ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Wildcats (2-2) Split Day Two against the Saint Martin's Saints (2-2) to close out the four-game set.
"We haven't played in almost 12 months, to get a four-game series in and compete, and to stay in it four games is fantastic." CWU Head Coach
Desi Storey said. "We weren't perfect, we made some mistakes yesterday and had some opportunities but we were there and in it". "I thought both teams played very well here today in game 1. Things got away from us on the mound a little bit, but we didn't quit. We kept fighting, had some at-bats, the bullpen stepped up and did a great job."
GAME 1
The Wildcats started strong out of the gate. Taking advantage of some Saint's mistakes, the 'Cats took a 1-0 lead to end the first. The 'Cats weren't done here however, as a single by Berryman followed up with a walk to Hampson and an RBI single by Lesmeister extended the Wildcat lead out to 2-0.
Brayde Hirai led the Wildcats through 5 no-hit innings allowing them to limit the Saint's opportunities on offense.
Unfortunately for the 'Cats, the Saints were able to jump on a few in the top of the 6
th inning. A double by Scott Gunther followed by single from Cody Isa quickly cut the lead to 2-1. The Saint's final offense move of the game was a homerun by Aaron Renaud, putting the Saints up 3-2. Luckily for the 'Cats, Berryman again seemed to be the spark for their offense. Berryman drew a walk that set him up to move over to 3
rd base after a huge double by
Justin Hampson down the right field line. With ducks on the pond,
Mitch Lesmeister launched a rocket off of the left field fence to drive in the soon-to-be game winning runs.
Justin Hampson finished game one 3-3 at the plate with 2 runs.
Mitch Lesmeister was the offensive hammer driving in 3/4 runs for the 'Cats.
Riley Wingerson &
Rhyse Frey closed out the final two innings for the 'Cats allowing only a single hit. Wingerson was awarded the win & Frey the save.
GAME 2
The Wildcats came out with a strong first inning, a 3-up-3-down frame suggested the 'Cats were carrying over momentum from game 1. The 2
nd inning however, posed a challenge to the 'Cats as 6 walks, 2 errors and 4 hits allowed the Saints to quickly build a commanding lead at 8-0. The following inning the struggles for the 'Cats continued, and they found themselves amidst a 13-0 hole.
In the bottom of the 4
th the 'Cats found life.
Mitch Lesmeister reaches on a throwing error, allowing him to advance to 2
nd. Three batters later
Riley Wingerson was able to find some green down the left field line plating Lesmeister.
Justin Culpepper doubles, placing him and Wingerson in scoring position for
Michael Peter. Peter able to rise to the occasion and bounce one off of the right field wall, plating both Culpepper & Wingerson. The 'Cats chip away at the Saints lead, 13-3.
Following the 'Cats offense breathing life,
Ryan Marstiller &
Jacob Goudzwaard put up back-to-back empty frames for the Saints, allowing the 'Cats to battle back. Copeland & Hampson put up back-to-back singles, and following a Musselmann walk, a wild pitch allows Copeland to score.
Divine Ayemere draws a walk to load the bases and Culpepper comes up huge with a single to right field to score Hampson & Musselmann. The 'Cat's are rolling on momentum as Peter couldn't be outdone and lines a triple over the center fielders head, scoring Culpepper & Ayemere. Peter wasn't done as he takes home on a wild pitch the very next play. 'Cat's close out the inning scratching down the Saints lead, 13-9.
No 'Cat left behind as
Wyatt Wooden keeps the empty frames going for the Saints. The 'Cat's pick back up where they left off with a walk to Copeland followed up by a double off the right center wall from Hampson to score Copeland. One by one the 'Cat's line up to knock'em down,
Trenton Love doubles to left center to drive in Hampson. 'Cat's have cut it to within 2, 13-11.
Unfortunately, the Wildcats run out of daylight and fall to the Saints 13-11.
The Wildcats give up the opening series 3-1 over the weekend. "You know if Culpepper's ball drops, we have a chance to win that last one and take three, it would have been a great weekend." CWU Head Coach
Desi Storey said. "You know we got so much done understanding where we want to be from a competition standpoint and understanding that never giving up gives us an opportunity to compete in every game, I was really pleased with the guys…everyone produced, and those were the things we talked about in wanting to win a championship and I'm overall really proud of our guys.".
The Wildcats take on Western Oregon University at home next weekend, March 13
th & 14
th.