MONMOUTH, Ore. – Following two straight trips to California, the Western Oregon University baseball team will now enjoy their home field for the first time this season when they play Eastern Oregon in a pair of doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday starting at noon both days.
WOU (5-3) finished the road trip strong taking three of four from Stanislaus State, with two of the wins coming in extra innings. The Wolves won games two and four by three runs each and both went extra innings. In-between those two games, WOU also won a three-run game in seven innings.
Jacob Maiben was named the GNAC Player of the Week after hitting .438 with seven hits, four runs scored, a double, an RBI and added three steals. He walked twice and didn't have a strikeout in 16 at-bats. In the field, he was a perfect 9-9 in chances, all putouts.
Jacob Maiben leads the team with a .379 average, coming away with 11 hits, eight runs scored, a double, a triple and an RBI. Brother Derek Maiben is hitting .333 with 11 hits, seven runs scored and five RBI. Anthony Zellner is third on the team with a .296 average, collecting eight hits, two runs scored, three doubles and five RBI. Spencer Weston is hitting .269 with seven hits, seven runs scored, two doubles and six RBI. Jackson Holstad has eight hits on the season and three runs scored, tallying two doubles, a triple and five RBI. Hibiki Ouchi and Curran Mitzel have the home runs for the Wolves. Sebastian Morales has a .389 average on the early season and Leighton Moniz is hitting .308. As a team, the Wolves are hitting .236 with 66 hits, 43 runs scored, 13 doubles, two triples, two home runs and 33 RBI. Opponents are hitting .270 with 74 hits, 14 doubles, a triple, a home run and 36 RBI.
On the mound, Parker Johnson leads the way with a 1.23 ERA in 7.1 innings. He is 2-0 with seven strikeouts to just one walk. Michael Moore had a big weekend as well at Stanislaus and is second on the team with a 1.50 ERA in six innings. He is 1-0 with a save, along with four strikeouts. Sebasten Boivin holds a 2.16 ERA in 8.1 innings, tallying six strikeouts. Arturo Alvarez and Matthew Dunaway are next on the list in ERA. Both have started two games this season with Alvares holding a 2.38 ERA and is 1-0 in 11.1 innings with nine strikeouts. Dunaway has a 2.70 ERA in 10 innings, with 21 strikeouts. Seth Kuykendall is second on the team in strikeouts with 11 and has no walks. WOU has a 4.57 ERA as a staff in 69 innings, coming away with 76 strikeouts to just 36 walks. Opponents have a 3.88 staff ERA in 72 innings, posting 77 strikeouts to 35 walks.
Eastern Oregon is 4-7 overall on the season playing all 11 games on the road. They opened the season in Glendale, Ariz., defeating Embry Riddle and Oklahoma Panhandle State, while falling to Arizona Christian and Benedictine Mesa. The Mountaineers then played three at Linfield winning the first game before dropping the final two. This past week EOU played at Pacific winning only the second game of the series.
It will be former WOU associate head coach Mike McInerney's return to Monmouth after spending eight seasons with the Wolves.
McKlane Elgin leads the Mountaineers with a .375 average, coming away with 12 hits, six runs scored, two doubles, a triple and five RBI. Matt Garcia is hitting .324 with 12 hits, five runs scored, two doulbes, two triples and 17 RBI. Austin Gerding is at .282 with 11 hits and two triples. Hector Carreon is hitting .522 with a home run and seven RBI and both Elliott Marks and Harrison Goyette are off to strong starts hitting .500. As a team, EOU is hitting .260 with 98 hits, 67 runs scored, 23 doubles, six triples, two home runs and 60 RBI. Opponents are hitting .341 with 128 hits, 102 runs scored, 29 doubles, eight triples, five home runs and 88 RBI.
On the mound, Turner Edwards has a 3.00 ERA in three innings pitched. Michael Bennett has a 3.12 ERA in 8.2 innings and is 1-1. Slayder Watterson is close with a 3.60 ERA in five innings. Former WOU pitcher Dylan Myers is 1-1 on the season in 7.2 innings, Davis Brown and Ben Bergonzine also have wins on the year. Another former WOU pitcher in Kolbe Bales has seen time in four innings this season. As a staff, EOU has a 9.03 ERA in 89.2 innings, posting 73 strikeouts. Opponents have a 5.74 ERA in 94 innings, coming away with 98 strikeouts.
WOU and EOU will play doubleheaders both Saturday and Sunday starting at noon at the WOU Baseball Field. The first game each day will be nine innings, before the second game that will be seven innings.
Live video will be available for both days against Eastern Oregon, while live stats will be available for Sunday only. Live video can be found here and live stats can be found here.
Tickets can be purchased here or can be purchased at the gate by cash only.
