[Game 1 box score] [Game 2 box score]
ELLENSBERG, Wash. - Daniel Dillard hit three home runs and the Western Oregon University baseball team pounded out 26 hits to take both games of a doubleheader from Central Washington by the identical score of 9-6, Saturday, Apr. 3.
The wins kept the Wolves (14-11, 9-3 GNAC) one game in front of Northwest Nazarene in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings, as the Crusaders also won both their contests Saturday. The losses dropped Central Washington to 6-20 on the season and to 4-10 in league play.
Game 1
Every starter for the Wolves had at least one hit and they scored two runs in each of the last three innings to come from behind for a 9-6 win.
Daniel Dillard was 3-for-4 with two solo home runs and three runs batted in to lead the Wolves. Jason Moseby also collected three hits, while Grant Glover, Garrett Breda and Kyle Boe each had two. Moseby picked up one of his two runs batted in on a solo shot in the fifth and added another on a single in the eighth. Breda and Boe also knocked in two RBI apiece.
Jesse Nunley (2-0) earned the win in relief of Michael Ward, as he held the Wildcats to one run in his 2.2 innings of work.
Western Oregon trailed 4-3 after five innings before rallying for six runs in the final three for the win.
WOU was also able to overcome four errors, as it allowed just one unearned run.
Ricky McKinney, Keola Rubin and Anthony Sanelli each collected two hits for Central Washington.
Game 2
Blake Keitzman pitched his fourth straight complete game to help WOU finish off the doubleheader sweep of Central Washington with a 9-6 win.
Cesar Lopez, Grant Glover and Daniel Dillard all collected two hits and scored two runs. The trio also accounted for all five of the Wolves' extra base hits. Dillard notched his league-leading 10th homer of the season in the second to get WOU on the board. Glover recorded a double and a triple, while both Lopez's hits were two-baggers.
Western Oregon trailed 4-1 after two innings before scoring four times in the third to take the lead for good. The go-ahead hit was a two-run bases loaded single by Bill Clontz.
Meanwhile, Keitzman allowed nine hits and six runs (four earned) while striking out five to improve to 4-2 on the season.
Ricky McKinney was the only Wildcat to get two hits off the Wolves' southpaw.
"Our guys persevered and grinded to get the wins today," said WOU head coach Jeremiah Robbins. "It was a phenomenal team effort and our guys just refused to lose up here.
"We stuck with the gameplan and had a couple of big hits to win both," continued Robbins. "We will be focused and ready to out for two more tomorrow."
Next games
These teams will conclude their four-game series with another doubleheader starting at noon.