ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Apr. 26) - The Central Washington University baseball team hosted Montana State University Billings in a doubleheader falling in both games 12-6 and 5-2 on Friday afternoon.
The Yellowjackets jumped all over the Wildcats in their first chance at the plate in game one. The Yellowjackets plated seven runs on seven hits. The Yellowjackets offensive onslaught came without hitting a home run, a surprising fact considering that the Yellowjackets are the conference's best home run hitting team.
Jaden Hassell responded in a big way with two outs in the bottom of the first. Hassell demolished a hanging curveball over the scoreboard in left field. The solo homer was the first of the season for Hassell. In the bottom of the third, Hassell stepped to the plate with Mitch Lesmeister and Justin Hampson on base. Hassell hammered a pitch over the right field fence for a three-run shot. The homer was Hassell's second of the contest.
The Wildcats built on their offensive momentum in the fourth inning. Jesse Unger drew a lead-off walk and was followed by a double from Colton Bunt. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, the Yellowjackets' Steve Fredrickson shut the door, stranding runners on second and third. After four innings, the 'Jackets led 8-4.
Tyler Meek came on in relief for Tyler Heofer in the first inning. Meek did an outstanding job of limiting the Yellowjackets' offense after their explosive first inning. Meek went 4.2 innings and faced 20 batters. Meek induced nine fly outs, two ground balls and struck out two. Meek allowed just two earned runs. Aaron Foust also had an impressive relief appearance. He went 3.2 innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs while striking out two Yellowjackets.
The Wildcats trailed 9-4 in the sixth inning. Unger was hit by a pitch to open the inning. With two outs, Lesmeister roped a double into centerfield that scored Unger. The Wildcats cut the Yellowjackets' lead to four entering the seventh inning.
In the bottom of the eighth, Colton Bunt helped narrow the Yellowjackets lead. Bunt blasted a solo home run over the right field fence. The solo homer was Bunt's first of the season. In the same inning, Michael Hickey started a threat with a pinch-hit single to left center. With two outs in the inning, Hampson and Hassell drew walks to load the bases for Yi-Fan Pan. Pan was struck out by Jared Winslow as the Yellowjackets led 9-6 enter the final frame.
The Yellowjackets added three runs in the top of the ninth and went on to take game one.
"Our bullpen did a fantastic job to stop the bleeding in game one," CWU Head Coach Desi Storey said afterward. "We had a rough first inning, but they were able to keep their bats quiet for a while and keep us in the game. I thought we swung the bats pretty well in game one, Jaden [Hassell] put a couple really nice swings on pitches and was able to drive two out. In game two we just weren't as consistent. We are down to the wire now and every at-bat matters."
Game two was scoreless until the Yellowjackets scored three runs in the top of the third as the took the lead against the Wildcats. Bunt responded with a leadoff double in the bottom of the inning. Trevor Tripoli followed with a single, putting runners on the corners for the Wildcats. Hampson ripped a single into left field that brought home Bunt. The Wildcats began to cut into the Yellowjackets' lead.
Later in the inning, the bases were loaded for Yi-Fan Pan. Pan slapped a sacrifice fly that scored Tripoli. The third inning ended with the Yellowjackets in front of the Wildcats 3-2.
AJ Wood came on in relief for Connor Stevenson in the fourth inning. Wood went to work immediately, striking out the first two batters he faced. Wood allowed a walk before striking out the side.
Wood continued his dominance in the the fifth inning, striking out the first batter he faced. The batter was able to reach on a passed ball. The runner proved costly as Daniel Cipriano followed by smashing his 14th home run of the season. It was a two-run shot that gave the Yellowjackets a 5-2 lead. Wood was removed from the game after going 1.2 innings. Wood recorded every out during his appearance via the strikeout.
Rhyse Frey came on in relief. He went 1.2 innings, racking up three strikeouts in five batters faced. Colton Turner got the final two outs for the Wildcats, both came on a strikeout.
The Wildcats and Yellowjackets play another doubleheader tomorrow, as the first game starts at 11:00 a.m. Prior to first pitch, Stevenson, Robert Ball, James Brooks and Jake Forrester will be celebrated.
