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

NAMPA, Idaho (Apr. 8) -- Central Washington University junior Derrick Webb (Ephrata) drove in five runs, including three on his third home run of the season, in game two of the Wildcats' baseball doubleheader at Northwest Nazarene University on Friday night, as CWU topped the Crusaders, 13-8. NNU won the opener, 6-4.

With the split, Central moves to 8-20 and 3-15 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Crusaders are now 23-11, 8-10 in the GNAC.

In game one, Central opened the scoring on a RBI groundout by junior Brett Bielec (Port Orchard/North Mason HS) in the top of the fifth inning, but the Crusaders with three runs each in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 6-1 lead.

CWU scored three runs of its own in the seventh inning on a run-scoring double by junior Brady Kincannon (Federal Way/Decatur HS) and a two-RBI single by sophomore Jimmy Ryerson (Seattle/Roosevelt HS) to cut the Crusader lead to two. Central was able to get the leadoff batter on base in both the eighth and ninth innings, but was unable to produce a run in falling 6-4.

Junior Brandon Rohde (Gig Harbor) started on the mound and threw seven innings, marking the sixth consecutive start in which he has pitched at least seven innings. Now 1-4 on the season, Rohde allowed nine hits and six runs (five earned) in Friday's loss.

Central again scored first in game two, this time tallying four runs in the top of the second inning. After beginning the inning with a fly out, the Wildcats ripped off six straight hits. Three of those hits were RBI singles by Bielec, senior Kelly Gau (Woodinville, Was), and senior Nate Wallen (Bremerton, Wash./Central Kitsap HS).

After NNU scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning, the Wildcat bats came alive again adding five more runs in the fourth inning, thanks to a grand slam by sophomore David Leid (Carson City, Nev./Carson HS). The Wildcats loaded the bases in the fourth inning and junior Chaz Ocbina (Tacoma/Wilson HS) drove in the first run of the inning, scoring Gau on a single. Leid followed with his bases-loaded round-tripper to give Central a 9-2 advantage.

The CWU offense continued to pile on the runs in the fifth inning, as Webb hit a three-run homer with two out to push the lead to 12-2. Webb then recorded his fifth RBI of the contest in the seventh inning, scoring Gau on a groundout helping the Wildcats to a comfortable 13-5 lead. Northwest Nazarene attempted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring three runs on Drew Drlik's first home run of the season, but CWU held on for a 13-8 win.

Leid and Webb combined to drive in nine of the 13 runs in game two, and every position player for the Wildcats had at least one hit and scored at least one run. Wallen finished 6 for 9 on the day, and has now had two or more hits in 10 different games this season.

Junior left-hander Ryan Hastings (Lynden) picked up his second win of the season, throwing 5 1/3 innings and allowing five runs. He was aided by 12 runs of support in his start -- the same total of run support he had in his first 20 1/3 innings combined this season in six previous pitching appearances.

Crusader outfielder Sean McDonald finished with four hits, five RBI, and two runs scored while also earning his fifth pitching save of the season in game one.

The Wildcats, who have a 2-4 season record against Northwest Nazarene, will look to earn a split of the season series when the two teams meet for a doubleheader again on Saturday at noon MDT in Nampa.