Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MONMOUTH, Ore. (Mar. 1 ) -- The Central Washington University baseball team played Western Oregon close during their doubleheader Saturday afternoon, but were unable to earn a victory in either game losing 5-3 in game one and 3-2 in game two.

With the losses the Wildcats lose their opening Great Northwest Athletic Conference series 1-3 and fall to 5-7 on the season.  Western Oregon improves to 9-8 and 3-1 in GNAC play.

Game one:
Central Washington matched WOU with nine hits, but the Wolves were able to take better advantage of their safeties outscoring the Wildcats 5-3.  Western Oregon scored one in the first inning, and CWU matched them by scoring one run in the fourth inning on a leadoff double by SCOTT STONE followed by an RBI single to right field by Stephen McElroy.  WOU answered by scoring twice in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-1 lead.

The Wolves added two a run in the seventh and eighth innings to increase their margin to 5-1.  Just like yesterday, the Wildcats made a ninth inning rally scoring two in the top of the inning, but was unable to overcome the four run hole, losing the contest 5-3.

McElroy and JESSE WHITE both went 2-for-4 with an RBI and SCOTT STONE finished 1-for-3 with an RBI on a run scoring double.
STUART FEWEL started on the mound for the Wildcats and picked up his first loss of the season to even his record at 1-1.  He threw 6.2 innings of work and gave up four runs on six hits, while walking and striking out three batters.

Game two:
Central Washington took a 2-1 lead in the second inning of the nightcap due in large part to a timely single by JAYKOB SELLS that scored Stone from third base.  The WOU pitching staff would manage the CWU bats for the remainder of the contest as they allowed just four hits the rest of the contest and in total fanned eight CWU batters
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Western Oregon scored a run in the third inning to tie up the game and force extra innings.  And in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Wolves were able to piece together the winning run to steal a 3-2 victory over the 'Cats.

KURTIS PITCHER had a solid outing for the Wildcats and gave up two runs – one earned – in six innings of work.  He scattered four runs and struck out two batters while walking four.  Welch (0-1) picked up the loss for the Wildcats as he gave up the final run in relief of pitcher.

Next up for the baseball team is their first home stand of the season as they host Northwest Nazarene University next Friday (Mar. 7) and Saturday (Mar. 8) with a pair of doubleheaders that both start at Noon.