NEWBERG, Ore. – Trailing 5-4 entering the eighth, the Western Oregon University baseball team put together a three-run rally to pull away for the 8-5 win over George Fox on Tuesday.
WOU (10-7) put together big innings in the third and eighth to take the win. The Wolves tallied three runs in both the third and eighth, along with single runs in the fourth and ninth innings.
George Fox (9-9) opened the scoring with a bases-loaded walk in the second.
The Wolves answered right back in the third. Levi Cummings opened the inning with a double to right-center. After an out, Derek Maiben singled to left to bring in Cummings. John Stark then added another home run in back-to-back games when he launched a two-run shot over the right field fence for the 3-1 lead.
In the fourth, Darian Noll singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Then a fielding error allowed Cummings to reach and brought in Noll for the 4-1 lead.
The Bruins picked up a run in the fifth to cut the lead to two. In the sixth, GFU took advantage of three errors to score three runs and take a 5-4 lead.
WOU then took the lead for good in the eighth. Spencer Weston reached on an error by the shortstop. Justyn Herzog came in to pinch-hit and singled to left to put runners at first and second. Cummings again reached on an error on a ball hit to the shortstop that scored Weston with the tying run. Zach Valdez walked to load the bases. A wild pitch moved everyone up and brought in Herzog. Before the inning was over, Derek Maiben hit a deep fly ball to center for the sacrifice fly and the 7-5 lead.
Michael Moore worked around a walk in the bottom of the eighth to keep it a two-run lead. In the ninth, the Wolves added another run for insurance. Jackson Holstad singled and moved to second on a single by Weston. Herzog drove in the eighth run of the game when he singled up the middle to plate Holstad for the 8-5 lead.
Sebasten Boivin left no doubt in the home half of the ninth as he came on to get the save posting a 1-2-3 inning striking out the side to finish off the 8-5 win for the Wolves.
WOU held a 12-7 edge in hits, while the teams combined for seven errors, four committed by the Bruins. Holstad led the way with three hits, while Herzog and Valdez tallied two hits apiece. Derek Maiben, Herzog and Stark added two RBI apiece. Cummings scored a pair of runs.
Chris Jones started for the Wolves and went the first two-plus innings allowing one earned run. Dominic Miller went the next three innings and was solid in relief allowing just one earned run with two strikeouts. Joe Kinsky ended up picking up his first win (1-0) of the season tossing two innings. He allowed three runs (one earned), while adding three strikeouts. Moore worked a scoreless eighth with a strikeout before Boivin picked up his first save of the season striking out the side in the ninth.
Miller led George Fox with two hits, while Lien scored a pair of runs. Sebolsky and Nakamura each tallied an RBI. On the mound, Weng started and went the first three innings, allowing three earned runs. Stone ended up taking the loss (0-1) allowing three unearned runs in an inning.
WOU now returns home to host Central Washington in GNAC action this Friday and Saturday at the WOU Baseball Field with the teams playing doubleheaders both days starting at noon each day.
