Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore

NAMPA, Idaho - Two complete-game pitching performances highlighted tonight's Western Oregon University sweep of the Crusaders as the Wolves took game one 13-2 and grabbed the nightcap 4-3 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference openers for both teams at NNU's Vail Field.

 

WOU's Mike Ward (2-1) tossed a nine-inning complete-game three hitter at the Crusaders to start the day, allowing one earned run, striking out four, while not surrendering a walk.  Game two saw Blake Keitzman improve to 2-1 on the year, allowing three runs on four hits in a seven-inning complete game effort. 

 

Ward received run support from the Wolves in game one, who scored two in the third on a Cody Reeves two-run home run, two in the fourth on a solo home run by Daniel Dillard and a sacrifice fly by Logan Lotti, and opened up the game with six runs in the seventh that included back-to-back home runs by Garrett Breda and Reeves.  WOU added three unearned runs in the eighth.

 

NNU's Charles Pollock (0-1) took the loss in game one, while Zeb Sneed (1-3) fell in game two.

 

The Wolves jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the nightcap, scoring twice in the first on a two-run single by Dillard, and one in the third on a safety squeeze by Cesar Lopez.  However, NNU answered with a pair of runs in the third as Kramer Uvila doubled-home Ty Windall, who had led off with a single, and Uvila then scored on a throwing error by WOU catcher Breda.

 

WOU extended the lead to 4-2 in the fourth when Reeves singled and then scored on Devon Bouvier's triple to left-center.  The Crusaders pulled to within one at 4-3 in the fifth when Ryan Udy led off with a walk, moved to second on a Windall sacrifice bunt, advanced to third on Uvila's fly ball to rightfield, and then scored on a balk by Keitzman.

 

J.T. Brodrick held the Wolves scoreless in the top half of the seventh, working one inning of relief for Sneed, however, Keitzman answered the bell in the seventh for Western Oregon, striking out the side to end the game.  Keitzman finished with 11 strikeouts.

Connor Rankin and Joel Oliver had two hits on the day - one in each game - to lead NNU offensively.

Crusader first baseman Jon Keller went 0 for 5, ending a 17-game hitting streak dating back to NNU's final four games of the 2009 season. Keller's streak equaled the eighth longest in GNAC history.

The teams will return tomorrow for a GNAC twinbill that begins at Noon.