ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Mar. 30) – Desi Storey earned his 600^th career victory as the Central Washington University (17-11, 11-6 GNAC) baseball team split the first two games of a four-game series against Montana State University Billings (17-11, 11-6) by scores of 14-13 and 9-5.
 
"We have to go back to work tomorrow," CWU Head Coach Desi Storey said afterward.  I'm happy we battled in game one, but we weren't good enough in game two.  We need to better."
 
Tyler Hoefer (3-0) earned the win in relief.  Dustin Braun finished with four hits and two runs batted in.  Mitch Lesmeister drove in a pair, while Christopher Dalto drove in four. 
 
The Yellowjackets put up three runs in the first, then added four more in the second for a 7-0 lead. 
 
In the bottom of the second, Dalto singled through the left side, scoring Robert Ball and Michael Heinevetter, and an error in the outfield allowed Dalto to move up 90 feet.  Lesmeister drove Dalto in with a single up the middle a batter later.  Later in the inning, Lesmeister scored on a wild pitch and Ty Deckwa moved to second.  Braun laced a single up the middle, scoring Deckwa, and cutting the deficit to 8-5.
 
After Billings scored a pair of runs in the third and fourth inning, Dalto roped a double to left center for two more RBIs.  Ball then scored on a wild pitch, before Dalto came around on a ground out, making the score 10-9 in favor of Billings.
 
A solo homerun in the top of the seventh from Billings made the score 11-9, but neither team was done.
 
Braun doubled to center in the bottom of the seventh, scoring Lesmeister.  A dropped third strike allowed Deckwa to score and Smith to reach first, trying the game at 11-11.
 
The Wildcats took their first lead in the eighth. Lesmeister singled home Ball, taking a 12-11 lead.  A two-run triple in the top of the ninth gave Billings a 13-12 advantage.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, Justin Hampson came up with runners on first and third.  James Smith III then swiped second, putting runners on second and third. Justin Hampson laid laid down a bunt, allowing Tristin Parton to score, and reached first with a hit.  Hampson then took second on defensive indifference, before a passed ball gave the Wildcats a 14-13 walk-off victory.
 
Connor Stevenson (4-3) was charged with the loss in game two.  Stevenson hurled 6.1 innings, allowed 11 hits, eight runs, six earned, walked two, and struck out seven. 
 
Hampson and Jaden Hassell each collected two RBIs.  Deckwa recorded two hits, scored twice, and drove in a run.
 
Deckwa got the scoring started in the bottom of the first, hitting an opposite field homerun to right.
 
The Yellowjackets scored a pair in the fourth, on solo homeruns, but Hampson answered with a solo shot of his own to level the score at 2-2.  The Yellowjackets took a 4-2 lead on Ryan Myers' second homerun of the game in the top of the fifth.
 
A bases loaded single from Hampson brought around Lesmeister in the bottom of the fifth, before Hassell drove in a pair with a single up the middle to take a 5-4 lead.
 
The Yellowjackets' offense went to work in the seventh scoring four and taking a 9-5 advantage.  The 'Jackets held the score to split day one.
 
The Wildcats are back in action tomorrow (Mar. 31) for another doubleheader against the Yellowjackets.  First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.