Western Oregon baseball opens the season on the road at Fresno Pacific

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WESTERN OREGON
at
FRESNO PACIFIC
6 pm Thursday | 2 pm Friday (DH) | 11 am Saturday
Fresno, California | FPU Diamond
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MONMOUTH, Ore. — The Western Oregon baseball team opens its 2023 campaign in California on Thursday as the Wolves open a four-game series against Fresno Pacific.

HEADING INTO THE SEASON | 2022 SEASON STATISTICS

The Wolves are coming off their second-straight appearance at the NCAA West Regional while claiming a share of the GNAC regular-season title (15th time in program history) and winning the GNAC Championship tournament. WOU went 34-20 last season – the sixth time in the last decade the Wolves have won at least 30 games.

WOU will have some holes to fill this season as it lost five of its nine starting position players and three of its four starting pitchers from a year ago.

The good news for WOU is the one pitcher it does return is 2022 GNAC Pitcher of the Year and all-region right-hander Arturo Alvarez. The senior, who was selected to the NCBWA D-II West Region Preseason Team, went 7-2 with a 3.18 ERA with 52 strikeouts and a .221 batting average against in 70.2 innings of work.

The Wolves still return plenty of talented arms, including All-GNAC Second Team reliever Sebasten Boivin (2.38 ERA, 41.2 IP, 29 SO), Bryce Bond (2.53 ERA, 42.2 IP, 50 SO) and Chris Hardin (3.80 ERA, 23.2 IP , 25 SO).

At the plate, the Wolves return twins Jacob Maiben (All-GNAC First Team, .330 AVG, .449 OBP, 40 R, 20 SB) and Derek (All-GNAC Honorable Mention, .308 AVG, .391 OBP, 35 RBI , 41 R, 20 SB) to highlight the bats that are returning. The Wolves’ home run leader from a year ago John Stark returns after clubbing 11 home runs and driving in 36 as a freshman to lead the team with a .863 OPS.

Following this weekend, the Wolves return home Feb. 18-19 to take on Eastern Oregon.

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