Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
ELLENSBURG (Apr. 1) -- Central Washington University pitchers Brandon Rohde (Gig Harbor) and Palmer Brown (Sacramento, Calif./Rio Americano HS) combine to throw 13 2/3 innings surrendering 11 hits and two earned runs while striking out eight batters, but the Wildcat baseball team lost both games of their doubleheader against Montana State University Billings by scores of 3-0 and 4-2 Friday afternoon.
With the losses, the Wildcats have now lost six straight games and fell to 6-18 on the season, 1-13 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Montana State Billings improved to 11-12, 4-6 in GNAC.
Central Washington only managed to get two hits in game one as Yellowjacket starting pitcher Kody Kennedy threw a complete-game shutout striking out nine Wildcat batters in the process to lead MSUB to the final 3-0 win. The Wildcats totaled five base runners in the ballgame, reaching second base just once in the contest.
Rohde threw seven innings in game one, scattering six hits while striking out three Yellowjackets. MSUB scored two runs off Rohde, both of which came on the pair of errors committed by the Wildcats in the opener. Although the southpaw dropped to 1-3 on the season, his ERA also fell to 2.29.
Central jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning of game two. Senior Nate Wallen (Bremerton/Central Kitsap HS) led the inning off with a single, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Kelly Gau (Woodinville). Junior Derrick Webb (Ephrata) followed by singling to left-center field scoring Wallen from second base.
Montana State Billings answered by scoring three runs in the next two innings to take a 3-1 advantage. Central Washington narrowed the Yellowjacket advantage to 3-2 in the third inning as Webb and Glen Reser (Spokane/Mead HS) started the frame off with back to back singles, with Webb eventually scoring from third base on a passed ball.
The Yellowjackets scored an insurance run in the sixth inning, and the Wildcats produced two hits in the final four innings of game two losing 4-2. MSUB reliever Archie Smith got credited with the win throwing the final 4 and 2/3 innings allowing two hits and striking out six batters.
Wallen, Webb and senior Kris Henderson (Liberty Lake/Central Valley HS) were all 2 for 3 in the nightcap.
Brown made a relief appearance in both games, piling up 6 2/3 innings of work and five strikeouts, allowing five hits and two runs.
Montana State Billings second baseman Zach Smith was 5 for 6 in the two games scoring one run and driving in two.
The Wildcats will look to even the series against Montana State Billings tomorrow with game one of the doubleheader starting at noon.
