MONMOUTH, Ore. – After Western Oregon limited the Saints to only three hits in the opening game,
Tanner Inouye received six runs of support in the Saints' doubleheader split 6-2.
The offense never found their hits in the first game to back up
Aaron Shoup. The lefty tossed six innings, giving up two runs on only two hits. However, the bats came alive in the second game, highlighted by a four run second inning. Inouye got all the support he needed as the junior pitched six plus innings, giving up two runs and punching out four.
"We were really happy with the way our guys competed today," said head coach
Kelly Gau. "Great pitcher's duel in the first game. Aaron (Shoup) has been phenomenal for us all year and gotten the tough end of things going toe to toe with other teams best guys. But he has continued to pitch at a high level. Offense came alive in the second game as we collectively stuck with a disciplined plan and went station Tanner (Inouye) continued to keep guys off balance like he has all year. The challenge is to continue to grow and believe in one another heading into tomorrow."
In the opening game, Shoup and Alex Roth, who went seven innings, striking out 15, dueled into the sixth inning. The first run of the game came on a fielder's choice. The Wolves added a run in the seventh on a RBI single and lastly another one in in the eighth on a solo shot.
The Saints' three hits came off the bats of
Aaron Renaud,
Benjamin Wadowski, and
Kahi Hirano. Their first hit did not come until the fourth on Renaud's double to right center.
Western Oregon struck early in the second game, scoring one in the first on a groundout to second. In the top of the second, the Saints managed their first runs of the day, starting with a Renaud RBI single to left.
Isaac Hegamin added a run later in the inning on an RBI single to left field. Then the Saints capitalized on a Wolves' error that plated two more runs. Then in the third inning, Renaud drove in another run with a sac fly before
Ryne Oshiro added the sixth and final one on a RBI single.
Behind the efforts of Inouye and
Mickey Walker in the seventh, the Saints cruised to a 6-2 win to earn the split on the day.
Saint Martin's and Western Oregon will decide the series tomorrow, starting at noon with live stats on smusaints.com.
