ELLENSBURG, Wash.- He's coined the name backside Benny for a reason, Ben Leid would mash 2 home runs to right field Sunday as the Wildcats split their series with the Western Oregon University Wolves. The Central Washington University baseball team would split day two with the Wolves on Sunday seeing the Wolves win game one by a final score of 10-9, and seeing the Wildcats win game two off a strong pitching performance by Daniel Charron, and a 2-3 game at the plate by Leid. Kevin "Baba" Varner Jr. would make a couple of amazing defensive plays for the Wildcats on Sunday, battling the wind as one took him back to the wall, Baba would leap up and make the grab crashing into the fence. Not to long later Baba would make a diving catch down the right field line to save a hit and potentially a run, tip of the cap to our outfielder Baba! 
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH DESI STOREY
"Glad to have gotten the split there and help keep us in the mix. Another strong performance from Charron in game two to help us get the win there. Logan pitched solid in game one and our guys out of the pen came in and threw strikes. Thought our bats looked ok today, would like to be more consistent up and down the lineup and across the weekend. We've got a good opportunity here with pieces coming together as we get to the last 2 GNAC series'. Got a tough opponent next weekend in Eastern Oregon coming to town, should be an exciting Saturday."  
 
Game 1:CWU-9  WOU- 10
The Wildcats would fall in game one to the Wolves with the final score being Western Oregon 10, Central Washington 9. Ben Leid would have himself a day as he would mash 2 home runs to right field and finish 3-4 at the plate with 4 RBI's and a double. Logan Pierce would get the nod in game one for the Wildcats, tossing 6.1 innings pitched.  
Scoring:

• Western Oregon would push across the first run of the game in the 3rd on an RBI single to center to lead 0-1. 
• The 'Cats would get two runs in the bottom of the third inning when "Baba" Varner Jr. would hit a single to right field, scoring Jake Madson from third to tie it up. Austin Ohland would hit one down the first base line and although he was out at first by the pitcher getting over to cover the base, Ohland would get an RBI with Marcus Manzardo coming across to score. Wildcats lead 2-1.
• Western Oregon would add a pair of runs in the 4th inning off an RBI double plating one and an RBI groundout to the right side to give WOU the lead 2-3. 
• The Wildcats would retake the lead in the fifth inning when Manzardo would score Noah Juarez and then Ben Leid would hit a double, scoring Marcus and Baba. 5-3.
• The Wolves would add one in the top of the sixth off an RBI single to center. 5-4.
• WOU would add 4 runs on a grand slam in the 8th. 5-9.
• Ben Leid would homer for the Wildcats in the bottom of the 8th inning to crawl back in 6-9. 
• Western would add another on an RBI single to right in the ninth inning. 6-10. 
• The Wildcats would almost complete the come from behind victory in the bottom of the ninth inning as they would need 4 to tie and force extra innings, or 5 to win, and they could only plate 3. Capped off by Leids second home run of the game, the final score of game one is 9-10. 

 
Hitting:

• The Wildcats would finish game one with 9 runs off 11 hits highlighted by Leid going 3-4 with 2 home runs and a double. Marcus Manzardo would have an impressive game, one finishing 4-5 at the plate while scoring 3 runs for the Wildcats while hitting a double and driving in an RBI. Baba would finish 2-5 at the plate with 2 RBI's and a double. 
• The Wolves would finish with 10 runs off of 13 hits in the game with Mitzel having 5 RBI's and a grand slam. 

 
Pitching:

• Logan Pierce would get the start in game one for the Wildcats, he would throw 6.1 IP allowing 4 runs off of 10 hits and would strike out one. Beau Kearsey would come into the game in relief of Pierce and log 1.1 IP getting tagged with the loss. Gabe Bustamante would make an appearance and be relieved by Nolan Milliman who would log 0.2 IP and be relieved by Drew Richardson who would also log 0.2 IP.  
• Alvarez would get the start and move to 6-2 on the season with the win in the contest as he would throw 6.1 IP allowing 5 runs off 8 hits while striking out 4. Bailey and Bond would make appearances out of the bullpen to secure the game one win for WOU.  

 
Game 2: CWU-4 WOU-2 
The Wildcats would win game two by a final score of 4-2 with a strong pitching performance by Daniel Charron and a good game at the plate by Ryan McCarthy and Leid.   
Scoring:

•  The Wolves would get their runs in the fourth inning off a mishap that extending the inning allowing two runners to come across. 0-2.
• The Wildcats would add three in the bottom of the fourth inning with Leid scoring Baba on an RBI single to left center, Ohland would score on a groundout RBI by Andrew Sharp, and McCarthy would score Leid on a deep SAC fly to left. 3-2.
• Mac would add some insurance for the Wildcats in the sixth inning when he would single to right to score Leid again. 4-2. 

 
Hitting:

• The Wildcats would finish game two with 4 runs off 5 hits in the game highlighted by McCarthy going 1-2 with 2 RBI's, and Leid finishing 2-3 at the dish. Baba, Ohland, and Sharp would all record at least one hit in the game for the 'Cats. 
• Western Oregon would get 2 runs off 4 hits in the contest seeing four different Wolves record a hit. 

 
Pitching:

• Daniel Charron would pitch all 7.0 innings in game 2, moving his record to 4-4 on the season, Charron would strike out 7 batters in the contest. 
• Memmott would get the start and loss for WOU, pitching 5.0 IP allowing 3 runs on 4 hits. Holker would pitch 1.0 inning in relief allowing 1 run. 

 
ON DECK
The Wildcats will host Eastern Oregon University next Saturday April 20th in a double header here in the 'Burg. First pitches are set for 12:00 and 3:00 pm.