Baseball Drops Two at Western Oregon, 16-9 and 16-0

Game 1

Game 2

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Big innings seemed to be the consistent theme Friday as Western Oregon posted a pair of Great Northwest Athletic Conference victories over visiting Montana State Billings, 16-9 and 16-0.  With the losses, MSUB falls to 14-16 overall and 8-6 in conference play.  WOU improves to 16-7 and 9-1 in conference play.

“We weren’t ready to play today and it obviously showed,” Yellowjacket head coach Chris Brown said.  “We need to bounce back and get back on track.  The best thing about baseball is that you get a chance to do something about yesterday tomorrow.”

The Wolves jumped out to an early 5-0 lead courtesy of five runs in the second inning as Garrett Breda doubled down the left field line scoring three runs.  A RBI single and a run scored off a Yellowjacket miscue added two more runs.

Western Oregon added a run in the third and three more in the fourth for a 9-0 lead.  The Yellowjackets got on the board in the fifth on a two out, RBI single by Cole Pryor, courtesy of a dropped foul ball error on the WOU first baseman earlier in the inning.

The Wolves tacked on five more runs in the fifth, helped out by another three run double, a wild pitch and a RBI double for a 14-1 lead.  Western Oregon added two more runs in the eighth before the Yellowjackets caught fire.

In its last at bat, MSUB plated eight runs to make things interesting.  After Andrew Hernandez was hit by a pitch and a walk to Pryor, Jeff Ridgeway blasted a three-run, home run to get things started in the inning.  It was Ridgeway’s second home run of the year.  Joe Via then doubled to left center scoring a run, followed by a RBI double from Stefan Malkuch and a Levi Johnson RBI double followed that. 

After a pitching change by WOU, Chris Round belted a two RBI single to center plating the seventh and eighth runs of the inning as the Yellowjackets batted around.  Hernandez and Pryor were unable to keep the rally going the second time around as the game ended 16-9.

Brian Howe (2-4) took the loss as he went four innings, allowing nine runs – seven earned, two walks and two strikeouts.  Oregon State transfer, Blake Keitzman (3-0), earned the victory as he went six innings, scattered five hits, one run, four walks and nine strikeouts.

Offensively, the Yellowjackets were led by Ridgeway who went 1 for 4 with three RBI.  Round was 2 for 5 with two RBI and a run scored.  MSUB had 12 hits in the game and left 10 runners on base.  Jason Moseby led the way for WOU with a 2 for 4 outing, four RBI and two runs scored.

In the nightcap, WOU continued where it left off the first game as it scored 16 runs on 14 hits and held MSUB scoreless and had just one hit in the game.  The Wolves jumped out to an early 7-0 lead through the first three innings and added a run in the fourth for an 8-0 lead.

WOU returned the favor in the fifth with an eight-run inning of its own for a 16-0 score.

Matt Schoonover led the sixth inning off with a single to right field to end the no-hitter.  It was the first time since May 8, 2007, that MSUB was held to one hit in a 6-0 loss to St. Edward’s.

Brian Strom (3-3) takes the loss, going three innings, allowing eight runs – six earned, five walks and one strikeout.  Kirk Lind (3-1) earns the victory, going six innings, one hit, three walks and one strikeout.

The Yellowjackets and Wolves will conclude the series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. Pacific time.