TURLOCK, Calif. – It was another 11-inning success for the Western Oregon University baseball team on Sunday as they reached the 11th inning for the second time in the series and emerged with a 7-4 win to take the series 3-1.
During the second game of the series, the teams went 11 innings and WOU claimed the 4-1 victory.
WOU (5-3) came back twice on Sunday to eventually force the game into extra innings. Stanislaus State (2-3) took the early lead with two runs in the second inning. The Wolves answered right back in the third.
Leighton Moniz opened the inning with a double to left. Ryan Witt walked and then both moved up on a passed ball. After an out was recorded, Derek Maiben singled to bring in both runners to tie the game at two.
The Warriors regained the lead with two runs in the fifth to move ahead at 4-2.
WOU came right back in the sixth. After two outs were quickly recorded, Moniz and Witt drew back-to-back walks. Sebastian Morales singled through the left side to bring home Moniz. Derek Maiben followed with a solid single to left to tie the game again when Witt scored for a 4-4 game after six.
Michael Moore worked around a jam in the 10th. With the potential winning run on at second and one out, he was able to get a fielder's choice groundout to shortstop and then posted a strikeout to extend the game into the 11th.
WOU put the game out of reach with a big two-out rally. Derek Maiben opened the frame with a single and later stole second. Jacob Maiben walked and following a strikeout for the second out, Jackson Holstad came through. With a 2-2 count, he singled to center to score Derek Maiben for the go-ahead run. Anthony Zellner provided some insurance when he ripped a double down the right field line to score two more runs and move the lead to 7-4.
Chris Hardin came in to close the game out and worked around a single to preserve the 7-4 victory.
WOU held a 12-6 edge in hits and committed the only two errors in the game.
Derek Maiben led the Wolves with four hits and three RBI. Zellner added two hits and two RBI. Morales also had two hits and an RBI. On the mound, Bryce Bond started and went the first 4.2 innings allowing four runs (three earned), along with two strikeouts. Sebasten Boivin went the next 3.2 innings and didn't allow a run with two strikeouts. That led to Moore picking up his first win (1-0) of the season allowing no runs with a strikeout in 1.2 innings. Hardin claimed his second save of the season working a scoreless 11th inning.
JonLuke Goldman led the Warriors with two hits. On the mound, Casey Carr started and went the first five innings, allowing two runs (one earned). Tony Cortez went the next three innings allowing two earned runs. Trent Huff went the next two innings and didn't allow a run. Noah Chelberg ended up with the loss (1-1) going the final inning and allowing three earned runs.
WOU now returns to Monmouth for their home openers this coming weekend facing Eastern Oregon with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at noon at the WOU Baseball Field. The teams will play another doubleheader on Sunday starting at noon.
