Baseball | 2/19/2016 4:49:00 PM

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Feb. 19) – The Central Washington University baseball team plays its first series of the season this weekend in Salem, Oregon against Corban University.
 
The Warriors are 0-4 on the season, dropping games to Lewis-Clark State College, Northwest Nazarene University, and a pair of games to the University of British Columbia. 
 
Landon Frost leads the Warriors with a .400 (4-for-10) average kicking off the season.  Frost has driven one run in and scored twice.
 
As a team Corban is hitting .189 on the season with five doubles, one round-tripper, and 12 runs driven in.  Despite a team average below the Mendoza Line, the Warriors have an on-base percentage of .313.  Corban hitters have drawn 13 walks and have been hit by pitches 10 times.
 
Rilyn Lewchuk, Connor Mattison, Daniel Gober, and Daniel Aranda have all recorded starts for Corban.  Combined, they have a record of 0-4.  Out of the bullpen Caleb Henry has posted a 2.25 earned run average over four innings.  Opposing hitters are batting just .143 against Henry.  As a team, the Warriors have an earned run average of 5.45 and are holding opposing hitters to a .266 average.
 
The Wildcats have played just one game this season against NAIA powerhouse Lewis-Clark State.  The opening game was a chance for head coach Desi Storey to give plenty of players an opportunity for work.  The series against Corban will be a bit different.
 
"It's a chance to extend pitchers out a bit more," Storey said.  "It's a chance to get things rolling and give our guys a chance to get a final tune-up before we head into conference."
 
In the Wildcats' lone game Central fell, 4-6, to Lewis-Clark State.
 
Central finished with seven hits, two of which belonged to Conor Plaisance.  The Wildcats' center fielder singled twice and came around to score once.
 
Tanner Romo went 1-for-1 and scored a run.  Randy Fuller also came around to score.
 
Mitch Yada and Connor Lau each pitched an inning of scoreless relief, while Zach Haggett went an inning and a third of one-hit relief.
 
"Pitchers did their jobs, threw strikes for the most part," Storey said of the Wildcats' opening game.  "I was happy with the arms; the guys threw well."
 
Central is scheduled to play three games against Corban over the weekend.  First pitch is scheduled for noon on Saturday.