Feisty Vikings split doubleheader with conference leader Gonzaga

In the first game of the doubleheader against Gonzaga, Vikings men’s baseball was consistent in its runs, led by junior pitcher Peter Bovencamp on Saturday, April 16. The first game against Gonzaga ended with a strong win for the Vikings of 8-2. The energy from Western in the first half was soon lulled by Gonzaga’s unanticipated comeback, with just the first inning ending in 3-0 for Western. Despite the fact they were able to rally in the sixth inning, the last inning resulted in a loss for Western’s second game of the day. With the second game’s score of 5-10, onlookers were left wondering what changed the tone of the game. “The pitcher was getting tired, this was the second time seeing him through the lineup so that definitely played into it,” sophomore catcher Forrest Longanecker said. Only halfway through the conference, the Vikings have been able to snag nine wins and are confident in their ability as a team. “We’re always going to come into a series confident,” Longanecker said. Longanecker said the players are particularly proud of their 29-0 win against Idaho just one week ago, which was a highlight of their season so far. Senior third baseman Kyle Pegram said his personal highlight was the Idaho game where he hit two home runs. Pegram guided the first game of the doubleheader with a three-run double, leading the Vikings 7-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning. The team left the series focusing on the high-stakes game for Sunday, which determines the future for their season. “It’s going to be us or Gonzaga who wins the conference, so it’s going to be a big game for us,” senior and second baseman Nate Wilham said. The Vikings will be playing the rubber game against the Bulldogs at 11 a.m. Sunday, April 17, at Joe Martin Field to determine its place in the conference.

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