BILLINGS, MT.- The Central Washington University Wildcat baseball team [21-29 (15-17)] would see their season come to an end in the 2024 GNAC Championship Tournament with their opening day losses to Western Oregon University [28-19 (21-11)] and Northwest Nazarene University [34-12-1 (23-9)]. The Wildcats would start the tournament off with back-to-back home runs by Kevin "Baba" Varner Jr. and Austin Ohland, but ultimately fall short in game one by a final score of 5-9 to Western Oregon, and 6-16 to Northwest Nazarene University. Ohland and Ben Leid would launch home runs in game two for CWU. 
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH DESI STOREY
"We hit the ball well but struggled on the mound, proud we got there but disappointed with how we finished the season." 
 
Game One: CWU - 5 vs WOU - 9
The Wildcats would start the tournament off with a BANG with Varner Jr. and Ohland smashing back-to-back home runs in the top of the first. The Wolves would take the lead and hold on following a seventh inning that saw WOU plate 5 runs with the help of two home runs. Jonathan Garza II would get the start in game one to toe the rubber, he would add seven strikeouts to his impressive season in 6.0 IP.    
Scoring:

• The Wildcats would get things started early with back-to-back home runs to lead 2-0.
• The Wolves would get a couple of runs to tie things up at 2-2 in the bottom of the first inning. 
• WOU would add two more runs in the third off a 2-run home run by Randy Stultz to lead 2-4. 
• The Wildcats would retake the lead in the seventh inning seeing the 'Cats put up 3 runs highlighted by Ryan McCarthy's RBI single through the left side that scored Varner Jr., 'Cats would lead 5-4.
• The Wolves would add five runs in the bottom of the seventh to retake the lead and ultimately win 5-9. Their inning would be highlighted and capped by a Oleson 3-run home run to left field. 

Hitting: 

• The Wildcats would end game one with 5 runs off 9 hits seeing Ohland finish 1-2 at the plate with a home run and two walks. Marcus Manzardo would finish 2-5, Ben Leid would finish 1-3 with a walk, Baba would finish 1-4 with a home run and Jake Madson would finish 1-3 with a double. 
• The Wolves would get 9 runs of 12 hits in the contest highlighted by Oleson who would finish 1-3 with a 3-run home run. Zack Valdez would finish 2-4 with a home run, Randy Stultz would finish 1-3 with a home run, Curran Mitzel would finish 3-5, and Owen Bischoff would finish 2-3. 

Pitching:

• Jonathan Garza II would get the nod and toss 6.0 IP allowing 4 runs on 6 hits while striking out 7 batters. Aaron Robertson would get tagged with the loss in 0.1 IP allowing 5 runs off 5 hits. Alex Brady would toss 1.2 IP in relief allowing only 1 hit and adding a strikeout. 
• Jacob Memmott would start off the rubber for the Wolves, pitching 6.0 IP allowing 2 runs off 5 hits while striking out 4 batters. Owen Murdock would make an appearance allowing 3 runs on 2 hits without recording an out. Bryce Bond would get the win for the Wolves   

 
 
Game Two: CWU- 6 vs NNU- 16
The Wildcats would ultimately fall in game two by a final score of 6-16, Austin Ohland and Ben Leid would both mash home runs for the Wildcats. The Nighthawks would capitalize off a 7 run fourth inning to catapult them to victory. Daniel Charron would get the start off the mound for the Wildcats, being tagged with the loss in 3.0 IP. Ben Leid would finish game two going 2-5 at the plate with a triple and home run. Ohland would finish 2-4 with a home run. 
Scoring: 

• NNU would take the lead in the bottom of the first inning off a Walsh home run to lead 0-1. 
• The Nighthawks would get one more in the second with a run scoring on an error to lead 0-2. 
• NNU would add four runs in the fourth inning highlighted by a Tishenkel home run to lead 0-6. 
• The Nighthawks would add 7 runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by a Pahukoa 3-run home run as NNU would lead 0-13. 
• NNU would add one in the fifth inning on a RBI single up the middle to lead 0-14. 
• The Wildcats would add three runs in the 6th inning seeing Ohland score on an RBI triple by Leid, Leid score on a Sharp ground out, and McCarthy would score as Madson reached on a fielder's choice, 3-14. 
• Austin Ohland would hit a 2-run home run to left field as the 'Cats would trail 5-14. 
• NNU would add two runs in the seventh inning seeing a run come in on a balk and another on an RBI double to center. NNU would lead 5-16. 
• Ben Leid would launch a home run to left field in the ninth inning as the Wildcats would ultimately fall 6-16. 

Hitting: 

• The Wildcats would get 6 runs off of 12 hits in the contest highlighted by Ohland and Leid both hitting home runs as well as Ben hitting a triple. Jake Felton would finish 2-4 at the plate, Andrew Sharp would finish 2-5 with a double and RBI, Baba would finish 2-5, and Jake Madson would finish 1-4 with a double.
• The Nighthawks would get 16 runs off of 17 hits in the contest highlighted by Duke Pahukoa who finished 2-5 with a home run and 3 RBI's. Calnon would finish 4-6 with a double, and Brubaker would finish 2-5 with 2 doubles. Walsh and Tishenkel would also add home runs in the contest. 

Pitching:

• Daniel Charron would get the start and be tagged with the loss tossing 3.0 IP allowing 8 runs on 7 hits while striking out 3. Beau Kearsey would come on in relief and toss 0.1 IP allowing 5 runs off 5 hits. Nolan Milliman would toss 1.2 IP in relief allowing 1 run on 2 hits. Reid Rasmussen would toss 0.2 IP in relief allowing 0 runs and 0 hits. Drew Richardson would come in and toss 1.1 IP in relief allowing 2 runs off 3 hits. Logan Pierce would toss the last 1.0 inning for the Wildcats where he would retire the side with 2 strikeouts. 
• Bryan Rojas would get the nod and start on the mound and ultimately the win. Logging 6.0 IP allowing 3 runs on 7 hits. Bateman would log 0.2 IP in relief allowing 2 runs on 4 hits. Henderson would close it out with 2.1 IP allowing 1 run on 1 hit.  

 
Thank you Wildcats and Wildcat fans for an amazing 2024 Season!