NAMPA, Idaho – Having nearly battled back to take the first game, the Western Oregon University baseball team held off a couple of late rallies by Northwest Nazarene to win the nightcap by a score of 6-4 in 12 innings. The Nighthawks held on to win game one by a score of 5-3 after the Wolves fought back to tie the game at three in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action on Friday.
The second game featured just about everything and a late rally by the Nighthawks pushed the game into extras.
WOU (14-9, 7-3 GNAC) broke through first in the top of the fourth. Jacob Maiben singled and then moved to third on a single to right-center by Derek Maiben. John Stark drove in the first run with an RBI groundout to third. After Jackson Holstad was hit-by-pitch, Anthony Zellner doubled through the right side to score Derek Maiben for the 2-0 lead.
Northwest Nazarene (15-11, 7-3 GNAC) tallied a run back with a solo homer in the fifth.
The Wolves answered right back in the sixth. Holstad was again hit-by-pitch and then moved to third on a second double by Zellner. An eventual double play ball ended the inning, but on the play Holstad was able to score to push the lead to 3-1.
The Nighthawks came back in their last at-bat. In the bottom of the seventh with two on and two out, a double to left by Parker Price brought in the tying runs to send the game into extra innings.
Following a pair of scoreless innings, WOU moved ahead in the 10th. With two outs, the Maiben's delivered. Jacob Maiben singled and then brother Derek Maiben ripped a triple into the gap in right-center to score Jacob for the 4-3 lead.
NNU came back again in the home half. A sacrifice fly to center brought in the tying run and moved the game to the 11th at 4-4.
The Nighthawks were in a strong position to win the game in the 11th. With the first two batters walking, a groundout moved both up to second and third. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, Sebasten Boivin locked down getting a big strikeout for the second out. He then got a groundout to second to extend the game to the 12th.
Curran Mitzel opened the frame with a single to third base. Then Spencer Weston laid down a sacrifice bunt that ended up turning into an error when the pitcher, Blake McFadden tried to get the lead runner at second, but his throw sailed to the outfield. Jacob Maiben advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt. Derek Maiben was intentionally walked to load the bases. A strikeout followed for the second out setting the stage for Holstad. He delivered on the second pitch hitting a single through the left side to score both Mitzel and Weston for the 6-4 lead.
The Nighthawks made things interesting in the home half. A leadoff single and eventually another single with one out had runners on first and second. A fielder's choice out put runners at the corners with two outs. Boivin then closed the door getting a groundout to third to preserve the 6-4 victory.
WOU held the 10-9 edge in hits and NNU committed the only error. Jacob Maiben and Derek Maiben led the Wolves with three hits apiece. Jacob scored a pair of runs and Derek had an RBI. Zellner tallied two hits, two walks and an RBI. Holstad drove in two runs. On the mound, Boivin went the final three innings to get the win (2-1), allowing just one earned run with five strikeouts. Bryce Bond started and pitched a strong four innings, allowing just one earned run with four strikeouts. Chris Hardin went the next 1.2 innings and added two strikeouts in his scoreless outing. Seth Kuykendall went the next 1.1 innings, allowing two earned runs with two strikeouts. Dwayne Angebrandt worked the first two innings of extra innings, allowing no runs with a strikeout.
Duke Pahukoa led NNU with two hits, while Price drove in two runs. On the mound, Brock Moffitt started and went the first 5.1 innings, allowing three earned runs. Joseph Ihli went the next 4.2 innings, allowing just one earned run with nine strikeouts. McFadden went the final two innings, taking his first loss (4-1) of the season, allowing two unearned runs.
In the opener, NNU plated a run in the first and the second for the 2-0 lead. WOU got on the board in the third. Ryan Witt walked and quickly moved to third on a double down the left field line by Sebastian Morales. After an out, Jacob Maiben singled to center for the RBI to cut the deficit in half.
The Nighthawks added another run in the fourth to take the 3-1 lead. WOU came back to tie the game in the seventh.
Witt doubled to open the frame. After an out, Weston doubled to right-center to bring in Witt. Following the second out, Derek Maiben singled through the right side to score Weston with the tying run at 3-3.
NNU answered back in the home half getting a two-run homer for the 5-3 lead.
WOU threatened in the ninth. With both Jacob Maiben and Derek Maiben on first and second, a fielder's choice groundout to short ended the game with NNU hanging on for the 5-3 victory.
NNU held the 8-6 edge in hits and WOU committed the only error. Derek Maiben led the way with two hits and an RBI. Weston and Jacob Maiben added RBI hits. On the mound, Arturo Alvarez started and worked the first six innings, allowing three runs (two earned), along with three strikeouts. Boivin ended up taking the loss (1-1), allowing two earned runs in an inning of work. Michael Moore pitched the eighth, working a scoreless inning.
Haden Keller and Tyler Best led NNU with two hits, while Price drove in two runs. On the mound, Kyle Ethridge started and went the first 6.1 innings, allowing two earned runs with eight strikeouts. McFadden got the final two outs of the seventh to end up getting the win (4-0), after allowing one earned run. Max Holtzclaw went the final two innings to get his seventh save of the season, allowing no runs with four strikeouts.
As it turned out, both relief pitchers in Boivin and McFadden recorded the decisions on Friday.
WOU and NNU will continue their four-game series tomorrow (Saturday) with another doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. (Pacific).
