BILLINGS, Mont. – The bats certainly didn't take long to get going following the over two-week layoff as the Western Oregon University baseball team piled up 37 total runs to sweep Montana State Billings Thursday in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action. WOU won a wild 19-15 first game and then used a big 10-run inning in game two to win going away 18-6.
In the opener, WOU (14-6, 13-5 GNAC) scored six runs in the third and seven more in the seventh to keep Montana State Billings (8-26, 8-18 GNAC) from making a late comeback.
Justyn Herzog got the offense going in the second inning when he launched a three-run homer to right. Connor McCord opened the inning with a double and Josh Berman singled ahead of the blast by Herzog.
In the third, Derek Maiben tripled and scored on a wild pitch. Jacob Maiben walked, McCord singled and Berman was hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Herzog was also hit-by-pitch for the RBI to push the lead to 5-0. After an out, Ryan Santa Cruz walked to bring in another run. A wild pitch brought home another run and Blayze Arcano closed the inning with a two-run single through the left side to move WOU out to a 9-0 lead.
MSUB got on the board in the third and WOU answered back with a run in the fourth with Derek Maiben doubling and later scoring on a fielding error.
The 'Jackets tallied a run in the fourth and in the fifth, WOU had the lead out to 12-2 with Santa Cruz doubling, Arcano tripling to left-center and Sam Jones singling to first to drive in Arcano.
MSUB kept trying to rallying, plating three runs in the home half of the fifth and then added five more in the sixth to pull to within two at 12-10.
WOU put the game out of reach in the seventh. Santa Cruz and Arcano each singled and Jones laid down a bunt that went for a single and also turned into an error as both the pitcher and second baseman committed errors to allow two runs to score. Derek Maiben added an RBI single to plate Jones. With the bases loaded, Berman was hit-by-pitch to bring in a run and Brandenburg closed the seven-run inning with a single to left that scored two runs. On the play, an error by the left fielder allowed the third run to score and leave WOU with a 19-10 lead.
The 'Jackets again tried to rally with a run in the seventh and four more in the eighth before WOU was able to claim the 19-15 victory.
WOU held a 16-14 edge in hits with Derek Maiben tallying four hits. Arcano added three hits and Jones, McCord and Santa Cruz all added two-hit games. Herzog drove in four runs. On the mound, Mike Peterson went the first five innings to get the win (5-0) allowing six earned runs and three strikeouts. Trae Perkins worked the next third of an inning allowing three earned runs. Michael Moore also went a third of an inning and allowed an earned run. Logan Hatley worked out of an inherited bases loaded jam when he entered and eventually went 1.2 innings allowing four runs (three earned) with three strikeouts. Alan Vasquez went the final 1.2 innings and allowed one earned run with three strikeouts.
Will Riley led MSUB with four hits. Riley, Tanner Cantwell, Sam Powers and Tanner Parker all drove in three runs apiece. On the mound, Matthew Houlihan started and took the loss (0-5) allowing nine earned runs. Mason Powell went the next 3.2 innings and allowed seven runs (six earned). Cort Dietrich allowed three runs (two earned) without recording an out before Hunter Runion went the final 2.2 innings and didn't allow a run.
If that wasn't enough in a full day, the teams turned around and combined for 24 runs in the seven inning nightcap, with WOU piling up 10 runs in the fifth and 14 total runs over the final three innings to put the game away.
The way the game started, it looked like the Yellowjackets were in good shape after scoring six runs in the first inning.
WOU came right back in the second. With Herzog on and two outs, the Wolves would go on to score four runs. Anthony Zellner singled just in front of an Arcano three-run bomb to right-center. Jayden Hanna followed with a solo homer to right-center leaving MSUB with a 6-4 lead.
With the score still 6-4, the fifth inning rolled around and WOU kept the bats hot for a while. McCord singled to open the inning and after Berman walked, Herzog singled to score McCord. Ryan Witt walked and with the bases loaded, Zellner walked to bring in the tying run. Hanna singled up the middle to bring in a pair of runs. Derek Maiben walked to re-load the bases and everyone would move up with Zellner scoring on a wild pitch. Jacob Maiben singled up the middle to bring in two more runs. McCord had his second at-bat of the inning and drilled a two-run homer to right. Berman singled and Witt would walk. After Zellner was hit-by-pitch to load the bases, Berman would score the 10th run of the inning on a passed ball that left WOU with a 14-6 lead.
McCord kept the power swing going right into the sixth when he connected on a two-run homer to right to score Jacob Maiben who was hit-by-pitch. The Wolves added on two more in the seventh.
Herzog walked, Hank Forrest and Zellner were both hit-by-pitch to load the bases. After two straight outs were recorded, Derek Maiben singled through the right side to bring in two more runs to push the lead to 18-6.
Ryan Shipley finished off the seventh to collect the save and give WOU the 18-6 win and sweep on Thursday. WOU held a 14-9 edge in hits with Derek Maiben tallying four hits and McCord with three. McCord drove in four runs, while Hanna and Arcano added three RBI. On the mound, Matthew Dunaway started and went the first two-thirds of the game allowing six runs (four earned). Joe Kinsky came up big in relief going the next 3.1 innings to get the win (1-0) as he didn't allow a run, along with three strikeouts. Shipley earned his first save of the season going the final three innings and also didn't allow a run while adding four strikeouts.
Riley, Ethan Babcock-Barrie and Hayden Foltz led the Yellowjackets with two hits apiece. Cantwell drove in three runs. On the mound, Connor Redmond started and went the first 1.2 innings allowing four earned runs. Dylan Barkley ended up with the loss (1-3) going the next 2.2 innings and was hit with five earned runs. Braelen Pippin allowed five runs (four earned) without recording an out. Sterling Lay went the next 1.2 innings and allowed two earned runs before Andrew Ellingson closed the game working the final 1.2 innings and allowed two earned runs.
WOU and MSUB will conclude their four-game series tomorrow (Friday) with another doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. (Pacific).
