ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington Baseball split the final two games of the series against Western Oregon on Monday. Western Oregon took game one 11-6. Reid Rasmussen threw a seven-inning gem leading the 'Cats to a 5-4 victory.

QUOTING HEAD COACH DESI STOREY
"Ryan didn't start very well he was up in the zone.The six-run second put us in a hole. We had a better offensive approach in game one compared to yesterday. We climbed back in, to where we were within striking distance. Milliman got himself in a situation in the ninth and we gave up two runs late. We were down three and the momentum would have been carried better if that hadn't happened. Offensively, the guys were much better today. We just need to be better in the first couple of innings."

Storey added, "For us to lose three straight and then grind out a good win was great. Reid was really good on the mound and our offensive approach was good. We had clutch hits and Ben's homer was huge. The offense was better today, and it needs to stay in that mode. If we learn and move forward we will be better next series."

GAME ONE

• Western Oregon put up seven runs in the first two innings to take control. Jacob Maiben singled to right center scoring Irwin and putting the Wolves up 3-0. Herzog extended the lead to five with a single to right and Owen Bischoff plated the last run hitting a single to left field.
• Sam Lauderdale responded in the second inning nailing one dead center over the fence to put the 'Cats on the board. In the fourth inning, Ben Leid mashed a two-run homer to left center that made it 3-7.
• Western Oregon capitalized on a passed ball in the sixth scoring two more runs.
• In the 8^th inning, Tripoli singled off the wall in left center and scored Lauderdale to make it 6-9.
• The Wolves added two insurance runs and recorded the final three outs to take the 11-6 victory.

PITCHING

• Ryan Arredondo started game one for Central Washington. He threw 6.1 innings and recorded four strikeouts. Then, Nolan Milliman came in and went 2.1 innings fanning two batters. Finally, Zach Conners took the mound to record the final out for the 'Cats.

HITTING

• Sam Lauderdale went 2-3 with an RBI, a homer, and a walk. Charlie Larson hit 2-4 with a double and an RBI.
• Ben Leid went 1-4 with a bomb to right center and Trevor Tripoli hit 2-4 with a double and an RBI.

GAME 2

• The 'Cats needed players to step up to avoid the sweep and they did just that. Reid Rasmussen threw a complete game and Ben Leid went 3-3 hitting the go-ahead three-run homer.
• The Wildcats jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Travis Helm hit an RBI double to right center and then Austin Ohland hit a sac fly that brought in Helm.
• The Wolves tied it at two in the 4^th inning with a ground out by Ryan Witt that scored Bischoff.
• AJ Cortese laced a homer in the fifth to give the Wolves a 4-2 lead.
• For the 'Cats, Ben Leid stepped up to the plate in the fifth and launched one over the fence in right center to give Central Washington the 5-4 advantage and the momentum.
• Reid Rasmussen was in lockdown mode all game and finished the last two innings securing the Wildcat's 5-4 victory.

PITCHING

• Reid Rasmussen got his first win of the season in dominant fashion. He threw a complete game, striking out three batters in seven innings of work.

HITTING

• Ben Leid went a perfect 3-3 at the plate and hit the game-winning three-run shot. Travis Helm hit 2-2, scoring two and driving in a run.
•  Trenton Love went 1-3 at the plate and Brady Hinkle got a hit in two at bats.

UP NEXT

• The 'Cats (7-16, 3-5 GNAC) travel to Nampa, Idaho for a four-game conference series against Northwest Nazarene (11-15, 5-3 GNAC). Friday's games are at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturday they play at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.