NAMPA Idaho – Central Washington Baseball split their two games against Northwest Nazarene on Saturday. Ryan Arredondo guided the 'Cats to a 7-2 victory in game one. In game two, the Nighthawks scored in the bottom of the seventh to take the 6-5 win.

QUOTING HEAD COACH DESI STOREY
"Game one I thought we played to our abilities. Dondo did a great job, he kept it down in the zone, landed his off-speed, and controlled the game. We turned a couple of double plays. We had some clutch hitting late in the game. That's the kind of game we are capable of every time if we play that way."

"Game two Reid was doing a good job throwing strikes when we needed him too. We took the lead, then we hit a guy and walked a guy to lead off the inning. Two guys on with no outs and we got out of it but gave up the lead."

Storey added, "The dropped ball hurt, give their guy credit, with two strikes he chops it and puts it in play. It hops over Love's head and the game is over. We just need to be consistent and play the way we can."

GAME ONE

• In the fourth inning, Trenton Love belted an RBI single to center field giving the 'Cats a 1-0 lead.
• The 'Cats scored five runs in the eighth inning. Austin Ohland extended Central Washington's lead with a double down the left field line. Trevor Tripoli came up and whacked a double to left field that pushed across two more runs and gave the 'Cats a 6-0 lead.
• The Nighthawks responded in the bottom of the eighth with a homer and RBI single to cut the deficit to four.
• Ohland tacked on another run for Central Washington with an RBI single and Drew Richardson shut down the Nighthawks securing the 7-2 victory.

HITTING

• Austin Ohland went 3-5 with a double and three RBIs. Trevor Tripoli hit 2-4 with a double and three RBIs.
• Trenton love hit 2-4 with a run batted in and Ben Leid and Travis Helm both went 1-4.

PITCHING

• Ryan Arredondo got his first win of the season. He threw 7.1 innings, only allowed one run, and struck out three batters. Drew Richardson came in to close the game and worked 1.2 innings striking out a batter.

GAME TWO

• Northwest Nazarene took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, Shane Jamison hit an RBI single to left field. Kailer Saunders hit a sacrifice fly that scored Deal and put the Nighthawks up 2-0.
• Hinkle mashed a solo homer to right putting the 'Cats on the board. Baba Varner Jr. hit an RBI single and tied the game at two.
• In the third inning, Austin Ohland launched a two-run shot to right field. Later in the inning, Tripoli singled down the first base line and scored Love to give the 'Cats the 5-2 lead.
• Northwest Nazarene used a three-run fifth inning to tie the game at five. In the bottom of the seventh, Paganelli and Sauders hit back-to-back singles. Then, Colby Moran came up and hit a walk-off single to the left side giving the Nighthawks the 6-5 victory.

HITTING

• Brady Hinkle went 1-3 hitting a solo homer and Austin Ohland hit 2-4 with a two-run home run.
• Travis Helm hit 2-4, Trevor Tripoli went 1-2 with an RBI and "Baba" Varner Jr. hit 1-3 with one run batted in.

PITCHING

• Reid Rasmussen started the game for the 'Cats and went four innings striking out two. Gabe Bustamante came in for relief and threw one inning striking out a batter. Aaron Robertson came in to close the game. He worked one inning and fanned one batter.

UP NEXT

• The Wildcats return home to face Whitman in a single game on Wednesday, March 22^nd at 2:00 p.m.