Western Oregon Drops Two Games at GNAC Tourney

WOU topped 6-0 and 4-3 against Wildcats and Saints.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Western Oregon saw one streak come to an end and watched a lead go away late in the second game in dropping a 6-0 contest to Central Washington and a 4-3 verdict to Saint Martin's on Saturday at the GNAC Invitational at Tomlinson field.

The Wolves fell to 4-8 on the season in the non-conference games.

They will continue play Saturday and Sunday, playing SMU again tomorrow and the Wildcats on Sunday.

Central Washington juniors Tyler Levin and Travis Bertholf combined on a five-hit shutout as the host Wildcats defeated Western Oregon, 6-0, in the opening game of the day.

With the win, the Wildcats improved to 9-2 on the season. Western Oregon was shut out for the first time since Mar. 7th, 2003, a span of 222 games. The nine-inning game lasted just one hour and 53 minutes.

Levin improved to 5-0, throwing 80 pitches over seven innings of work.

He scattered four hits and struck out three with just one walk, and had a pickoff and a double play to help his cause in preserving the shutout on the mound.

Bertholf then made his second relief appearance of the year, striking out three in two innings while allowing just one hit.

Six different players scored runs for the Wildcats, while four different players had RBI.

Joe McCormick had three of Western Oregon's five hits in the game, including a first-inning double.

Travis Coursey and Paul Fisher had the Wolves' other safeties, with Fisher's coming as a double.

The Wildcats' 9-2 start is its best 11-game opening since 1956 and is tied for the best 11-game start in school history (1955 and 1956 seasons).

In the second game, Saint Martin's overcame a 3-0 first-inning WOU lead to defeat the Wolves for the second time this season, 4-3.

The Saints scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to rally for the win.

The Wolves scored all three of their runs in the first inning, thanks in part to a two-run double by Coubi Jiles.

Brent Mertens also had an RBI single in the inning.

But Western was shut down offensively after that, tallying only four hits in the game off of five SMU pitchers.

Meanwhile, the Saints chipped away at WOU starter Kevin Corrigan, finally chasing the final two runs across the plate in the eighth inning.

They got the first run via a walk, passed ball, balk and an infield single.

Adam Siler then singled home the game-winner with a ground ball up the middle.

Corrigan gave up only five hits in a complete game performance. He walked two and struck out five. He is now 1-1 on the season.

Saint Martin's improved to 5-15 on the year, WOU is now 4-8.

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