FRESNO, Calif. – Backed by three big innings, the Western Oregon University baseball team started the 2022 season strong rolling to a 13-5 win over Fresno Pacific on Thursday evening.
Justyn Herzog and Jackson Holstad each tallied three hits, while Derek Maiben collected two hits. Herzog drove in four runs, while Holstad added three. On the mound, Matthew Dunaway started and struck out nine in four scoreless innings. Parker Johnson later picked up the win in relief in his Wolves' debut going 2.1 innings and allowing just one earned run with three strikeouts.
Overall, WOU held a 10-7 edge in hits and there were four errors in the game, three committed by the Sunbirds.
The teams went scoreless through the first four innings before WOU plated multiple runs in the fifth. Herzog opened the frame with a single and later scored on a throwing error by the pitcher. Hibiki Ouchi singled in his WOU debut to bring in Anthony Zellner who walked on four pitches. Holstad added an RBI single bringing in Ryan Witt who reached on the throwing error. Derek Maiben closed the four-run inning with a sacrifice fly to right to leave WOU with a 4-0 lead.
Fresno Pacific fought back to tie the game in the sixth with four runs on three hits, along with an error to even the score at four.
WOU then broke the game open in the eighth. Following a leadoff triple by Jacob Maiben, Herzog would later drive him in with a single to center. With the bases loaded, Ouchi's hit would turn into an error by the shortstop to bring in two runs. Holstad then closed the five-run inning with a double to left to leave the Wolves with a 9-4 lead.
The Sunbirds picked up their final run in the home half of the inning before WOU put the finishing touches on the game in the ninth.
With Jacob Maiben and Spencer Weston both on via a walk and a single by Derek Maiben loaded the bases for Herzog. He would come through ripping a double up the middle to clear the bases. Witt then closed the scoring with a groundout to second that later turned into an error but drove home Herzog for the 13-5 lead.
Michael Moore closed out the game in the home half working around a walk with a groundout, flyout and strikeout.
Other pitchers that saw time on the mound included Sebasten Boivin in his WOU debut tossing 1.1 innings. Dwayne Angebrandt also made his Wolves' debut going a third of an inning.
In addition to the big games at the plate by Herzog, Holstad and Derek Maiben, Jacob Maiben and Ouchi added hits. Derek Maiben, Witt and Ouchi all added RBI.
The two teams continue their four-game series with a doubleheader tomorrow (Friday) starting at 2 p.m.
