MONMOUTH, Ore. – It was a big series entering the week and the Western Oregon University baseball program put together an impressive four-game series taking three of four from Northwest Nazarene. On Saturday, the Wolves won game three of the series, 6-3, and then lost a close battle in the series finale with the Nighthawks avoiding the sweep with the 3-1 victory.
The Wolves honored their 11 seniors: Leighton Moniz, Spencer Weston, Anthony Zellner, Seth Kuykendall, Dwayne Angebrandt, Joe Kinsky, Parker Johnson, Jackson Holstad, Mike Peterson, Matthew Dunaway, and Michael Moore before the game.
WOU (28-16, 18-10 GNAC) carried the momentum from their sweep on Friday right into the first game on Saturday. Right away in the first inning the Wolves scored four runs and never looked back.
Jacob Maiben walked and then moved to second on a groundout. He later moved to third on wild pitch. After twin brother Derek Maiben walked to put runners at the corners, both moved up on a balk with Jacob scoring the first run of the game. John Stark followed with a walk and then a throwing error at short loaded the bases. Anthony Zellner delivered the big hit singling through the right side to score two runs for the 3-0 lead. After a pitching change, Zach Valdez laid down a perfect bunt that turned into an RBI single to score Leighton Moniz for the 4-0 lead.
Northwest Nazarene (25-19, 17-11 GNAC) got on the board with a pair of runs in the second to leave WOU with the 4-2 lead.
The Wolves tallied a couple of insurance runs in the third. Moniz was hit-by-pitch and then Zellner singled to put runners at first and second. Following the second out, Jackson Holstad ripped a double to deep center to score both runs for the 6-2 lead.
Arturo Alvarez worked six strong innings before handing the ball to Sebasten Boivin. Boivin worked a 1-2-3 seventh and then limited the Nighthawks to just one run in the eighth after Bryce Bond came on to get the final out leaving runners on the corners and WOU with the 6-3 lead.
Matthew Dunaway came on to close it out in the ninth getting a lineout and a pair of strikeouts for the 6-3 win and his third save of the season and second in as many days.
Alvarez improved to 6-0 on the season tossing six strong innings, allowing just two earned runs with five strikeouts. Boivin went 1.2 innings allowing just the one earned run. Bond recorded the final out in the eighth before Dunaway tossed a scoreless ninth.
WOU held the 6-5 edge in hits with NNU committing the only error. Zellner and Holstad led the Wolves with two hits apiece and both drove in two runs each.
Duke Pahukoa paced NNU with two hits, while three players drove in a run. On the mound, Haden Keller took the loss (6-3) allowing four runs (two earned) in a third of an inning. Three pitchers combined to allow just two runs the rest of the way.
That win secured first-place in the GNAC standings for the Wolves even before they played the series finale. In the second game, it was a defensive battle with each team using three pitchers to keep the game close.
Nate Ethridge and Parker Johnson started for the teams with Ethridge going the first 2.2 innings and didn't allow a run. Johnson kept the Nighthawks off the board over the first three innings.
With the game scoreless in the fourth, NNU cashed in a leadoff double to take the 1-0 lead. The in the fifth, the Nighthawks picked up another run before Bond was able to get out of a bases-loaded jam to keep it a 2-0 game.
After Joseph Ilhi came on in relief for NNU and kept WOU off the board, Blake McFadden entered in the fifth and the Wolves got right back into it. With two outs and Levi Cummings on first, Justyn Herzog smoked the first pitch he saw to deep right-center that turned into an RBI triple. McFadden was able to avoid further damage getting a fly out to leave WOU with the 2-1 lead.
Zellner singled in the sixth with two outs, but was left there after Valdez hit a shot to center that was caught for the final out.
NNU added an insurance run in the seventh taking advantage of two early walks to eventually get a sacrifice fly for the 3-1 lead.
WOU wasn't able to mount a comeback in the seventh with McFadden working a 1-2-3 inning to close out the 3-1 win for NNU.
WOU finished the series 3-1 and the teams split their eight-game regular season series going 4-4.
NNU held the 6-3 edge in hits and WOU committed the only error.
Jacob Maiben, Herzog and Zellner had the hits for WOU, while Herzog had the RBI. In the circle, Johnson ended up with the loss (7-3) allowing two earned runs in 4.1 innings. Bond went 1.2 innings allowing just one run before Chris Hardin worked a scoreless seventh inning.
Ryan Dearing led NNU with two hits and two runs scored. Ethridge ended up with the no decision going 2.2 innings and didn't allow a run. Ihli collected his first win (1-1) of the season allowing no runs in 1.1 innings. McFadden picked up his third save of the season going the final three innings and allowed just a run with five strikeouts.
WOU will have the coming week off before closing out the regular season on May 5-6 at Lacey against Saint Martin's. The Wolves will then prepare to host the GNAC Championships in Monmouth May 12-13.
