BILLINGS, Mont. – Zach Berryman's near-perfect performance led Central Washington to splitting its final two games of a four-game Great Northwest Athletic Conference series against Montana State Billings Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats scored twelve runs in the final two innings to win game one 17-12, but ultimately fell in game two 9-8 after a five run final inning.
Central closes out the season with a 14-35 overall record and an 8-24 conference stamp. Montana State Billings moves to an even 25-25 on the season and 16-16 in GNAC play.
"The guys battled to the last our and we almost pulled off another comeback," Central Washington Head Coach
Desi Storey said. "These guys did not give up all year. We did not always play our best, but each and every one of them showed great heart every time they took the field."
Berryman was near-perfect in todays outing, hitting a combined nine-for-ten at the plate. Additionally, Berryman recorded five runs and one run batted in.
Zach Conners (1-0) nabbed his first collegiate win in game one. Conners through 6.1 innings of relief while allowing just two earned runs on five hits with eight strikeouts.
Freshman Cooper Dulich led the Yellowjackets this afternoon with a combined four-for-six at the plate. Dulich knocked in five runs while scoring twice himself.
Connor Redmond (4-6) took the win for MSU Billings in game two. Redmond went 6.0 innings and allowed just one earned run on seven hits and one walk.
Game One: Central 17, MSU Billings 12
The Wildcats were hot to open the day, scoring three runs on single through the right side, a double from
Trenton Love, and
Tyler McClain stealing home. Later in the inning, a string of base hits led off with a double allowed the Yellowjackets to quickly recapture the lead at 4-3.
Austin Ohland kicked off the second inning with a sacrifice fly to even the score. In the bottom frame, MSUB answered with a single and a sacrifice fly of its own to retake a 5-4 lead.
While the Wildcats offense came to a halt, the 'Jackets kept adding on. Scoring three more in the third inning and two more in the fifth inning, MSU Billings held an 11-4 lead.
McClain stole home in the seventh inning, cutting the deficit to six and an 11-5 'Jackets lead. The following inning in the eighth, the Wildcats exploded for nine runs in the frame. A series of hits and passed balls were headlined by a two-run home run from
Michael Copeland to recapture the lead. A pair of singles from Berryman and
Adam Fahsel led CWU to a 14-11 as the inning ended.
In the ninth inning a pair of doubles and singles gave the 'Cats three additional insurance runs. Scoring just one run in the bottom half, the Yellowjackets fell to the Wildcats 17-12.
Game Two: Central 8, MSU Billings 9
A two-run home run from Hayden Foltz helped the 'Jackets score three runs in the first inning to take a quick lead.
After adding one run in the third inning, two in the fourth inning and three in the fifth inning, the Yellowjackets held a dominant 9-0 lead over the Wildcats.
Producing only three hits through the first five innings, the Wildcats finally exploded once more in the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth inning a fielding error by the shortstop provided Central its first run of the ball game. A single tacked on two more runs before the inning came to a close. The Wildcats trailed the 'Jackets 9-3 with one inning left.
A well-timed double from Fahsel got the 'Cats on the board with one additional run in the ninth inning. Later in the inning,
Charlie Larson added one more on a sacrifice fly just before Copeland cleared the bases with a three-run home run into the parking lot behind right field.
Unable to plate one final run, the Wildcats dropped the final game of season to the 'Jackets 9-8.
