Monmouth, Ore. (Mar. 7) -- The Central Washington University baseball team got strong pitching by Zach Johnson in the opener as the Wildcats defeated Western Oregon 4-1.  The Wildcats dropped the nightcap 7-3, giving up all seven runs in the third inning.
 
With the split, the Wildcats are now 9-7 on the season and 3-3 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.  Western Oregon sits at 8-14, 4-2 in GNAC.
 
Game One – 4-1 Win, Winning Pitcher Zach Johnson (2-1), Kasey Bielec 3 for 4
 
Central Washington crossed the plate twice in the second inning building a 2-0 lead.  Myles Wesener drove in Jonathan Dailey, who singled earlier in the inning, and Cory Welch followed with a single of his own that plated Jeff Beckman.
 
The Wildcats added one more run in the third inning on a single up the middle that scored Bielec.  The Wolves lone run came in the fifth inning who had a leadoff triple followed by a run scoring single to cut the CWU advantage to 3-1.
 
An insurance run for the Wildcats was scored in the seventh on another RBI base knock, and the combination of starting pitcher Zach Johnson and closer Cory Welch closed the door on Western Oregon.
 
Johnson threw eight strong innings giving up eight hits with five strikeouts to pick up his second win of the season.  Welch gave up just one hit while earning his third save of the season.
 
Notable Performances
Benjamin Dunbar – 2 for 4, 2 RBI
Myles Wesner – 2 for 4, RBI
 
 
Game Two – 7-3 Loss
 
The Wildcats raced out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning, highlighted by a two-run double by Welch scoring Wesener and Zach Reay who both reached base on a single.
 
The Wolves offense erupted off CWU ace Brandon Williams (2-2), scoring seven runs on seven hits.  Despite three CWU errors in the inning six of the seven runs were earned as the Wolves took a 7-3 lead.
 
Williams was able to settle down and did not allow the Wolves to score for the remainder of the contest.  Unfortunately, the Wildcats were able to muster just four hits off WOU starting pitcher Jesse Pratt, who picked up his third in of the season, and was held scoreless in the final five innings.
 
Notable Performances
Cory Welch – Double, 2 RBI
Zach Reay – 1 for 2
Jonathan Dailey – 1 for 3, run scored
 
The Wildcats will finish up the four game series with the Wolves tomorrow starting at Noon.