for at-bats where I was going to see some pitches to hit."
 
Game two of the doubleheader was much quieter offensively, seeing just five combined hits between the two teams. With the 'Jackets leading 3-1 after six innings of play, the game was suspended as both rain and darkness set in. Play will be resumed on Sunday, March 1, at 11 a.m. PST to be followed by the regularly scheduled doubleheader.