ELLENSBURG, Wash.- Kevin "Baba" Varner Jr. would finish the day going 6 for 8 with a home run seeing the Central Washington University baseball team drop a close third game of the series to #11 Northwest Nazarene, and take game four by a final score of 7-4. The Nighthawks would capitalize on a 10 run 7th inning of game one to win 13-8. Nolan Milliman would hold on for the save in game two for CWU, pitching 2.0 innings of work. The Wildcats move to 14-16 on the season with a 9-7 GNAC record. The Nighthawks will move to 22-6-1 with a 12-4 GNAC record with the 3-1 series win.   
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH DESI STORY
"Would have liked to have gotten a split with NNU, but were happy to stay above .500 in conference play to close out the first half. Looking to go into the second half with more consistency on offense and continue dominance on the mound. Got a big series next weekend with the Saint's."  
 
Game 1:CWU-8 NNU-13
The Wildcats would fall in game one with NNU having a 10 run inning late in the contest. Logan Pierce would get the nod for the 'Cats in game 1 and would toss 6 scoreless innings, coming out to start the 7th but being relieved, Pierce would be tagged with 4 runs (3 earned) in the Nighthawks seventh. Baba would finish game 1 going 3-4 with a huge home run in the first. 
Scoring:

• Baba would get things started for the Wildcats with a solo home run to deep right center in the bottom of the first. Being the second batter in the game, Varner Jr. would still be warm from batting practice, letting one go on a fastball on the inner half of the plate. 1-0.
• The Wildcats would plate two more in the bottom of the third when Ben Leid would hit an RBI single to center that would score Baba. Jacob Felton would rope a single to right field scoring Leid. 3-0.
• The 'Cats would add another in the fourth when Baba would hit one to the SS who would bobble it off a Wildcat hop. 4-0.
• The Nighthawks would put up 10 runs in the 7th inning (7 earned). 4-10.
• The Wildcats put up four runs in the bottom of the 7th with Leid scoring Marcus Manzardo on an RBI single to left, Andrew Sharp would single up the middle scoring Austin Ohland, Felton would score Leid with his single to center. 8-10. 
• NNU would extend their lead in the top of the eight off a home run to right. 8-11. 
• The Nighthawks would add two more on a pair of RBI singles in the top of the 9th. 8-13.  

 
Hitting:

• The Wildcats would finish with 8 runs off 11 hits in the contest, highlighted by Baba's 3-4 game seeing him hit his third home run of the season, and Leid finishing 2-5 with 2 RBI's. 
• The Nighthawks would finish with 13 runs off 17 hits in the contest, Brubaker would finish 3-4 and Tishenkel would add his 8th home run on the year.  

 
Pitching:

• Pierce would start the game for the Wildcats logging 6.0 IP, being tagged with 4 runs in the 7th. Drew Richardson would come on in relief and ultimately be dealt the loss. Reid Rasmussen would log an inning in relief. Aaron Robbertson would pitch 2.0 innings in relief to close out the game. 
• Kailer Saunders would get the win for the Nighthawks after coming in relief of starter Jonathan Zayas. Blake Hammond would get the save tossing 2.1 innings in relief. 

 
Game 2: CWU-7  NNU-4  
The Wildcats would win game two of the day highlighted by Baba going 3-4 at the dish. Daniel Charron would pick up the win tossing 5.0 innings for the 'Cats and Milli would get the save in 2.0 innings pitched. Ben Leid would finish 2-3 at the plate with a double and an RBI. 
Scoring:

• Ohland would get things started for the 'Cats, scoring Manzardo on an RBI single to left. The Wildcats would add a pair of RBI's on groundouts by Leid that scored Baba, and Sharp that scored Ohland. Rounding out the first up 3-0. 
• The Nighthawks would tie things up in the third adding three runs off an error, sac fly, and an RBI single to left, 3-3.
• The 'Cats would retake the lead in the bottom of the third when Ohland would pick up an RBI scoring Varner Jr., 4-3.
• The Wildcats would keep it going in the fourth adding another when Carter Marlow would score off an RBI single by Baba to right, 5-3. 
• Calnon would homer to left for NNU to make it 5-4. 
• CWU would add two more runs in the bottom of the fifth with Leid scoring on an RBI single by Felton, and Travis Helm would hit a deep sac fly to center field which scored Sharp, 7-4.

 
Hitting:

• The Wildcats would score 7 runs off 11 hits in game two being highlighted by Baba going 3-4 with 1 RBI and a triple. Austin Ohland would get 2 RBIs for the Wildcats, Ben Leid would finish 2-3 hitting a double and having an RBI, and Sharp, Felton, and Helm would all contribute RBI's. 
• NNU would finish with 4 runs on 4 hits with Calnon hitting his first home run of the season.  

 
Pitching:

• Daniel Charron (3-3)  would get the win for the Wildcats tossing 5.0 innings allowing 4 runs off 4 hits while striking out 6 batters. Nolan Milliman (1)  would get the save in 2.0 innings pitched, allowing no runs and no hits while recording the final out himself on a comeback grounder. 
• NNU would have four different pitchers in the game with Rochelle being tagged with the loss. 

 
ON DECK
The Wildcats will head to Lacey next Saturday for a four game series with the Saint Martin's Saints. First pitches are set for 1 and 4 pm on April 6th and 7th. The Series will wrap up Central's regular season matchups with the Saints after sweeping the Saints earlier this year in the 'Burg.