ELLENSBURG, Wash.- The Central Washington University baseball team (18-20, 13-11 GNAC) is set to host Eastern Oregon University (13-30 (4-16 GNAC) with a doubleheader on Saturday April 20th. 
 
GAME INFORMATION

Saturday April 20th
Central Washington vs. Eastern Oregon
12:00 pm & 3:00 pm
CWU Baseball Field
Ellensburg, Wash.
WATCH LIVE STATS
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH DESI STOREY

"Looking forward to welcoming Eastern Oregon this Saturday for some non-conference action. Lots of opportunities for our guys this weekend, hoping to get things rolling going into our last two conference matchups."   
 
THE MOUNTIES

EOU is currently 13-30 on the season and are 4-16 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference. They have played a series against two GNAC opponents, Western Oregon University and Saint Martin's University, going 2-1 against SMU, and 1-3 against WOU. The Mounties are coming off a series with Oregon Tech with the Owls winning the series 3-1. Eastern Oregon has a team .270 batting average with 43 home runs, 74 doubles, and a .420 slugging percentage. Off the rubber for Eastern Oregon, they have a combined team ERA of 8.87, 132 strikeouts, hold a 1.96 team WHIP, and opponents are averaging .336 against the Mounties. 

HITTERS

The Mounties are batting .270 at the plate on the season in 43 games played. They've logged 247 RBI and 270 runs scored while holding a .368 on base percentage. EOU is led by Youhyeon Choi who is batting .321 on the year with 2 HRs, 6 doubles, and 17 RHIs,he's also a guy to watch out for on the bases with 13 stolen bags on the year. Joey Freitas is batting .319 in 2024 with 7 home runs, 14 doubles, and has 43 RBIs. Mario Landeros is another hitter to watch for as he's .316 on the year with 9 home runs, 8 doubles, and 41 RBI's. 

PITCHING

Eastern Oregon is led by starting pitcher Will Seslar off the rubber who has a 5.03 ERA, striking out 61 batters in 62.2 IP. Brock Cordes is the Mounties other main starting pitcher logging 60.0 IP in 11 starts on the season, he's holding a 7.05 ERA while striking out 59 batters. Out of the 'pen for EOU expect to see Alex Farnsworth and Jake Herrera, Farnsworth has a 3.86 ERA in 10 appearances in relief, and Farnsworth has a 4.86 ERA in 10 appearances with 2 saves.
 
THE WILDCATS

Central Washington sits in third place in the GNAC at 18-20 with a 13-11 conference record. The Wildcats lead the GNAC in hitting, boasting a team .301 AVG with 4 of the top 5 conference leaders in hitting being 'Cats. The Wildcats are coming off of a series split with Western Oregon University last weekend which saw the 'Cats picking up wins in both afternoon games. Western Oregon would win game one 3-11, CWU would win game two 5-4 in 8 innings, WOU would win game three 10-9, and Central would win game four 4-2. 

HITTERS

CWU is led by a strong  core offense, boasting a conference leading team .301 average with 17 home runs. Led by senior Ben Leid who has an impressive .421 AVG. having 56 hits in 133 AB's. Leid has blasted 6 home runs on the season with 34 RBI's. Ben leads the conference in five categories.Marcus Manzardo is swinging a hot bat, batting .357 in 154 AB's, Manzardo has 55 hits while scoring 36 runs for the 'Cats. Austin Ohland looks to keep up his hot hitting, holding a .355 AVG. in 141 AB's, Oh has 4 home runs on the season to go with his 11 doubles and 29 RBI's. Baba Varner Jr. is having a strong 2024 season, blasting 3 home runs with a .347 AVG. while having 22 RBI's, 12 doubles, and 2 triples. Sophomore Andrew Sharp is swinging a hot stick batting .325 AVG. with 3 HR, 9 Doubles, and has 31 RBI's. 

PITCHING

The Wildcats arms are hot, holding opponents to a .279 batting average while boasting a team 4.61 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. Jonathan Garza II threw a complete game no-hitter against SMU on April 6th, Garza has left hitters struggling, fanning 54 batters in 51.2 IP.
Daniel Charron leads the Wildcats with a 3.80 ERA in 47.1 IP. Charron has 5 complete games on the season, striking out 35 batters and holding opponents to a .258 AVG. 
 Logan Pierce has a 4.25 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP and 2-1 record. Alex Brady has 9 starts on the season, 44 strikeouts in 46.1 IP.. Look for pitchers Beau Kearsey, Drew Richardson, Nolan Milliman, and Arron Robertson to keep it on lock out of the 'pen, all having appeared in more than 8 games this season. Milliman has had quite the season thus far with a 5-2 record out of the 'pen, a 2.12 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and a save in 17.0 innings pitched with 20 strikeouts. Richardson leads the 'Cats with 3 saves and has 11 appearances on the season. Robertson has kept it nasty out of the 'pen with 13 strikeouts in 9 appearances in relief.   

UP NEXT

The Wildcats will stay in The 'Burg as they welcome Montana State Billings for a pivotal four-game series. The battle begins on Saturday, April 27 with game times set for noon and 3:00 p.m. and will continue on Sunday, April 28 for Senior Day with game times once again set for noon and 3:00 p.m. from the CWU Baseball Field.