Box Score Box Score

TURLOCK — A walk-off bunt is not something you see very often in baseball. Well, that happened today at Warrior Baseball Field as Cal State Stanislaus scored three times in the dramatic final inning to beat Western Oregon, 8-7.

The exciting finish gave the Warriors the series split against the 18th rank Wolves as Stanislaus improved to 4-6 overall. Western Oregon falls to 11-6.

With runners at the corners and one out, Eli Davis laid down a bunt right at WOU closer AJ Burke, who let it go under his glove, scoring pinch runner Erik Larsen for the game-winning run.

Trailing 7-5 going into the final inning after Western Oregon rallied for six runs in the seventh and eighth innings, the Warriors immediately got within a run of the deficit when Jordan Long ledoff with a solo shot to deep center field.

One out later, and needing baserunners, the Warriors continued to battle. DJ Arellano singled through the left side, then pinch-hitter Trent Frisbie singled off a diving third baseman.

Colton Beatty, who normally hits much higher in the lineup, got the day off until entering as a defensive sub in the eighth came up with another Warrior clutch hit. In the ninth hole, Beatty lined a single over a leaping second baseman to score pinch-runner Cisco Green from second. Larsen went first to third on a bobble by the Wolves centerfielder.

With runners at the corners, Davis was asked to put down a bunt and force the issue. His hard, bouncing bunt went right at the pitcher Burke forcing Larsen to retrieve — until Burke failed to field the play.

The Warriors had jumped out on top with a Justin Manci grand slam in the third for a 4-1 lead. That score held until the seventh when WOU scored four times to chase starter Phil Quade. Western Oregon had been prolific with its offense in the seventh inning during the series. WOU scored five runs in the seven inning in both games on Saturday.

Western Oregon would add on to the 5-4 lead with two scores in the eighth that included a solo homer by Vince Ampi and a RBI single by Matt Nylen.

Stanislaus answered with a run in the eighth on a Manci single that scored Davis to make it 7-5 to set up the dramatic ninth.

Manci ended up with a 2-for-4, five RBI day and Long also went 2-for-4 with his first homer.

Long finished the series 9-for-15 (.600) with six runs scored, a triple, a home run and two RBI. Craig Beevers also enjoyed a nice weekend series as he batted .600 with nine hits, three doubles and drove in six scores. Manci had seven hits, including two doubles and the grand slam and drove in seven runs.

As a team, the Warriors batted .355 against Western Oregon.