RAVENSDALE, Wash. –
Ryan Dorney and
Luke Hare's dominate pitching lead to a
Austin Feist walk-off victory in extra innings to finish doubleheader split with Western Oregon, 1-8 and 2-1, at Ravensdale Park.
Game One
Western Oregon (10-6, 9-3 GNAC) took the early lead in the second after a fielding error by
Aaron Shoup plated one run and led to another on a RBI single later in the inning.
Both offenses remained in the check over the next four innings, excluding the RBI groundout for Jacob Martinez of WOU in the fifth. The Wolves added one run in the seventh on a RBI double to right center and extended their lead to 4-0.
Western Oregon's lead expanded to eight in the eighth inning after a two RBI single and an error and wild pitch brought home four more runs.
The Saints (8-14, 5-9) made some noise in the bottom half of the eighth on a RBI double by
Austin Feist scored
Steven Sordahl all the way from first. The Wolves ended the game with a 1-2-3 ninth inning and sealed the 8-1 victory.
Aaron Shoup (1-3) got the start today for the Saints, going 7.1 innings, allowing seven runs, four earned, on 11 hits while striking out five Wolves.
Zach Stevenson relieved the next two outs before
Jacob Phipps closed down the ninth.
Game Two
In an evenly matched pitcher's duel in cold conditions, Connor McCord of WOU and
Ryan Dorney each only allowed two runs and combined for eight strikeouts.
The Saints' offense was the first to get going, capitalizing on a throwing error with brought home
Isaac Hegamin from third base in the third.
Western Oregon responded quickly, a RBI single down the right field line by second base man Jay Leverett and knotting the game at 1-1 in the fourth.
Luke Hare was called into the game in the sixth inning after a double and walk put runners on the corners with two outs. After a stolen base, and runners on second and third, Hare punched out the lead-off man Martinez and kept the game tied at 1-1.
Hare, once again, stranded a runner in scoring position, forcing Nygaard to foul out to
Zach Raczok behind the plate and pushed the game into extra innings.
After a 1-2-3 top of the eight, the Saints' offense found life in their bats with a single by Hegamin to third base. Sordahl got a pitch he could hit and drove it into right field, advancing the winning run to 90-feet away. Next batter for the Saints was Feist, who drove an outside fastball to right field, tagging and scoring was Hegamin and Saint Martin's walked-off with a 2-1 victory in extra innings.
Dorney pitched to a no-decision after going 5.2 innings, only allowing one run on five hits, walking four and striking out four.
Luke Hare (2-1) completed the final 2.1 innings, retiring all eight batters he faced, including one strike out.
"Our guys have been resilient all year, playing in close ballgames and show up to everyday with great energy. We are getting better and getting more confident and I think that showed today" said head coach
Ken Garland. "We got outstanding pitching out of Dorney and Hare and Feist had big day at the plate. When we do the things we can do, doesn't matter who we are playing, we are as good as anybody in the conference".
Up Next: The Saints remain in Ravensdale, Washington for the third and fourth games against Western Oregon on Sunday to conclude the four-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
