By Jacob Hansen Staff Writer
BASEBALL
Western’s baseball team continues a hot streak to begin spring term. The Wolves started the season 2-11 but have rallied to 14-16 and 10-15 in the Great
Northwest Athletic Conference.
For the first time during conference play, the Wolves claimed the win in a four-game series. During their last game, senior Garret Harpole cranked his team-leading fifth home run to keep the Wolves on top.
One of Western’s top athletes, pitcher Jesse Pratt, was named GNAC pitcher of the week. He has earned wins in all of his last three games. He scorched the Yellowjackets of Montana State Billings, the top-ranked offense in GNAC, not allowing a single earned run. He struck out six batters March 13 for an 8-1 win. Pratt is tied for the most wins
among pitchers in the GNAC and looks to take the lead soon.
Last Friday, the Wolves split a double header with Northwest Nazarene University, as they were lead by senior Matt Taylor who scored a run and recorded an RBI. Additionally, Pratt recorded five strikeouts in the game. It was a team effort as junior relief pitcher Jacob Storedahl came in and quickly got the final three outs, earning his second save of the season. The two teams would face each other again the next day in Nampa, Idaho.
In the first game, the Wolves relied on four pitchers to seal the deal but couldn’t quite get the job the done as they lost 3-1.
NNU had an impressive pitching squad that held Western to one run in the first seven innings.
In the final game the Wolves attempt at the win took five pitchers but again was not enough in their 10-6 loss. Western had tied the game at 6 in the top of the sixth but was quickly stopped in their tracks as the Crusaders scored four points in the bottom of the inning.
In non-game related news, senior third baseman Garret Harpole was featured as a guest on the GNAC Insider. Harpole ranks in the top five for runs scored, home runs and RBIs in the conference.
The next contest for the Wolves will be on Friday, April 3, against Central Washington University in Ellenburg, Washington. The two double headers will be all GNAC play as Western tries to topple the preseason favorite Wildcats.
SOFTBALL
Over spring break, Western’s softball team took home Consolation #1 title at the 14th annual Tournament of Champions in Turlock, California.
The Wolves were lead by pitcher Sammie Cadwallader as she not only closed out several games for Western, but also opened games throwing heat and backing down batters. The
team was lead offensively by sophomore Kelsie Gardner with a perfect 3-for-3 performance in final game to end the tournament with two straight wins.
The final game was a payback win after losing to Academy of Art University in extra inning game. Amanda Evola and Jourdan Williams both smacked two hits to help out with the
win, also going past regulation innings. The hero of the game, pinch-hitter Amy Anderson, registered a two-out RBI double in the top of the seventh inning. Sealing the deal, Evola hit home Emma Alfonso putting the Wolves 3-1.
During the tournament, Cadwallader was named Great Northwest Athletic Conference pitcher of the week. She allowed only five runs in 20.1 innings on the mound. Her arm has been notorious around the league for striking out many top hitters. So far, she has made six starts in 12 games, with a record of 2-5 in 36 innings.
Western returns to the field April 2, with a doubleheader against Western Washington University at home.
Western will be wearing all pink in their cancer awareness game, honoring people that have been affected by the illness.
The past few weeks, Western players and coaches have been collecting names of anyone that is currently battling cancer has survived cancer, or has passed away from cancer.
They will hang the names around the softball complex. All ticket purchases and donations will go towards a cancer support group on campus.
