MONMOUTH, Ore.— Despite combining for 18 hits across both games, Central Washington was unable to overcome Great Northwest Athletic Conference Leading Western Oregon Saturday afternoon. The Wolves took the early game 8-2, and the second game 9-3.
 
The pair of losses drops the Wildcats to 8-15 overall and 2-6 in GNAC play. The Wolves remain atop the GNAC, improving to 13-8 overall and 6-2 in conference play.
 
Zach Berryman had the only four-hit day for Central, going a combined 4-9 with one double and one run batted in.
 
Austin Ohland and Trevor Tripoli both had two-hit days, each with a double as well.
 
Four different Wolves had three-hit days, and three others had three runs batted in.
 
Ryan Arredondo (2-1) allowed just two earned runs on five hits, two walks, and three strikeouts in his 5.0 inning outing in game one. Sebasten Boivin (1-0) took home the win for the Wolves, allowing just three hits on 33 pitches through 3.2 innings of relief.
 
Parker Johnson grabbed the win in game two for Western Oregon, allowing just one earned run on four hits and two walks through 5.0 innings. Johnson also threw all four of the Wolves strikeouts in game two.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME ONE
Central struck first in the early day opener, taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a pair of base hits from Michael Copeland and Michael Peter.
 
WOU finally found their footing in the fifth inning, moving Anthony Zellner to third after a lead-off walk, infield ground ball, and a wild pitch. The next three Wolves hit back-to-back-to-back singles, scoring Zellner and one other to take a 2-1 lead.
 
The Wildcats responded immediately in the top of the sixth, scoring one on a pair of base hits from Austin Ohland and Copeland. Unable to add anymore, Central managed to tie it up 2-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth.
 
Later in the sixth, Western Oregon exploded to score five runs. The Wolves caught the 'Cats off-guard with small ball, executing a pair of bunts alongside two hit batters and a throwing error to push across four runs. A fielders choice brought home the fifth run, and WOU retook the lead 7-2.
 
Western Oregon grabbed an insurance run in the seventh, scoring after a lead-off single, stolen base, and balk put Derek Maiben at third. A single brought Maiben home, and the Wolves closed it out 8-2 over the Wildcats.  
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME TWO
Western Oregon struck first in game two, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a fielder's choice after a throwing error and a sacrifice bunt put them in scoring position.
 
The Wolves grabbed another pair in the second inning, scoring on back-to-back singles, a squeeze bunt, and a fielding error. WOU led it 2-0 after the first two innings.
 
Central finally found the plate in the third inning, scoring on back-to-back doubles from Trevor Tripoli and Peter. Later in the inning the Wolves fought right back, tacking one on with a double, a bunt, and a fielder's choice by the Wildcats. Western Oregon led it 4-1 after three innings.
 
WOU put up another two runs in the fourth inning, scoring on a pair of singles, a fielding error, and a wild pitch to extend the lead 6-1.
 
The Wildcats found life in the sixth inning, scoring a pair on two singles and a fielder's choice after loading the bases, cutting the deficit in half 6-3. Later in the innings the Wolves picked up three insurance runs on a wild pitch, a hit batter, and a sacrifice fly re-extending the lead. Central was unable to get the offense going in the seventh, falling to the Wolves 9-3.
 
The Wildcats will host Lewis-Clark State next Thursday, Mar. 17^th, for a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.