LACEY, Wash. – Saint Martin's received the effort they needed on the mound, limiting Western Oregon to just six runs over the 17 innings. However, the bats were unable to capitalize, scoring just one run and falling to Western Oregon 4-0, and 2-1 on Wednesday.
In the opener, Western Oregon jumped on the Saints early with a run in the first and third inning. The Wolves added one another two runs in the seventh inning to ice their 4-0 victory.
Finnley Butler got the start, going only four runs over 6.1 innings on nine hits and four strikeouts.
Colin Driscoll came in to lock down the final 2.2 innings, giving up just one hit, no runs, and three strikeouts.
Saint Martin's put runners in scoring position three different innings, including the first, sixth, and ninth. However, the Saints were unable to find that clutch hit to put themselves on the board.
Western Oregon managed to get on the board in the third inning of the second game, scoring a on a sac fly.
Kameron Richards came in with the bases loaded and nobody out and limited the damage to just one run.
The Saints scored their lone run of the day in the bottom half of the third.
Austin Schaler singled to first with one out, and advanced to second on a ground out. With two outs,
Ryne Oshiro delivered with a two-out RBI single through the right side to tie up the ballgame.
Both pitching staffs went back and forth for the rest of the game, throwing up zeros on the board until the eighth inning. Western Oregon managed to break the tie with an RBI single to left, scoring the eventual winning run.
Saint Martin's had an opportunity for a walk-off in the seventh, with a runner in scoring position but a strikeout ended the chance.
Zach Alcos got the start, going two plus innings with two strikeouts. Richards went three scoreless innings, followed by
Aaron Nease shutout sixth inning, and
Brock Wrolstad went two innings but picked up the loss.
The Saints sit two games back of Montana State Billings now for the final spot in the GNAC Championships. Their final doubleheader of the 2022 season is scheduled for Saturday at 1:00 PM against Western Oregon.
