MONMOUTH, Ore. – Mike Peterson tossed eight innings to help lead the Western Oregon University baseball team to the 9-2 win in the opener against Saint Martin's. Dwayne Angebrandt came back with another solid start in the second game, but the Saints were able to pull just ahead to take the 3-2 win to split the Friday Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader at the WOU Baseball Field.
Peterson went eight innings and allowed just two earned runs, along with eight strikeouts to record his first win (1-0) of the season. Seth Kuykendall pitched a scoreless ninth inning with a pair of strikeouts.
Levi Cummings powered the offense with two hits, but both were big as he drove in four with a pair of two-run doubles. Derek Maiben added a pair of RBI. Overall, the Wolves had eight players pick up a hit in the opener.
WOU (16-12, 8-6 GNAC) started the scoring in the first frame. Spencer Weston singled and then on a hit-and-run, moved to third on a sharp single back through the box by Jacob Maiben. Derek Maiben brought home the first run with a fielder's choice out for the early 1-0 lead.
The Wolves tallied two more runs in the second. Anthony Zellner, Justyn Herzog and Ryan Witt all drew walks to load the bases. Cummings came through with a clutch double to left to bring in two runs for the 3-0 lead.
Saint Martin's (10-21, 5-9 GNAC) scored their only two runs in the fourth on a two-run single to trim the lead to 3-2.
WOU put the game away with a two-out rally in the fourth. With Zellner and Herzog on via walks, Cummings drove in two more runs with a drive to left field for another double. After Weston and Jacob Maiben walked to load the bases, Derek Maiben was hit-by-pitch for the RBI. John Stark then closed the inning with a groundball to short that was misplayed allowing two more runs to score for the 8-2 lead.
The Wolves closed the scoring with a run in the seventh. Herzog singled and then moved to second on a throwing error. Witt cashed in with an RBI single through the left side to push the lead to 9-2.
WOU held the 9-6 edge in hits and the Saints committed the three errors in the game. Bryant Nakagawa led the Saints with two hits and a pair of RBI. On the mound, Sam McCauley started and went the first 3.2 innings to end up with the loss (0-7) allowing eight runs (six earned). The Saints used three other pitchers to finish out the final 5.1 innings that combined to allow just one unearned run.
Game two was a strong pitching battle between Angebrandt and Justice Yamashita. With the game scoreless through the first two innings, Saint Martin's got on the board first with a run in the top of the third. WOU answered right back in the home half.
Herzog singled to first base and then moved to third on a solid single in the gap by Witt. Cummings tied the game with a fielder's choice groundout to short, as he was able to beat the throw at first to extend the inning.
The Wolves pushed in front in the fourth. Derek Maiben worked a walk with one out. After stealing second and the second out was recorded, Maiben moved to third on a wild pitch before scoring on another wild pitch to move WOU out to the 2-1 lead after four.
Saint Martin's answered in the fifth. A double and a pair of singles brought in the tying run, before a sacrifice fly out brought in the go-ahead run.
Yamashita kept the Wolves off the board over the final three innings to preserve the 3-2 win.
SMU held the 7-2 edge in hits and the Wolves committed the only two errors. Herzog and Witt tallied the hits for WOU and Cummings had the RBI. Angebrandt started and went the first 4.1 innings to get the no decision after allowing just two earned runs with five strikeouts. Chris Hardin took the loss (0-4) allowing an earned run in two-thirds of an inning. Sebasten Boivin went the final two innings of scoreless relief, adding three strikeouts.
Hunter Kosmider, Ryne Oshiro and Austin Schaler all posted two hits each to lead the Saints. Aaron Renaud drove in a pair of runs. Yamashita collected his fourth win (4-3) of the season allowing the two earned runs with eight strikeouts.
WOU and SMU will conclude their four-game series with another doubleheader tomorrow (Saturday) starting at 1 p.m. at the WOU Baseball Field.
