COLLEGE: Woolley sparks WNC to DH, series sweep

For the second time in three games, Western Nevada College found itself in an early hole against Eastern Utah, and for the second time roared back to grab a win.

The Wildcats fought back from a 5-0 deficit to tie the game at 6, and then Chris Woolley delivered a three-run double in a five-run fifth to snap the tie and spark the Wildcats to a 15-6 win in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader at John L. Harvey Field.

"There was never any panic (or concern)," Woolley said. "I knew we were going to come back because we can hit the ball.

"He threw a fastball middle in which is what I was looking for. Their pitchers threw a a lot of off-speed at us this weekend because they couldn't throw the ball by us. Some guys started to sit on the breaking ball."

Woolley also came up big in the second game, driving in four runs to lead WNC to a 10-2 win and a sweep of the four-game series. WNC remained tied for first with Salt lake CC. Both teams are 25-3 in Scenic West Athletic Conference play.

"We did an unbelievable job of playing every pitch and coming from behind," WNC coach D.J. Whittemore said. "The strength of the weekend was the offense. We just pounded the ball. A lot of different guys had big hits this weekend."

Especially in Saturday's first game. WNC had three runs in the first, three in the second, fifth in the fifth and four in the sixth. Only once was WNC retired in order during the game.

WNC starter Andrew Woeck struggled early, allowing five runs on four hits in the opening inning. The first two hitters reached base on 0-2 pitches. Woeck walked two and hit a batter in the first inning.

"The first 0-2 was a breaking ball that got too much of the plate," Whittemore said. "The second one was a good piece of hitting by their guy. I didn't take him out because he's one of our best pitchers and I have a lot of confidence in him. There were a lot of outs left to get in the game."

WNC cut the lead to 5-3 after one, as Connor Eppard hit a first-inning homer for the second straight game, a two-run shot. Sean Potkay tripled home Beau Day, who had reached on a walk, with the final run in the first.

Woeck gave up a solo homer to Craig Brinkerhoff on a 1-2 pitch to start the second, but was able to work out of an ensuing bases-loaded jam.

WNC tied the game with three runs in the bottom of the inning. An error, a run-scoring single by Day and a bases-loaded walk to Brooks Klein accounted for the runs.

The score remained deadlocked until the aforementioned big fifth inning. After Woolley's double made it 9-6, Taylor Smart delivered a run-scoring single and Klein added a sacrifice fly. WNC added four in the sixth, two coming on a double by Zach Hendrix. Day and Eppard also had run-scoring hits.

In the second game, Woolley's bases-clearing double gave the Wildcats a 6-2 lead, WNC went on to score four more runs. Day had a two-run homer for the Wildcats.

Chris Garrison worked the first five innings. He had a no-hitter for three innings and gave up three straight hits in the fourth when Eastern scored both of its runs.

"Garrison had a great start for us," Whittemore said. "He was really in control."

NOTES: WNC will honor Keegan Aiazzi and Stephen Anderson at Friday's game against Southern Nevada. Half of the admission tickets will be donated to the two families. Rubber bracelets also will be sold for $3 with all proceeds going to the two families.