TURLOCK, Calif. – Matthew Dunaway collected 12 strikeouts in just six innings of work as the Western Oregon University baseball team opened their four-game set at Stanislaus State on Friday night. With the game tied at three after six innings, the Warriors picked up three runs in the eighth to take the 6-3 win.
WOU (2-3) opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the first. With one out, Anthony Zellner was hit-by-pitch and then moved to third on a double by Jacob Maiben to right-center. Spencer Weston came through with a big single up the middle to score both runners and move WOU to the 2-0 lead.
Stanislaus State (2-0) came back with a solo home run in the home half of the first inning and then moved in front with two runs in the second for a 3-2 lead.
It would stay that way into the sixth when the Wolves fought back to tie the game. Weston was hit-by-pitch to begin the inning and then moved to third on a single by Jackson Holstad and error by the center fielder. Following an out, a wild pitch moved both runners up with Weston coming home with the tying run. WOU threatened to take the lead, but a pair of fly outs ended the inning leaving the game tied at three.
After neither team scored in the seventh, Stanislaus State took the lead for good in the eighth. The Warriors tallied three runs on four hits, along with an error to take the 6-3 lead into the ninth.
Sebastian Morales hit a double in the last at-bat for the Wolves, but that was the only hit for WOU in the ninth as Stanislaus State claimed the 6-3 victory.
Each team tallied eight hits, with Jacob Maiben, Leighton Moniz and Morales tallying two hits apiece to lead the Wolves. Weston recorded two RBI. On the mound, Dunaway ended up with the no decision after coming away with 12 strikeouts in six innings. He allowed three earned runs. Chris Hardin ended up with the loss (0-2) as he went the final two innings and allowed three runs (two earned), while adding two strikeouts.
Trevor McInerney paced Stanislaus State with three hits, while Hunter Stonier added two hits. Five players had at least one RBI. On the mound, Maxwell Pappas started for the Warriors and had the strikeout working just like Dunaway as he came away with 10 punch outs in six innings, along with allowing three earned runs for the no decision. Trent Huff pitched the seventh and the Noah Chelberg grabbed the win (1-0) working a scoreless eighth. Damian Vallejos collected the save pitching a scoreless ninth.
WOU and Stanislaus State will continue their series with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m.
