BILLINGS- Mont.- The Central Washington University baseball team split day one with Montana State University Billings today at Pirtz Park, losing the first game by a final score of 8-3, and winning game two by a score of 9-6. Austin Ohland would hit a go-ahead 3-run home run in the top of the 8th of game 2 to give Central the lead, Nolan Milliman would finish the game on the mound in the bottom frame, securing the win. 
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH DESI STORY
"The guys found a way to pull one off today so we got the split, didn't play our best baseball and made some mistakes but the great thing is this group doesn't quit. We scrapped back and overcame ourselves in the second game, obviously had that clutch home run by Austin late in the second game to make a big, big difference. Pulled off the split so we gotta get up tomorrow with a better sense of urgency and see if we can go out and get game number one and play solid across the day."
 
Game 1:CWU-3 MSUB-8 
Ben Leid would keep his hot hitting going, driving one deep to right center in the top of the 7th. The Wildcats would get 3 runs off of 7 hits while committing 2 errors in the loss. Alex Brady would get the nod for the Wildcats in game one, going 4.1 innings surrendering 3 ER's while having 2 unearned cross, fanning 4. The loss brings Brady's record to 1-2 on the year.    
Scoring:

• The Yellowjackets would get on the board first in the bottom of the first inning when a pair of unearned runs would cross off of an error committed by the Wildcats. 0-2..
• MSUB would add 3 more runs in the bottom of the 5th off of an RBI double down the left field line, a wild pitch, and a squeeze bunt to first. 0-5. 
• Billings would add two more in the sixth off a 2 RBI single to center. 0-7.
• Ben Leid would get the Wildcat offense rolling in the seventh with a leadoff home run to right center, Marcus Manzardo would double to center to bring around Travis Helm to score, and Kevin "Baba" Varner Jr. would rope a single to center, scoring Manzardo. 3-7. 
• The Yellowjackets would cap off the scoring in game one with a home run to center in the bottom of the seventh. 3-8.

 
Hitting:

• Ben Leid would finish game one 2-4 with a home run and an RBI. Manzardo and Helm would both have a double in the game. Manzo and Baba would both add RBI's for the 'Cats
• Billings would end with 8 runs off of 15 hits while committing 1 error. Ryan Jefferey lead the Yellowjackets going 3-4 with 3 RBI's and a double, Jack Nehler went 3-5 at the plate with 2 doubles. 
• Travis Helm was 1-1 pinch hitting for CWU, hitting a double in the seventh.

 
Pitching:

• Gabe Bustamante would pitch 1.0 inning in relief allowing 2 runs off 3 hits. 
• Aaron Robertson would chuck 2.2 innings to close out game one, allowing 1 run off of 4 hits while striking out 4. 
• Jackson Betancourt would get the win for MSUB pitching 7.0 innings giving up 3 runs off 7 hits while striking out 8 batters. 

 
Game 2: CWU-9  MSUB-6 (8 innings)  
The Wildcats would pick up the win in game two of the series with some help off the bat of Ohland, who would blast a go-ahead 3-run homer in the top of the 8th. In relief, pitcher Nolan Milliman would hold on to get the win in 1.1 innings of work while also fanning 3 batters. 
 
Scoring:

• The 'Cats would strike first in game two, an RBI by Andrew Sharp would get things rolling for Ohland to score on a wild pitch to give CWU the early lead. 2-0. 
• Jake Madson would keep it going, scoring Noah Juarez on an RBI double to left in the second. 3-0. 
• The Yellowjackets would even it at three in the bottom of the fourth picking up their runs off of a pass ball, RBI single to right, and RBI 5-3 put out. 3-3.
• MSUB would add another in the bottom of the fifth off of an RBI single to the left side. 3-4. 
• The Wildcats would regain the lead in the top of the sixth when Juarez would ground into a double play scoring Leid from third. Manzardo would add another off of his RBI single up the middle that scored Ryan McCarthy. 5-4.
• CWU would add another in the seventh from a sac fly off the bat of Brady Hinkle, scoring Sharp from third. 6-4.
• MSUB would tie things up in the bottom of the 7th when two runs would come across on a groundout to shortstop, with the second run being unearned off a throwing error. 6-6. 
• Heading into extra innings, the Wildcats would get things started with a Juarez single through the left side, the sac bunt by Madson would move Noah over to second, Manzardo would single to left to put runners on the corners to the stage set for "Big Oh". Austin Ohland would go big fly to left center to add three RBI's, giving Milliman the opportunity to close the door on day one with a win. 9-6.

 
Hitting:

• Jake Madson swung a hot stick roping 2 doubles going 2-2 in game 2 with a sac bunt and walk. Ben Leid went 2-4 with a double, while Manzardo and Ohland both kept their seasons rolling going 2-5.  
• The Wildcats finished with 9 runs off of 11 hits in the contest with 6 RBI's. 
• MSUB would finish game two with 6 runs off 13 hits. 

 
Pitching:

• Milliman would secure the win in 1.1 innings pitched striking out 3 batters bringing his record to 4-2 on the season.
• Sage Wayment would pick up the loss for MSUB in 1.0 inning pitched allowing 3 ER's. 
• Jonathan Garza II would get the start in game two for the 'Cats, going 3.1 innings allowing 3 runs off of 5 hits and striking out 2. Beau Kersey would come in relief and pitch 3.1 innings allowing 2 earned runs off of 6 hits. 

 
The Wildcats continue GNAC-Tion in Billings with a double header on deck in Dehler Park tomorrow with first pitches set for 11:00 am and 2:00 pm.