BILLINGS, Mont. (Apr. 8) – The Central Washington University baseball team split its two games against Montana State Billings, powered by a pair of home runs by Darren Honeysett in game one.  The Yellow Jackets cruised to an 8-4 victory in game two.
 
"The guys battled well," CWU Head Coach Desi Storey noted.  "We let things get away a bit in game two, but our focus was much better."
 
The Wildcats are now 14-15 overall with a 10-10 record in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  The Yellowjackets are now 17-13 and 10-10 in GNAC games.
 
The Yellowjackets jumped out to a 4-0 start with two runs in the fourth and two in the sixth, on three singles and a triple. 
 
Central's offense kicked into gear in the seventh inning.  Jonathan Dailey reached with one out via a hit by pitch before Ryan Atkinson singled with two down, putting runners on the corners.  Honeysett took a 1-1 offering over the fence in right, bringing the score to 4-3.
 
Benjamin Dunbar then singled home Rory Graf-Brennen in the eight inning, levelling the score at 4-4.
 
The Yellowjackets reclaimed their advantage in the eighth, 5-4.
 
Honeysett came up large again for Central swatting his second dinger to right, this time driving in Atkinson and giving the Wildcats a 6-5 lead.
 
CJ Gettman (1-1) recorded his first win of the season.  In two innings of work the right hander allowed three hits, but struck out five hitters.
 
"CJ made some good pitches and one guy just sticks the bat out and scores a run." Storey noted.  "In the ninth a guy caps it and flare it into right, you know it's just a few things dropping in.  He was pitching well."
 
Honeysett finished 3-for-5 in game one with five runs batted in.
 
"Good to see Darren get back on track and pick up some good hits," Storey said of his right fielder.  "He swung the bat well and that's the kind of production we know we can get out of him."
 
Billings struck back in game two, pushing across eight runs.  Seven of which were scored in the third and fifth innings.
 
The Wildcats opened the scoring in the second inning on a single by Kyle Stahl, scoring Dylan Freyre.
 
They tallied again in the third on a throwing error that allowed both Connor Plaisance and Honeysett to score.
 
Honeysett singled in the fifth, bringing home Atkinson.  Honeysett finished game two 2-for-3 with a run scored and one run batted in.  Atkinson also picked up a pair of hits and scored a run.
 
Kyle Blankenship (2-2) was charged with the loss.
 
"We need to get game one, period," Storey said.  "We had some good at-bats and we need to keep focused and execute."
 
The Wildcats are back in action on Saturday for another doubleheader against the Yellowjackets.