MONMOUTH, Ore. (Apr. 28) — The Central Washington University (24-20, 19-15 GNAC) baseball team clinched a berth into the Great Northwest Athletic Conference tournament after its split against Western Oregon University (20-17, 20-9) by scores of 6-14 and 5-3.
"I'm proud of our guys for the way they bounced back after game one," CWU Head Coach Desi Storey said. "I've said before that we control our own destiny and now we've clinched with six games remaining. Grif [Davis] had a great game for us on the mound. We had guys come through on offense when we needed to.
Tristin Parton went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, two runs batted in, and a homerun. James Smith III drove in three runs, on one hit.
The Wolves opened the scoring in the second inning. Griffin Halle roped a two-run homer down the left field line for an early 2-0 advantage. Jacob Martinez later singled up the middle, scoring Cody Dykstra.
A double from Jaden Hassell brought around Dustin Braun, but a good throw from the relay cut down the Wildcats' would-be second run.
Leading 3-1 in the fourth, Martinez singled home another run. Jay Leverett reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Dykstra to score. Jared McDonald then hit a three-run homerun, taking an 8-1 lead.
In the top of the fifth, Parton took an 0-1 pitch and launched it over the right field wall for a two-run shot, his first of the season.
After the Wolves added three in the sixth, Smith crushed a three-run blast to left in the top of the eighth. Smith's blast cut the deficit to 11-6.
Western Oregon tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the eighth and preserved the lead for the win.]
Griffin Davis (6-5) went six innings in game two. He allowed one earned run on four hits. Davis struck out a pair of hitters.
The Wildcats open the scoring in the top of the first. Hassell once again ripped a double, scoring both Dustin Braun and Smith for a 2-0 lead.
An error allowed Martinez to score in the bottom of the first, cutting the Wildcats' lead to just 2-1. A throwing error then allowed Martinez to score, tying the game at 2-2.
In the second inning, Christopher Dalto doubled to left center scoring Robert Ball for a 3-2 edge.
Connor McCord singled in the bottom of the fifth to tie it at 3-3.
In the top of the sixth, Ball came to the plate with a pair of runners aboard. After a called strike, he shattered the 0-1 offering deep into the left center gap scoring both runners for a 5-3 lead.
Jake Forrester came on in the seventh inning and recorded his second save of the year, setting the Wolves down in just 13 pitches.
The Wildcats are back in action tomorrow (Apr. 29) for a noon doubleheader against the Wolves.
