MONMOUTH, Ore.—
Tyler McClain was hitting a beach ball at the plate, going 6-7 (.857) on the day as Central Washington split their doubleheader against Western Oregon 1-1, losing the opener 6-5 and winning the night cap 7-5.
"The guys did a great job bouncing back after a tough game one loss," Central Washington Head Coach
Desi Storey said.
Alongside his six hits, McClain recorded a double, two runs, and one run batted in.
Zach Berryman,
Charlie Larson,
Michael Peter,
Michael Copeland, and
Drew Richardson all recorded two-hit days.
Larson hit his first home run of the season, sending a two-run shot over the left field fence in game two.
Brayde Hirai (1-0) picked up his first win of the season in game two on three hits, one earned run, and one walk through 2.2 innings of work.
Josh Touhey opened the game, allowing just two earned runs and six hits alongside three strikeouts through 4.1 innings.
Arturo Alvarez (3-0) grabbed his third win of the year in game one. Alvarez allowed just one walk and one earned run on six hits through his 5.2 innings of work for the Wolves.
WOU' shortstop Derek Maiben had a day at the plate, going 6-9 with two runs, two runs batted in, and four stolen bases.
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME ONE
WOU took a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, scoring Derek Maiben on back-to-back singles with a stolen base. The Wolves made it 2-0 in the bottom of the second, scoring an unearned run on a single after an error by the Wildcats.
Western Oregon tacked on a four-spot in the fourth inning, taking advantage of a throwing error by Central, a pair of wild pitches, and four hits to make it 6-0.
The Wildcats found a run in the top of the sixth, scoring on a pair of singles from Larson and Peter. In an almost identical eighth inning, Central added another on a single from Richardson after Larson was hit by a pitch making 6-2 in favor of Western Oregon.
Central grabbed three runs in the top of the ninth on a trio of hits and a walk to Fahsel, but unable to push across the final run they fell to Western Oregon 6-5.
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME TWO
Larson opened game two with a bang, sending a two-run home run to left field. However, the Wolves were quick to answer, scoring on a trio of singles and a catcher's interference by the Wildcats, tying it 2-2.
After a quiet second and third, the Wildcats opened the fourth scoring a trio of runs on four singles and double from McClain, taking the lead 5-2 over the Wolves.
Western Oregon responded in the fifth, scoring two on a soft infield ground ball and a single to left field. The Wolves added another on a throwing error tying it up 5-5.
McClain led off the sixth inning with a double, coming around to score on a base hit and recapturing the lead 6-5 for Central.
Central grabbed an insurance run in the top of the seventh after a lead-off walk and back-to-back singles, taking game two 7-5.
The Wildcats and Wolves play another doubleheader tomorrow, Saturday, Mar. 12
th. Game times have been moved up to 10:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. in efforts to avoid inclement weather.
