Baseball | 2/10/2017 4:13:00 PM

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Feb. 10) – The Central Washington University baseball team kicks off its season in Hayward, California against California State University East Bay. 
 
The Wildcats play four games against the Pioneers in a pair of doubleheaders on Saturday (Feb. 11) and Sunday (Feb. 12).  The doubleheaders are scheduled for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
 
"We want to come away with a series win," CWU Head Coach Desi Storey said.  "Hopefully we step on the field and are able to hit the ball well.  We still need to do the little things, even though we haven't had time outside."
 
Central Washington finished 2016 with a 27-23 record, missing the Great Northwest Athletic Conference postseason by just one game.
 
The Pioneers are 3-1 on the season after their opening series against the Academy of Art University.  East Bay has won three consecutive games.
 
Pablo Artero leads the Pioneers with a .462 (6-for-13) batting average.  Collectively, the Pioneers are hitting .310 on the season.  
 
East Bay's pitching staff has held opposing hitters to a .236 average with 25 strikeouts.  The Pioneers have struggled with command, issuing 19 walks in just four outings. 
 
The Wildcats have yet to play a game in 2017 after their scheduled season start was postponed due to inclement weather.  
 
"This series is a chance for us to get some guys in and see how they do," Storey added. 
 
Central Washington brought in 11 freshman for the 2017 season, one of the largest freshman classes for the Wildcats under Storey.
 
The Wildcats will look to their returning core for big performances.
 
"Guys like Jimmy Smith and Conor Plaisance, they have the experience and they played well last year," Storey noted.  "We expect our older guys to have good seasons and to bring some consistency."
 
Central Washington was selected third in the GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll after the 2016 season.  The Wildcats look to make the trip to the postseason in 2017, as their season beings in Hayward.
 
"We want to win the series, but we know it's the first time out for us," Storey finished.  "So, we know there might be a bit of rust to knock off and we will go from there.  Our goal is to get back into the GNAC playoffs. "
 
Live stats are available at eastbaypioneers.com.