Behind a strong pitching performance by Gabe Clark, the Oak Harbor baseball team defeated visiting Mount Vernon 3-1 Friday, March 19.

Clark, a sophomore right-hander, limited the Bulldogs to one hit and no earned runs during his six-inning stint. He finished with three strikeouts and only one walk. Ryan Byrne entered in the seventh and closed out the game for his second save.

Oak Harbor is now 2-1 in nonleague action and opens Western Conference play this Tuesday and Thursday with a two-game series against perennial power Snohomish. The Tuesday match-up will be in Snohomish; Thursday, March 25, the Wildcats will host at 4 p.m.

The Wildcats punched out eight hits in the win over Mount Vernon. Senior catcher Brad Farnum was two-for-three with a double, and junior outfielder Ben Cardinal had two hits in three at bats.

Junior third baseman Josh Evans was one-for-three with a double and RBI, and junior Jay Stout had a pinch hit and RBI.