Box Score (Game #1)
Box Score (Game #2)

CHICO, Calif. (Feb. 27) -- The Central Washington University baseball team had its hands full both offensively and defensively on Saturday afternoon, dropping two games to number 16 nationally-ranked Chico State by scores of 24-2 and 12-1 in a non-conference doubleheader at Nettleton Stadium.

Central fell to 2-6 on the second with its third and fourth consecutive losses. Chico State improved to 8-2 on the season.

In a battle of two teams nicknamed the Wildcats, the first baseball meeting between the two schools in 16 years, CWU played even with Chico State the first time through the lineup in the opening game. However, Chico State then rattled the bats, scoring in five consecutive innings including large multiple-run innings in four of those frames, against four Central Washington pitchers. Junior Bryce Hjellum (Kennewick/Kamiakin HS) surrendered the first eight runs in 4 1/3 innings, taking the loss.

Central, which managed just seven hits in the nine-inning opener and committed three errors defensively, scored single runs in the fourth and eighth innings. Junior Eric Sorensen (Ellensburg/Kittitas HS) had a two-out RBI single in the fourth that made it a 5-1 score at the time, while freshman pinch-hitter Sean Murphy (Bothell/Woodinville HS) had a RBI double in the eighth to cap the game's scoring.

Seven different CWU players had one hit each in the opener, including four who came in as reserves. Chico State blasted five home runs and 13 total extra-base hits, and was led by the four-hit, four-run performance of shortstop Michael Murphy. Michael Gleason (2-0) earned the pitching win for the hosts, striking out seven with just one walk in six innings of work.

In the nightcap, Chico State stormed out to a 5-0 lead after the first inning, and scored at least one run in five of its six innings at bat, en route to the 11-run victory.

Central Washington managed just four hits offensively in the second game, although two of those were doubles. Sophomore Brett Bielec (Port Orchard/North Mason HS) led off the contest with a double, while senior Jake Hammons (Snohomish), who was one of two CWU players with more than one hit on the day, had a seventh-inning double and scored on a fielder's choice by junior Kris Henderson (Liberty Lake/Central Valley HS).

Junior Jake Millbauer (Kennewick/Kamiakin HS) went the distance on the mound for Central, absorbing 16 hits and 12 runs (nine earned), in suffering his second loss in three decisions this year.

Chico State was led by a 4 for 4 outing from Johnny Hay, who homered twice and drove in four runs in the finale. Two other Chico players had three-hit outings, and starting pitcher Phillip Hymas struck out six in throwing six innings of three-hit baseball.

The two teams conclude their series on Sunday with another doubleheader at Nettleton Stadium. The twinbill is scheduled for an 11 a.m. start.