NAMPA, Idaho. – The Central Washington University baseball team (12-11, 9-3 GNAC) couldn't find the chances late to win as they fall in close games to Northwest Nazarene (20-10, 7-5 GNAC) by scores of 5-7, and 2-4 Saturday afternoon in Nampa, Idaho.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUPS:
 
Game 1
Final: Central Washington (5), Northwest Nazarene (7)
Records: CWU (12-10, 7-4 GNAC), NNU (19-10, 8-3 GNAC)
 
Game 2
Final: Central Washington (2), Northwest Nazarene (4)
Records: CWU (12-11, 9-3 GNAC), NNU (20-10, 7-5 GNAC)
Location: Elmore W. Vail Field, Nampa, Idaho.
 
GAME 1:
 
SCORING:

TEAM	INNING		CWU	NNU
CWU	1ST	Ponce doubled down the rf line, RBI (1-2 BSF); Manzardo scored, unearned.	1	0
CWU	1ST	Sharp reached on a throwing error by ss (0-0); Ponce scored, unearned.	2	0
NNU	1ST	Rojas singled up the middle, RBI (2-1 BFB); Burns, N scored.	2	1
NNU	1ST	Karpstein singled to right center, advanced to second (2-1 BBK); Rojas advanced to third, scored on an error by rf, unearned.	2	2
CWU	3RD	Ponce grounded out to ss, RBI (1-1 BS); Varner Jr scored.	3	2
NNU	6TH	Calnon singled up the middle, RBI (1-0 B); Arechiga scored.	3	3
NNU	6TH	Enriquez singled through the left side, RBI (1-1 FB); Calnon scored.	3	4
CWU	7TH	Varner Jr singled to right field, RBI (1-2 BKFF); Manzardo advanced to second; Birch scored.	4	4
CWU	7TH	Blank stole second; Manzardo stole home.	5	4
NNU	7TH	Burns, N singled to center field, RBI (1-0 B); Walsh advanced to third; Palomares scored.	5	5
NNU	7TH	Rojas flied out to cf, SF, RBI (0-0); Walsh scored.	5	6
NNU	7TH	Calnon singled to center field, RBI (2-2 KBBF); Karpstein advanced to third; Burns, N scored, unearned.	5	7

 
PITCHING:

• Brandham Ponce pitched six innings, allowing four runs, six hits, and striking out four of the 25 batters he faced.
• Kellen Berg pitched two innings, allowing three runs and five hits, facing 11 batters.

 
HITTING:

• Brandham Ponce led the Wildcats in runs-driven-in with two RBIs. Baba Varner Jr. recorded one RBI.
• Brady Hinkle, Ben Leid, and Varner Jr. recorded two hits, while five players including Justin Birch, Noah Juarez, Marcus Manzardo, Ponce, and Andrew Sharp recorded a hit.
• The Wildcats reached on-base 12 times by hits and walks.

 
GAME 2:
 
SCORING:

TEAM	INNING		CWU	NNU
CWU	1ST	Ponce flied out to lf, SF, RBI (1-2 KBF); Manzardo scored.	1	0
NNU	1ST	Karpstein singled to right center, RBI (1-1 KB); Rojas scored.	1	1
CWU	2ND	Manzardo singled to right field, RBI (0-0); Birch advanced to second; Sharp scored.	2	1
NNU	3RD	Enriquez singled to right field, RBI (2-0 BB); Rojas advanced to second, out at third rf to c to 3b; Burns, N scored.	2	2
NNU	5TH	Arechiga flied out to rf, SF, RBI (2-2 BKFB); Burns, N scored.	2	3
NNU	6TH	Bell out at first p to 1b to 3b, SAC, bunt (1-0 B); Brubaker advanced to second, out on the play; Palomares scored.	2	4

 
PITCHING:

• Logan Pierce pitched six innings, allowing four runs, nine hits, and striking out three of the 26 batters he faced.

 
HITTING:

• Marcus Manzardo and Brandham Ponce each earned an RBI.
• Logan Blank, Manzardo, and Nate Nadeau recorded two hits, while four players including Justin Birch, Jake Felton, Travis Helm, and Andrew Sharp recorded a hit.
• The Wildcats reached on-base 11 times by hits and walks.

 
SERIES HISTORY:

• Central trails the all-time series 85-97.
• These were the teams' 90th and 91st games played in Nampa, Idaho.
   

UP NEXT:
The Wildcats are back home for a non-conference game on Tuesday, March 18 against Eastern Oregon University. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.