Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

BILLINGS, Mont. (Mar. 30) -- Junior CHRIS HASHIMOTO (Kirkland/Lake Washington HS) drove in four runs, including a two-run home run, in game one of the Central Washington University baseball team's doubleheader against Montana State University Billings, but the Wildcats lost to the Yellowjackets, 11-10 and 4-2, at Dehler Park on Friday.

The Wildcats fell to 9-13 on the season and 5-5 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play, while MSUB improved to 10-10 and 3-5 in the GNAC.

Hashimoto had two big hits in game one -- his first was a two-run game-tying double in the fourth inning, and the second was a go-ahead two-run home run in the sixth.

Game one was tied 7-7 going into the ninth inning, when the Wildcats opened scored three runs and took a 10-7 lead. Senior BRADY KINCANNON (Federal Way/Decatur HS) reached base on a fielding error and advanced to third two batters later, as junior BRETT GRAY (Ephrata) walked and sophomore ETHAN STERKEL (Ellensburg) singled on a bunt to load the bases. With one out, junior JIMMY RYERSON (Seattle/Roosevelt HS) singled to right-center field, plating Kincannon and Gray, and junior SPENCER HUMPHREY (Dublin, Calif.) scored Sterkel two pitches later on a squeeze bunt.

The lead was short-lived as the Wildcats were unable to record an out in the bottom of the ninth. The first two batters reached base on walks, and the following batter scored the runner from second base on a single to left field. With runners on the corner, MSUB first baseman Blake Loran hit a home run to right-center field, ending the game and giving the home team the final 11-10 edge.

Senior DERRICK WEBB (Ephrata) recorded the first four-hit game of his career, going 4 for 5 with a run scored one RBI. Hashimoto and Sterkel were both 2 for 4 in game one, with Sterkel scoring three times.

Senior right-hander KYLE LONG (Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway HS) started on the mound for the Wildcats and threw 6 2/3 innings, surrendering 11 hits and seven runs while walking three Yellowjackets and striking out four. In Long's previous two outings -- both of which were complete-game victories -- he gave up a combined nine hits and one run while walking just two batters and recording nine strikeouts.

Central Washington fell behind 4-0 after three innings in game two, as the Yellowjackets took advantage of three Wildcat errors that were converted into three unearned runs. CWU scored once in the fifth inning on a RBI single by senior BRANDON WANG (Mill Creek/Jackson HS) and added one more run in the seventh inning on a leadoff homer by senior GLEN RESER (Spokane/Mead HS).

Junior RANDY BUTTON (Allyn/North Mason HS) went the distance in game two for the Wildcats, giving up eight hits and just one earned run. Brian Hutchings earned started on the mound for MSUB in game two and allowed 7 hits while striking out seven batters and walking just one.

Wang led the Wildcats by going 3 for 3, and was the only CWU player to record more than one hit in the game. 

Colby Robison was 4 for 4 for Montana State Billings, driving in two runs, as he too was the only player on his team to get multiple hits in the nightcap.

The two teams will finish up their four-game series with another doubleheader on Saturday.