Box Score

BELLEVUE (Apr. 15) -- Central Washington University starting pitcher Brandon Rohde (Gig Harbor) kept the Wildcat baseball team within an arm's reach of the Division I Seattle University Redhawks, but the offense could only contribute three hits losing the non-league matchup 3-0 Friday evening at Bannerwood Park in Bellevue.

Central Washington fell to 10-23 on the season, and the Redhawks, who are a provisional NCAA Division I member, improved to 13-15. The last time these two teams met on the diamond was on this date 25 years ago.

Rohde (1-5) kept the Redhawk offense off-balance, allowing just thee hits and one run in the first five innings, but in the sixth inning, back-to-back walks led to a two-run inning for SeattleU to give the Redhawks a 3-0 advantage.

The Wildcats, who only had three hits against Redhawk pitchers Brandon Kizer and Conor Spink, reached second base just twice in the contest, first on a double by senior Nate Wallen (Bremerton/Central Kitsap HS) in the sixth inning. After reaching safely on a defensive error, junior Brett Bielec (Port Orchard/North Mason HS) advanced to second on a groundout by sophomore Jimmy Ryerson (Seattle/Roosevelt HS) in the eighth inning, but Spink retired the next two Wildcat batters to end a potential rally and preserve the 3-0 score.

Rohde threw six innings for the Wildcats, surrendering four hits and three runs while striking out four batters. He has now had just 16 runs of offensive support in seven starts this season. Junior Kyle Long (Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway HS), who made his first relief appearance of the season, pitched two innings for Central and allowed just two hits with one strikeout.

Wallen and seniors Kelly Gau (Woodinville) and Kris Henderson (Liberty Lake/Central Valley HS) were responsible for the three Wildcat hits in the ballgame.

Kizer earned his fifth win (5-2) for the Redhawks, throwing 7 1/3 innings and allowing just the three hits while striking out four batters. Offensively, Doug Kincaid was 2 for 3 and drove in all three of Seattle's runs.

The Wildcats will finish up their two-game series with SeattleU tomorrow (Saturday) at 1 p.m. before returning home to face conference foe Saint Martin's on Apr. 22-23.