ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Feb. 8) – The Central Washington University baseball team heads down to San Francisco for a four-game set against the Academy of Art University.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Friday DH at noon | Live Stats
Saturday DH at noon | Live Stats
 
QUOTABLE
"We need to win," CWU Head Coach Desi Storey said.  "I thought we did some good things last week, but we need to win.  We are going to get our lineup set and see where our guys are.  Last week we had a few guys really step up.  We need to go out and get leads early."
 
SCOUTING ACADEMY OF ART
The Urban Knights have yet to play in the 2018 season.  Last season they finished with a 20-30 record, including a 16-20 mark in the PACWEST.
 
Six seniors return for head coach Dan McDermott, including infielder Michael Maleski.  Maleski was one of just two players to start all 50 games for the Urban Knights in 2017.  He finished the campaign with a .259 batting average and 14 runs batted in.  Joining Maleski is outfielder Izac Bauer.  The senior from Seattle hit .325 in 2017, with four homeruns, 25 runs batted in, and an on-base percentage of .411, all team bests for Academy.
 
On the mound, Chris Petrosie returns after starting a team-high 12 games in 2017.  The right-hander tossed 69.2 innings, second most on the Urban Knights, and struck out 25 hitters.  Joining Petrosie is Luke Lacy, who also started a dozen games in 2017.  Lacy tossed 65.2 innings, posted a 5-7 record, and struck out 36 hitters.
 
LAST TIME OUT
James Smith III and Jaden Hassell lit up the Wildcats' box scores offensively, combining for seven hits and an on-base percentage of .444.  Christopher Dalto also swung the bat well, going 3-for-7 during Central's first two games.
 
The Wildcats struggled on the mound, however, allowing a combined 22 hits and 15 walks.  Central's bullpen hurled four innings of shutout relief over two games.