Wolves sweep Saints to move into tie for first

(LACEY, Wash.) - For the second season in a row the Western Oregon baseball team has used strong starting pitching to spark a late season run. Last year, the Wolves rode that pitching to a 23-game Great Northwest Athletic Conference winning streak, and this year they have won their past seven games, all by holding opponents to three runs or less.

Today it was Grady Wood and Kirk Lind dealing the Wolves (23-11, 13-3) to a pair of victories over Saint Martin's, 6-3 and 8-2. The four-game sweep moved WOU into a tie atop the conference standings with the Saints (21-18, 17-5).

Aaron Headrick was an offensive force for WOU. He went 5-for-6 with three runs scored and three driven in during the doubleheader.

Game 1
Grady Wood struck out nine Saints en route to winning his fourth straight start and helping the Wolves earn a 6-3 victory in the opener. He allowed just six hits and three runs (one earned) over his 7.1 innings of work.

Wood was staked to a two run lead before he even threw a pitch as Daniel Dillard and Bo Folkinga each picked up an RBI in the first. The Wolves added on with one in the third and two more in the sixth to go up 5-0.

The Saints then mounted a rally in the eighth inning to get back in the game. The first four hitters of the inning reached for SMU, as they scored their first run, but they were unable to get another hit. Their other two runs in the inning were courtesy of a fielder's choice and a error.

Ian McDougall got the Wood and the Wolves out of a bases loaded jam in the eighth by get a fly out and strikeout. He would go on to pick up the save by pitching a perfect final 1.2 innings.

Grant Glover and Andre Royal each had two hits to go along with three from Aaron Headrick, as WOU outhit SMU 12-6.

Game 2
Kirk Lind (3-1) pitched a complete game allowing just two runs and six hits, while striking out a season-high eight, as WOU defeated Saint Martin's 8-2 in the nightcap, completing the four-game sweep.

Lind spotted the Saints to two runs and four hits after the bottom of the first inning but never allowed more than one runner to reach in an inning thereafter. Since moving to the rotation, Lind is 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA and 17 strikeouts, while allowing just nine hits in three starts.

The Wolves started their comeback in the second inning when Headrick knocked in two on a bases loaded, two-out double. They would take the lead in the third on a run scoring double by Michael Chiarelli and two errant pitches which allowe WOU to score two more.

Chiarelli finished the game 3-for-4 with a run scored and three batted in. Folkinga and Headrick also recorded multi-hit games for the Wolves.

Next games: This week the Wolves will be at Montana State Billings, Apr. 22-23, to take on the Yellowjackets.