LACEY, Wash. – The final week of the regular season is here and the Western Oregon University baseball team will have a shot to secure their 15th Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular season title at Saint Martin's. The schedule was changed to try and avoid heavy rain in the forecast for both Thursday and Friday. The teams will now play their four-game series in the span of four days. The series open this Wednesday with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. and then they will close the series on Saturday with another doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
Entering the week, WOU is three games back in the win column behind Northwest Nazarene for the conference crown. The Wolves held a one-game leading after taking three of four from the Nighthawks on Apr. 22-23, but Northwest Nazarene swept a four-game home set against Montana State Billings this past week to move to 21-11 in GNAC play. WOU enters the week 18-10.
Following a four-game series split at Montana State Billings on Apr. 8-9, WOU has gone 7-2 since then winning series at Central Washington and the home set against the Nighthawks, along with a midweek win over Bushnell.
WOU is 28-16 overall on the season and had this past week off. The Wolves took three of four from the Saints during the first meeting in Monmouth on Apr. 1-2.
The Maiben twins continue to lead the way for the Wolves with Jacob Maiben hitting .340 with 49 hits, 34 runs, four doubles, two triples, a home run and 17 RBI, along with 23 walks and 16 stolen bases. Derek Maiben is hitting .306 with 48 hits, 36 runs, six doubles, a triple, a home run and 30 RBI, along with 16 walks and 17 stolen bases. Jackson Holstad is hitting .283 with 41 hits, 16 runs, 10 doubles, a triple, two home runs, 32 RBI and eight stolen bases. Justyn Herzog has tallied seven doubles, three triples, three home runs and 26 RBI. Anthony Zellner has 33 hits, eight doubles, a home run and 20 RBI. John Stark is among the leaders in the conference in home runs with nine, along with 25 RBI and four doubles.
On the mound, Sebasten Boivin holds a 2.25 ERA and is 2-1 in 36 innings, picking up 23 strikeouts and a save along the way. Dominic Miller has a 2.70 ERA in 13.1 innings, adding a victory and 18 strikeouts. Arturo Alvarez improved to 6-0 on the season with a win over the Nighthawks last time out. He holds a 3.04 ERA in 53.1 innings, along with 36 strikeouts. Matthew Dunaway added a couple of saves during the NNU series and has three on the year in 26.2 innings. He holds a 3.37 ERA with 43 strikeouts. Bryce Bond also added a save and has a 3.41 ERA with two wins in 31.2 innings, collecting 37 strikeouts. Mike Peterson added his second win of the season again the Nighthawks, along with a 3.91 ERA in 46 innings, posting 44 strikeouts. Parker Johnson has a team-high seven wins in 44.2 innings, holding a 4.03 ERA with 38 strikeouts. Seth Kuykendall has five wins and two saves in 38 innings, along with 42 strikeouts and a 4.26 ERA. Chris Hardin also has three saves in 19 innings, along with 21 strikeouts. Joe Kinsky and Michael Moore also have wins this year, with Moore adding two saves. Curran Mitzel leads the team with a 0.00 ERA in seven innings and three appearances, that includes a start.
Alvarez ranks first in the GNAC and 78th nationally in ERA, second in the GNAC and 79th nationally in hits allowed per nine innings (7.42), first in the GNAC and 70th nationally in WHIP (1.12) and fifth in the GNAC in walks allowed per nine innings (2.70). Peterson is sixth in the GNAC in ERA, fourth in hits allowed per nine innings (8.22), first in the GNAC and 77th nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.40), second in the GNAC and 71st nationally in WHIP (1.13) and first in the GNAC and 75th nationally in walks allowed per nine innings (1.96). Stark leads the GNAC in home runs per game (0.25). Levi Cummings leads the GNAC in sacrifice bunts (5) and sacrifice bunts per game (0.14). Derek Maiben leads the GNAC and is 19th nationally in sacrifice flies (6), leads the GNAC and is 99th nationally in stolen bases, leads the GNAC in stolen bases per game (0.40), leads the GNAC and is 23rd nationally in toughest to strikeout. Jacob Maiben is second in the GNAC in stolen bases and second in the GNAC in stolen bases per game (0.38), and second in the GNAC in toughest to strikeout. Herzog is third in the GNAC in triples and leads the GNAC and is 88th nationally in triples per game (0.09). Johnson is tied for the GNAC lead and is 52nd nationally in victories, third in the GNAC in WHIP (1.30) and is fourth in the GNAC in walks allowed per nine innings (2.62).
Saint Martin's has stormed back into the GNAC Championships conversation after winning three of four at home against Northwest Nazarene. The Saints then split a four-game set at Montana State Billings before taking three of four at home against Central Washington this past week. Saint Martin's is 18-27 overall and now 13-15 in GNAC play, tied with Montana State Billings for the third and final GNAC Championships spot. The Saints have gone 8-5 at home this year.
Aaron Renaud leads Saint Martin's with a .336 average, tallying 45 hits, 23 runs, 11 doubles, six home runs and 23 RBI. Hunter Kosmider holds a .294 average with 35 hits ,23 runs, two doubles, two triples and 21 RBI. Reid Little is hitting .276 with 35 hits, 19 runs, nine doubles, a home run and 25 RBI.
On the mound, Justice Yamashita leads the way with five wins in 58.2 innings, holding a 3.37 ERA and 68 strikeouts. Finnley Butler has a win in 54 innings, posting a 3.83 ERA. Ryan Driscoll, Brock Wrolstad, Kameron Richards, and Cole Hatton all have two wins each this season.
WOU has gone 60-12 at Saint Martin's since 2002 and won all four meetings last year in Lacey.
Following the road trip, WOU will return home to host the GNAC Championships on May 12-13 in Monmouth.
Live video and stats will be available for the games at Saint Martin's. Click here for live video and click here for live stats.
