ELLENSBURG, Wash.- The Central Washington University baseball team (11-11) is set to head to big sky country to take on the Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets (8-18) in a pair of double headers this Thursday and Friday. The Wildcats are 6-2 in GNAC-tion with a sweep of Saint Martin's and series-split with Western Oregon. The Yellowjackets are 2-6 in GNAC conference play, picking up their wins in a split with Saint Martin's. 
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Thursday, March 21st 
Game Times: (DH) G1: 3:00 pm G2: 6:00 pm
Opponent: Montana State University Billings
Location: Pirtz Field | Billings, Mont. 
 
Date: Friday, March 22nd.
Game Times: (DH) G1: 11:00 am G2: 2:00 pm
Opponent: Montana State University Billings
Location: Dehler Park | Billings, Mont. 
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH DESI STORY
Looking forward to getting back to conference play against another GNAC opponent following a week off.
 
SCOUTING THE YELLOWJACKETS
MSUB is currently at the bottom of the GNAC standings being 2-6 in conference play so far. The Yellowjackets are currently on a four game losing streak getting swept by NNU last weekend, and they split with Saint Martins the weekend prior to that.  
HITTERS
Hitters to watch out for on the Yellowjackets are Zack Blaszack, Peyton Flynn, Ryan Jeffrey, and Kaiden Kirshenbaum. Looking to put the ball up into the thin Montana air, Kirshenbaum is tied with Flynn with 7 home runs on the season. Blaszak leads the Yellowjackets in batting average, hitting .365 in 96 at bats. Zack also has 7 doubles and 2 triples on the season to go with 18 runs batted in and 3 home runs. Alogng with his 7 HRs, Flynn is batting .343 with 3 doubles, 2 triples, and a team leading 25 RBI's. Kirshenbaum has 6 doubles, a triple, and 16 RBI's to go with his 7 home runs. 
PITCHING
MSUB has a team ERA of 8.51,  led by Jr. Jackson Betancourt, a starting pitcher with 7 starts on the season, holding a 2-3 record, holding a 5.77 ERA with a .156 WHIP. Betancourt has given up 53 hits in 39.0 innings pitched while striking out 24, he's also tossed 2 complete games this season. Other starters for the Yellowjackets are Jake Finkelstein and Ryun Cross, both having 6 starts on the season, Cross leads MSUB in strikeouts with 26 in 26.0 innings pitched. Finkelstein has given up 36 hits in 28.0 innings pitched, letting across 22 earned runs while walking 15.
Look for Jr. Sage Wayment to come outta the pen, having 10 appearances on the season, Wayment has 19.2 innings pitched while leading the team in ERA with a 4.58. Others to look for are right handed pitchers Cole Bertram and Zane Baltz, both having 6 appearances on the season, 
LAST TIME OUT
The Wildcats are coming off of a series split with Western Oregon down in Monmouth, highlighted by Daniel Charron's impressive Saturday shutout that earned him GNAC pitcher of the week. Boasting an impressive 2.96 ERA in 27.1 innings pitched while fanning 18.   
The 'Cats dropped a close 11 inning game to start the series, followed by a 4-3 win to close out friday. The Wildcats would fall in game one but would pick up the game four win off of  Charron's strong outing, seeing CWU win 1-0. Allowing only 1 hit and while surrendering no runs along with 5 strikeouts, Daniel has opponents struggling batting .242 against him. 
HITTERS
CWU is led by a strong offense, boasting a team .303 average, the Wildcats have five hitters batting OVER .350 on the year. Sr. Austin Ohland leads the 'Cats with a .380 AVG. having 30 hits in 79 AB's. Ohland has 2 home runs on the season with 17 RBI's. Marcus Manzardo is swinging a hot stick, batting .374 in 91 AB's, Manzardo has 34 hits while scoring 21 times for the 'Cats. Kevin "Baba" Varner Jr. looks to keep up his hot hitting, holding a .366 AVG. in 82 AB's, Baba has 2 home runs on the season to go with his 6 doubles and 3 stolen bases. Sophomore Andrew Sharpe is swinging a .364 AVG. with 2 HR, 6 Doubles, and 17 RBI's. Ben Leid is having a strong 2024 season, blasting 2 home runs with a .351 AVG. Leid leads the 'Cats with 18 RBI's. 
PITCHING
The Wildcats arms are hot, holding opponents to a .278 batting average while boasting a team 4.30 ERA and 1.45 WHIP. Charron leads the Wildcats in ERA as well as throwing 3 complete games. Other key starting pitchers for the 'Cats are Alex Brady and Jonathan Garza II, both having 6 starts on the season, Brady has managed to keep opponents to a .267 BA while Garza has left hitters struggling at .233. Jon has 30 strikeouts in 29.0 innings pitched, while Alex has 27 in 31.0 IP. 
Look for pitchers Logan Pierce, Beau Kearsey, Drew Richardson, and Nolan Milliman to keep it frozen solid out of the 'pen. All boasting sub 3.52 ERA's, the boys in the bullpen have a combined 27 strikeouts in 52.2 innings.