ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University baseball team (19-17, 13-11 GNAC) prepares for its final homestand of the 2025 GNAC regular season as the Wildcats host the #16 Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks (29-12, 18-5 GNAC) for a four-game series starting on Friday, April 18 at the CWU Baseball Field. Senior Day will take place on prior to game one on Saturday, April 19 as the Wildcats honor seniors
Brady Hinkle,
Gabe Bustamante,
Daniel Charron,
Jake Felton,
Jonathan Garza II,
Travis Helm,
Noah Juarez,
Ben Leid,
Trenton Love,
Devin MacWatters,
Marcus Manzardo,
Brandham Ponce,
Dakota Todd,
Baba Varner Jr., and
Luke VonGoedert.
GAME INFORMATION
Friday, April 18 (Doubleheader)
Game One
Noon
Game Two
3:00 p.m.
Central Washington vs Northwest Nazarene
CWU Baseball Field
Ellensburg, Wash.
WATCH LIVE STATS
Saturday, April 19 (Doubleheader)
Game One (Senior Day Pregame)
Noon
Game Two
3:00 p.m.
Central Washington vs Northwest Nazarene
CWU Baseball Field
Ellensburg, Wash.
WATCH LIVE STATS
THE WILDCATS
Central enters this week two games above .500 in the GNAC standings after splitting last weekend's series against Western Oregon. The Wildcats won the second and third games 9-5 and 11-2, respectively, but dropped the series opener and closer, both by a score of 0-6 each.
Brandham Ponce continued to perform well at the plate, leading the Crimson and Black with six hits and six RBIs.
Ben Leid also found success on offense with five hits and four RBIs.
Jonathan Garza II and Ponce had strong games on the mound as Garza pitched four and one-third innings, allowing four runs on three hits, and striking out five of the 21 batters he faced in game two, and Ponce pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits, and striking out four of the 27 batters he faced in game three.
SCOUTING THE NIGHTHAWKS
Northwest Nazarene has had a very successful season, leading the GNAC with an 18-5 conference record and a three-game lead on second place Montana State Billings. The Nighthawks have already qualified for the GNAC Championships being held on May 8-10 in Ellensburg. NNU's last series saw them split the series with MSUB in Billings, Mont. The Nighthawks dropped the first and last games of the series by scores of 7-10 and 1-9, but winning the second and third games 11-1 and 4-3.
The Nighthawks have four batters that are hitting above .300 entering this week including Kaleb Karpstein (.394), Bryan Rojas (.361), Nin Burns II (.346), and Cole Calnon (.310). NNU has an OPS of .843 compared to the .707 OPS of its opponents. The Nighthawks' pitching has two aces in Calnon and Ernesto Lugo-Canchola. In his 63 and one-third innings pitched, Calnon has allowed 15 runs on 54 hits for a 1.56 ERA, as well as striking out 48 batters and walking only nine for a .99 WHIP. Right behind him is Lugo-Canchola, who's allowed 13 runs on 33 hits in 55 and two-third innings for a 1.78 ERA, and has struck out 67 batters and walked 24 for a 1.02 WHIP.
The Wildcats and Nighthawks kick off the final GNAC series in Ellensburg this year on Friday, April 18. First pitch from the CWU Baseball Field is set for noon PDT.
