PORTLAND, ORE – The Central Washington University baseball team (10-13-1, 7-9 GNAC) dropped both games on to Concordia University (9-16, 7-9 GNAC) as they closed out a four-game series. 
 
James Brooks was handed the ball for game one on the day. The senior was coming off one of his best outings on the season last weekend against MSUB. The Cavaliers were able to jump out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning.
 
The Wildcat offense was able to answer back in the top of the second inning after Colton Bunt tripled down the left field line on a payoff pitch. Two pitches later he was brought in after Luke Smith collected his first GNAC RBI on the season with a single through the right side.
 
Concordia went on to add three more to their lead in the following innings. The only other Wildcat run in the game came in the top of the sixth inning. The action started after Mitch Lesmeister was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Justin Hampson came up next and hit an absolute tank to left field. Lesmeister came flying around the bases and scored standing up.
 
After an error by the left fielder on the play, Hampson tried to capitalize and was waved home. Diving head first into the plate, Hampson was tagged out after a great relay from the Cavalier defense. Central's offense remained quiet the rest of the game and ended up dropping game one, 6-3
 
"This came down to timely hitting," CWU Head Coach Desi Storey said. "We had quite a few opportunities with runners in scoring position and we just didn't capitalize. I thought our bullpen did a pretty good job in some tough spots and limited the damage that Concordia did. We just need those one or two hits to swing the momentum and it's a whole different ballgame."
 
The Central offense jumped out to an early 2-0 lead to start the series finale. The Wildcats'first run came in the opening frame when Tripoli drew a lead-off walk to start the game. Lesmeister then tripled down the left field line.
 
Central added another run in the second inning when Smith led off with a single through the right side. After Michael Peter moved Smith over with a sacrifice bunt, Ball flied out to right center allowing Smith to move to third. Bunt came up three pitches later and knocked in Smith with a single to left field.
 
Hunter French was given the ball to start the final game of the series. French was able to throw two straight scoreless innings before giving up a three spot in the third inning. After two quick outs to start the inning, the Cavaliers were able to string together a couple singles, a double, and a triple to plate three runs in the inning.
 
The Wildcat offense was held silent the rest of the game. "We just have to be more consistent and more aggressive," Coach Storey said. "We put up all of our runs in the first inning but to win in the GNAC you need to put up crooked numbers in at least two innings. Concordia was just more aggressive and strung together their hits and we couldn't answer back."
 
Central is back in action on Friday as they play host to Northwest Nazarene University for a four-game series on Friday and Saturday.