ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Apr. 28) – The Central Washington University baseball team dropped both ends of its doubleheader with Western Oregon University by scores of 6-4 and 11-7.
 
The Wildcats fall to 26-18 overall and 20-14 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.  The Wolves improve to 25-11 overall and 24-4 in GNAC play.
 
"We need to be better," CWU Head Coach Desi Storey said afterward.  "We weren't consistent on the mound and it cost us."
 
The Wolves scored first in the series opener.  Garrett Anderson singled home Justin Wakem for a 1-0 lead in the top of the second.  The Wolves lead did not survive for long, as Christopher Dalto scored Conor Plaisance in the bottom half of the inning.
 
A solo shot from Western Oregon's Joey Crunkilton gave the Wolves a 2-1 lead in the fifth.  The Wolves tacked on a third run in the sixth with a single from Anderson.
 
A wild pitch allowed Rory Graf-Brennen to score in the sixth, cutting the Wolves' lead in half.  Plaisance then doubled down the left field line, scoring Dylan Freyre and levelling the score at 3-3.
 
Western Oregon struck twice in the ninth, taking a 6-3 lead.
 
A double by Graf-Brennen in the game's final frame scored Kyle Stahl, but the Wolves held the lead.
 
Kyle Blankenship (3-3) was charged with the loss in relief.
 
Western Oregon opened the scoring in the top of the first of game two.  Jacob Martinez singled home Brock Pradere for a 1-0 lead.  The Wolves extended the advantage to 2-0 on a ground out, scoring Pradere, in the third.
 
The Wildcats struck back to level the score in the bottom of the third.  A double from Graf-Brennen brought home Stahl and Freyre traded places with Graf-Brennen, tying the game at 2-2.
 
Sam Welton swatted a solo homerun in the fourth, giving the Wildcats a 4-3 advantage.
 
Western Oregon did not let Central Washington hold the lead for long.  Connor McCord hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth, once again scoring Pradere.  Martinez then hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Jay Leverett for a 5-4 advantage.
 
The Wildcats pushed three across in the bottom of the sixth, gaining a 7-4 lead.  Bases loaded walks to Welton and Justin Hampson brought two home, then Stahl was hit by a pitch for the third run. 
 
Western Oregon utilized a wild pitch, sacrifice fly, and a single to push across three runs in the seventh for a 7-7 tie.
 
The Wolves tallied four times in the eighth, gaining an 11-7 advantage.  Jacob Fricke recorded the save.
 
Mackenzie Gaul got the start and hurled 5.1 innings.  He allowed four runs, one earned, on four hits, five walks, and two strikeouts.  Dillon Larsen (0-3) was charged with the loss.
 
The Wildcats are back in action for Senior Day on Saturday (Apr. 29) for another doubleheader against Western Oregon.