Box Score

TURLOCK, Calif. (Feb. 9) -- Junior first baseman CHRIS HASHIMOTO (Kirkland/Lake Washington HS) was 2 for 4 in his Central Washington University debut, but the Wildcat baseball team managed just five hits in a 9-4 loss to host California State University, Stanislaus on Thursday afternoon at Warrior Baseball Field.

The loss dropped the Wildcats to 0-2 on its scheduled six-game road trip to northern California, while CSUS won its season opener.

Central was only able to accrue one hit in the first three innings, while the Warriors had five hits and four runs over that same span, including a leadoff home run by Justin Manci. CSU Stanislaus later added a single run in the fifth inning before CWU got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning. Junior left fielder MATT HERBERT (Ellensburg) led off the sixth with a single to right field and eventually scored from third base on a double-play ball three batters later to make it 5-1.

The Warriors responded, though, scoring four runs in the bottom half of the sixth to take a commanding 9-1 lead.

Central recorded just two hits in the final three innings, and closed the final deficit with three unearned runs in the top of the ninth. Herbert hit into a bases loaded fielder's choice to plate senior shortstop BRADY KINCANNON (Federal Way/Decatur HS), who had led off the inning off with a single, and the Wildcats' final two runs came on a two-out infield error off the bat of junior JIMMY RYERSON (Seattle/Roosevelt HS).

Hashimoto, Central Washington's eighth-place hitter, was the lone Wildcat with two or more hits in the game, while Herbert, senior third baseman GLEN RESER (Spokane/Mead HS), and Kincannon each had one hit in the game. Overall, the top seven hitters in the Central Washington lineup were a combined 2 for 27, with those hits coming from Reser and Kincannon.

Senior right-hander KYLE LONG (Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway) started on the mound for the Wildcats and gave up six hits and four runs -- two earned -- over four innings of work. He threw 76 pitches, striking out three batters and walking two.

Starting pitcher Bryon Lemon (1-0) threw six innings for Cal State Stanislaus, giving up just three hits and an unearned run while striking out three. Manci powered the Warrior offense going 4 for 5 with two home runs, a double, three runs scored and three RBI.

Central Washington continues its road trip with the first game of a four-game series in Seaside, Calif., versus California State University, Monterey Bay, on Friday (Feb. 10) at 2 p.m. The two teams will also play a doubleheader on Saturday (Feb. 11) and a single game on Sunday (Feb. 12).