ELLENSBURG, Wash.- The Central Washington University baseball team would drop a couple of close games against the #11 Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks Friday. In game 1 the Wildcats would pick up 6 runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead off of Ben Leid's grand slam, but ultimately fell 9-8. In game two the Wildcats would have a strong outing by Garza II, but a 3 run top of the 6th inning would lift the Nighthawks to victory 4-1.   
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH DESI STORY
"Good performances off the mound by Brady and Garza, but we need to be more consistent offensively. Would have liked to have gotten one today to be competing for a series win, gotta come out tomorrow with purpose and consistency as we look for the series split."  
 
Game 1:CWU-8 NNU-9
The Wildcats would get 6 runs in the third inning with 4 coming off a grand slam by Leid. Alex Brady would get the nod to toe the rubber in game one, going 6.0 IP and striking out 7. The Nighthawks would take the lead in the top of the eight off of a sac bunt that would plate the winning run, Duncan would hold on for the save for NNU. 
Scoring:

• The Nighthawks would strike first off an RBI single up the middle in the second by Calnon that would score Karpstein.
• Walsh would hit a three run home run to left for the Nighthawks, extending their early lead 4-0.
• Heading into the bottom of the 3rd, Marcus Manzardo would hit a 2 RBI single scoring Jake Madson and Noah Juarez, bringing the Wildcats back 4-2. 
• The bases would get loaded off a single to left by Austin Ohland, when Ben Leid would crush one deep to left field over the scoreboard for a grand slam, giving the Wildcats the lead 6-2. 
• The Wildcats would add another in the bottom of the 6th when Noah Juarez would score on a pitch in the dirt, extending the lead 7-2. 
• The Nighthawks would add four runs in the top of the seventh to take the 8-7 lead. 
• Andrew Sharp would tie things up in the bottom of the seventh when he crushed one deep to right center, hitting softball's storage container to make it 8-8. 
• The Nighthawks would get the winning run in the top of the eight off of a sac bunt that would score the runner from third. 

 
Hitting:

• The Wildcats would get 8 runs off 12 being led by Leid who went 4-5 in game one with a home run, double, and had 4 RBI's. Juarez finished game one going 2-4, Ohland and Manzardo would finish 2-5, and Jake Madson would finish the day 0-0 in 4 plate appearances drawing 2 walks and getting HBP. 
• The Nighthawks would finish game one with 9 runs off 10 hits in the contest, highlighted by Walsh who hit a home run in the second finishing 2-3 with 3 RBI's, and Brubakers 3-5 day which saw him pick up 2 RBI's.

 
Pitching:

• Kyle Ethridge would get the nod for the Nighthawks to start game one, going 6.0 innings allowing 7 runs off of 7 hits. Josh Brown would get the win out of the bullpen and Wade Duncan would get his 6th save on the season. 
• Alex Brady would start on the mound for the Wildcats going 6.0 IP allowing 5 runs off 5 hits. Beau Kearsey would come in relief tossing 0.2 IP, Gabe Bustamante would throw 0.1 IP being dealt the loss, and Arron Robertson would round out the pitching in game one throw 2.0 innings in relief. 

 
Game 2: CWU-1  NNU-4  
Jonathan Garza II would get the nod for the Wildcats in game two, despite the loss Jon would add another strong outing going all 7.0 innings with 9 strikeouts. Walsh would hit his second home run of the day for the Nighthawks in route to their 2-0 series lead. Brian Rojas would pick up the win for NNU tossing 4.0 IP allowing one hit.  
 
Scoring:

• Walsh would drive one deep to left field in the top of the fourth, taking Leid back to the wall, despite the reached out glove the Nighthawks would take the lead with the homerun banging off the bottom left corner of the scoreboard making it 1-0. 
• The Nighthawks would add three in the 6th inning with a run scoring on a wild pitch and 2 coming across on a 2 RBI double down the right field line. Leading 4-0.  
• Varner Jr. would score unearned for the 'Cats in the sixth when Leid would rope one to the shortstop who would misplay it resulting in the error. NNU would hold on to win 4-1. 

 
Hitting:

• The Wildcats would get 1 run and have 2 hits in the game. Ben Leid and "Baba" Varner Jr. would pick up the 'Cats hits in the game two. 
• NNU would get 4 runs on 4 hits with Walsh going deep for his second time of the day, finishing game 2 2-2. Calnon would finish 1-3 with a double and Tishenkel would finish the day 1-2 with a double.

 
Pitching:

• Jonathan Garza II would pitch all 7.0 innings for CWU in game two, striking out 9 batters while giving up 4 runs and 4 hits. The loss moves Garza's record to 1-2 on the season.
• Bryan Rojas would get the start for the Nighthawks going 4.0 innings allowing one hit and no runs. NNU would have a bullpen frenzy in the 6th having 3 pitching changes, with Duncan ultimately getting the save for the Nighthawks. 

 
ON DECK
The Wildcats will finish off the series with NNU for games 3 and 4 tomorrow. First pitches are set for 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm on March 30th at the CWU Baseball Field.