Flores keys WNC’s twin ball split

So far this season Western Nevada College freshman Eric Flores has seen spot duty at first base. More times than not, Flores has taken advantage of his opportunities.

Such was the case on Saturday when Flores delivered two hits, including a triple, and knocked in two runs as WNC gained a doubleheader split with a 9-2 win over Colorado Northwestern in Rangely, Colo. The Spartans won the opener, 1-0, despite the two-hit pitching of Matt Young.

“Eric is a special person, has a lot of maturity and is a smart player,” said WNC baseball coach D.J. Whittemore of his part-time starter who began his collegiate baseball career as a pitcher at the University of Arizona. “He’s ready whenever we ask him to play.”

The Wildcats scored three runs in the first two innings to make a winner out of Chase Kaplan, who remained unbeaten at 6-0. Kaplan gave up four hits and four walks in seven innings.

Sophomore DJ Peters contributed a pair of doubles, a sacrifice fly and two RBI. Bradley Lewis provided two base hits, David Modler reached base in his first three at-bats and Sam Salyers executed a squeeze bunt.

In the opener, a battle of the southpaws went to Colorado Northwestern’s Christopher Ramirez. Ramirez blanked the Wildcats over six innings before turning his masterpiece over to the bullpen. He gave up four hits and fanned seven.

Young threw his third straight complete game, working six innings. He struck out seven and walked six.

WNC twice advanced a runner to third base with less than two outs, but each time Ramirez silenced the rally with a pair of strikeouts.

At 8-2 in SWAC play, the Wildcats are one game behind College of Southern Nevada (10-2), which won three of four games against Salt Lake on Friday and Saturday.

WNC (18-8 overall) concludes its four-game series against the Spartans with a twin bill on Sunday starting at 11 a.m.