ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Apr. 29) – The Central Washington University baseball team's bats came alive in its doubleheader against Northwest Nazarene University. The Wildcats picked up a pair of wins, including a walk-off victory in game two. Central is now 24-20 overall and 20-14 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference games. The Crusaders fall to 24-18 overall and 19-13 in conference.
Kyle Stahl continued to find greenery in both games. In game one, Stahl notched an RBI single in the first. He finished the front end of the twin bill with four hits.
"Kyle is just seeing the ball so well at the plate," CWU Head Coach
Desi Storey said. "He found space today in between fielders and made solid contact back up the midde."
Central's second baseman
Ryan Atkinson was impossible to get out. A 5-for-5 mark, with two runs scored and a pair of runs batted in, in game one.
"That was an impressive day for Ryan," Storey noted. "He has been one of our most consistent guys all season, but today was special."
After thrashing opposing pitching in game one, Atkinson went back to work in game two. He finished the day 7-for-8, with three runs scored, and two runs batted in. Freyre reached safely in every at-bat, with one fielder's choice and a walk.
With game two tied at 5-5,
CJ Gettman came on in the top of the seventh and struck out the side.
Dylan Freyre led off the bottom of the seventh and took the first pitch he saw over the right field fence for a walk-off home run.
"Dylan got the pitch he wanted," Storey noted. "We have an aggressive approach and he got his pitch so he went after it."
The Wildcats put up crooked numbers in innings one, two, and seven in game one. Freyre,
Jake Levin, Stahl,
Darren Honeysett, and
Benjamin Dunbar each had at least one RBI hit.
Jonathan Dailey launched a solo home run in the third inning.
"Everyone was swinging it today, on both sides," Storey said. "You look and have 34 combined hits in the first game. The difference is our guys were able to capitalize on baserunners.
Mitch Yada (3-1) tossed seven innings of three run ball, striking out five.
"Mitch did a good job of pitching around trouble," Storey noted. "He gave up 11 hits, but was able to work around that and limit the damage."
In game two, the Crusaders put up four runs early, claiming a 4-0 lead.
The Wildcats got one back in the third on a single by
Reid Martinez. Then in the fifth, Martinez struck again. This time with an RBI single through the left side. Freyre then doubled home both Atkinson and Dailey, levelling the score.
After the two sides exchanged a run in the sixth, Freyre's bomb get the Wildcats a walk-off win.
"Every game is important at this stage of the season," Storey said. "So taking two from a team that is above us and closing that gap to the top spot in the standings is a great feeling. We executed well today and we need the same type of approach tomorrow."
The Wildcats close their series with NNU tomorrow (Apr. 30) in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for noon. The Wildcats will honor their seniors prior to first pitch.
