FRESNO, Calif. – The Western Oregon University baseball team split the doubleheader at Fresno Pacific on Friday and hold a 2-1 series lead heading into the final game of the series on Saturday. WOU took the first game on Friday by a 6-3 score before the Sunbirds came back for a 13-0 win in the nightcap.
WOU (2-1) came out strong in the opener plating three runs in the first inning. With one out, Jacob Maiben singled and then twin brother Derek Maiben would reach on a fielder's choice error to put runners at first and second. Spencer Weston walked to load the bases for Jusytn Herzog. Herzog worked a full-count walk to bring in the first run of the game. Anthony Zellner came through with the big hit in the inning when he singled to right field on the first pitch to bring in two runs and move WOU out to a 3-0 lead.
Fresno Pacific (1-2) came back with two runs in the third to get within one. The Wolves moved back in front by two plating a run in the fifth. Curran Mitzel opened the inning with a single. After an out, Derek Maiben singled and then Weston singled to left to score Mitzel and move WOU to a 4-2 lead.
The Sunbirds answered with a run in the home half to pull back to within a run.
The Wolves cashed in two insurance runs in the seventh. Derek Maiben opened the inning reaching on an error. Weston then ripped a 1-0 double to left to put both runners in scoring position. After an out, a balk moved both runners up with Derek Maiben coming home with the fifth run. The second out was recorded before Ryan Witt came through with a big two-out single to center to bring in the sixth run and move WOU to a 6-3 lead.
In the ninth, Chris Hardin made his WOU debut and picked up the save working around a walk and a single to get a pop out to end the game with the Wolves taking the 6-3 victory.
Fresno Pacific held a 10-9 edge in hits, while the teams combined for six errors, four committed by the Sunbirds.
Seven Wolves had a hit with Weston leading the way going 3-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. On the mound, Arturo Alvarez made his WOU debut getting the start and lasting five innings to get the win (1-0) allowing three runs (two earned), along with five strikeouts. Bryce Bond made his Wolves' debut next going three innings and didn't allow a run before Hardin closed out the ninth.
Khalid Johnson and Andrue Lackey paced Fresno Pacific with three hits apiece. Lackey drove in a pair of runs. On the mound, Jared Aguilar started and took the loss (0-1) allowing four earned runs in 5.2 innings. Brady Crow came on in relief and went the final 3.1 innings and allowed just two unearned runs.
In the second game of the day on Friday, Fresno Pacific received a great start from Justin Fuson as he tossed a no-hitter to lead the Sunbirds to the 13-0 win. Fresno Pacific picked up seven runs in the third and then three more in the fourth and sixth innings.
The Sunbirds tallied 17 hits and WOU had the only two errors in the game. The Wolves drew three walks in the game with Jacob Maiben, Weston and Spencer Six all reaching base via the free pass. Jack Strickland reached on a hit-by-pitch. Seth Kuykendall got the start for the Wolves and ended up with the loss (0-1) allowing seven runs (five earned) in 2.2 innings, along with six strikeouts. Dominic Miller went the next 2.1 innings allowing three runs (two earned) and added seven strikeouts. Chris Jones made his WOU debut going the final inning, allowing three earned runs with three strikeouts.
Aguilar and Cole Yoshida led Fresno Pacific with three hits apiece, while Yoshida and Andrew Valdez drove in three runs each. On the mound, Fuson tossed 107 pitches in getting the seven inning no hitter. He had 11 strikeouts and the three walks, along with a hit batter.
WOU wraps up their series with Fresno Pacific tomorrow (Saturday) with a single, nine inning game starting at 12 p.m.
