ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University baseball team (10-7, 5-1 GNAC) had a strong showing for its home opener, defeating Western Oregon University (3-11, 1-5 GNAC) in the doubleheader Saturday afternoon by scores of 4-0, and 11-5 at the CWU Baseball Field.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUPS:
Game 1
Final: Central Washington (4), Western Oregon (0)
Records: CWU (9-7, 4-1 GNAC), WOU (3-10, 1-4 GNAC)
 
Game 2
Final: Central Washington (11), Western Oregon (5)
Records: CWU (10-7, 5-1 GNAC), WOU (3-11, 1-5 GNAC)
Location: CWU Baseball Field, Ellensburg, Wash.
 
GAME 1:
SCORING:

TEAM	INNING		CWU	WOU
CWU	4TH	Bledy singled to right center, RBI; Helm advanced to third; Varner Jr scored.	1	0
CWU	5TH	Manzardo flied out to left field, SF, RBI; Blank scored.	2	0
CWU	8TH	Bledy reached on an error by 3b; Varner Jr scored, unearned.	3	0
CWU	8TH	Blank reached on a fielding error by p; Sharp advanced to third; Bledy scored, unearned.	4	0

 
PITCHING:

• Daniel Charron pitched nine innings, allowing zero runs, three hits, and struck out six of the 30 batters he faced.

 
HITTING:

• Marcus Manzardo and Max Bledy led the Wildcats in runs driven in with one RBI each.
• Brady Hinkle, Andrew Sharp, and Baba Varner Jr. recorded two hits, while five players, including Logan Blank, Bledy, Travis Helm, Manzardo, and Brandham Ponce recorded a hit.
• The Wildcats made it on base 12 times by hits or walks

 
GAME 2:
SCORING:

TEAM	INNING		CWU	WOU
CWU	1st	Ponce homered to left center, 3 RBI; Helm scored; Varner Jr scored.	3	0
WOU	2nd	Garvey advanced to second on a wild pitch; Mohler, T. scored on a wild pitch.	3	1
WOU	2nd	Salisbury singled to left field, RBI; Garvey scored.	3	2
CWU	4th	Helm hit by pitch, RBI; Varner Jr advanced to second; Birch advanced to third; Leid scored.	4	2
CWU	4th	Ponce homered to right field, 4 RBI; Helm scored; Varner Jr scored; Birch scored.	8	2
CWU	5th	Leid singled up the middle, advanced to second on an error by cf, RBI; Sharp advanced to third; Blank scored.	9	2
CWU	5th	Manzardo singled to left field, RBI; Sharp scored.	10	2
CWU	5th	Helm singled to right field, RBI; Varner Jr advanced to third, out at home rf to 2b to c; Leid scored, unearned.	11	2
WOU	6th	Salisbury homered, 3 RBI; Garvey scored; Irwin scored.	11	5

 
PITCHING:

• Jonathan Garza II pitched six innings, allowing five runs, six hits, and striking out four of the 24 batters he faced.
• Garet Hagy pitched one inning, allowing zero runs and zero hits, facing three batters.

 
HITTING:

• Brandham Ponce showed off a hitting clinic, leading the Wildcats in hitting with two home runs, seven RBIs, and two hits. Travis Helm recorded two RBIs, while Ben Leid and Marcus Manzardo earned one RBI.
• Helm recorded three hits; Logan Blank, Leid and Ponce recorded two hits, while four players including Justin Birch, Max Bledy, Manzardo, and Baba Varner Jr. recorded a hit.
• The Wildcats made it on base 14 times by hits or walks

 
SERIES HISTORY:

• The Wildcats trail in the series history 54-133.
• These were the teams' 88th and 89th games played in Ellensburg.
   

UP NEXT:
The two teams are back at it again tomorrow, Sunday, March 9. First pitch is scheduled for noon from the CWU Baseball Field.