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Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University posted a pair of 3-0 victories over Montana State Billings Saturday afternoon as the Yellowjackets finished the season with an 18-29 record overall and a 9-23 mark in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. WOU won its 10th straight GNAC title as it finished the regular season with a 37-13 record and a 27-5 mark in conference play.
“I thought we made strides as a program this season,” MSUB head coach Rob Bishop said. “We were competitive in the GNAC this year and played well in a tough non-conference schedule. I felt that many of our seniors had fine individual seasons and I was happy to see them go out on a positive note.”
The Yellowjackets opened the game with a pair of two out hits by senior Jeff Ridgeway and sophomore Colby Robison, but were unable to get anything across in the top of the first. The Wolves scored a single run in the bottom of the frame as Bo Folkinga singled home Mike Chiarelli for a 1-0 lead.
In the sixth, the Wolves used a nice piece of “small ball” as Folkinga came up big again as he bunted home Grant Glover on a suicide squeeze for a 2-0 lead. The Wolves converted on a double suicide squeeze yesterday in an 8-2 win in the nightcap.
A single to left and an infield single set up Chiarelli who singled through the left side for a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the eighth. Sophomore Austin Rue saved potentially two runs as he snagged a line drive at third off the bat of Daniel Dillard for a double play.
Senior Jeff Ridgeway began the Jackets' last at bat with a single through the right side. Senior Kevin Zukaitis reached on an error as Ridgeway moved to third. WOU hurler, Grady Wood, fanned freshman Dillon Ness, followed by a free pass to junior Trevor Wilson to load the bases. Senior Chris Stine blasted a ball to left for a potential grand slam, but the ball tailed into foul territory at the last minute. MSUB was unable to get anything across as Stine grounded out on the next pitch.
Just as in yesterday's opener, both pitchers pitched a complete game. Junior Zach Smith allowed seven hits, three earned runs, one walk and he fanned three as he fell to 3-5 on the year. Wood improved to 8-4 on the year as he scattered four hits with three walks and he struck out a game-high 10.
Ridgeway led the way for the Jackets offensively going 2 for 3. Folkinga accounted for two of the three runs for the Wolves as he was 2 for 4. Chiarelli was 2 for 3 with a RBI and a run scored.
The Wolves plated three runs in the bottom of the fifth helped out by a pair of Yellowjacket miscues. A pair of singles and an errant throw by Yellowjacket hurler Brian Hutchings plated the first run. WOU again converted a suicide squeeze for a run.
Yellowjacket senior Brian Howe came in to pitch the sixth in his final game in a Yellowjacket uniform. Howe turned back the Wolves in the frame to give the Jackets one last chance in the seventh.
MSUB went down in order as WOU reliever Zach Miller picked up the save.
Hutchings took the loss in five innings as he allowed four hits, three runs – one earned, one walk and he fanned two. WOU's Kirk Lind pitched the second one-hitter of the weekend for the Wolves as he went six innings, allowing one hit and he fanned five.
