YAKIMA, Wash. – The Central Washington University baseball team takes on Montana State Billings this week in the home opening series of the 2026 season. The Wildcats will be taking on the Yellowjackets at the Yakima County Stadium in Yakima, Wash., due to the field conditions following inclement weather in the Ellensburg area.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Friday, Feb. 27, 2026
Central Washington vs Montana State Billings (Doubleheader)
Game One: 2:00 p.m. | Game Two: 5:00 p.m.
Yakima County Stadium
Yakima, Wash.
WATCH:
HERE
LIVE STATS:
HERE
TICKETS:
HERE
Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026
Central Washington vs Montana State Billings (Doubleheader)
Game One: 12:00 p.m. | Game Two: 3:00 p.m.
Yakima County Stadium
Yakima, Wash.
WATCH:
HERE
LIVE STATS:
HERE
TICKETS:
HERE
LAST TIME OUT:
Central went 1-3 in its four-game road series at Cal State East Bay over the weekend in Hayward, Calif. The Wildcats opened with a 9-2 loss as the Pioneers used a four-run second inning to pull away, then dropped the nightcap 12-5 after CWU jumped out to a 5-0 lead before surrendering five runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth. Central responded Sunday, rallying from an early 5-0 deficit with a six-run fifth inning, highlighted by RBI hits from
Logan Blank,
Sinclair Lee and
Conrad Henkel, and held on for a 7-5 victory behind three scoreless relief innings from
Drake Anderson and a save by
Kellen Berg. The series closed with a 4-1 defeat, leaving CWU at 2-9 enter conference play.
At the plate, CWU was led by the heart of its order throughout the four-game set.
Sinclair Lee led the Wildcats with multiple RBIs and key extra-base hits, including a run-producing double to cap off a six-run fifth inning in Sunday's win, while
Andre Garza consistently reached base with multiple-hit performances across the series.
Conrad Henkel and
Logan Blank also delivered timely offense, each driving in runs during the comeback victory, as CWU's most productive innings came when those middle-order bats reached base in succession.
On the mound, the bullpen provided Central's strongest work of the weekend.
Drake Anderson was the top performer, throwing three scoreless relief innings in the 7-5 win to stabilize the game after the early deficit, and
Kellen Berg closed it out to earn the save. The Wildcats' starters logged innings but struggled to limit big frames, particularly in the middle innings of the two losses Saturday, making relief appearances by Anderson and Berg the most effective pitching efforts of the series.
SCOUTING THE YELLOWJACKETS:
Montana State Billings is off to a 6-9 start and enters conference play still searching for momentum after dropping its last five games. The Yellowjackets opened the year strong, taking three of four on the road at Cal State San Bernardino, but were cooled by a three-game sweep at Colorado State Pueblo. MSUB responded with a productive home series against Regis, winning three of four, including a 20-3 blowout, and improving to 3-1 at Pirtz Field, though the pitching staff has struggled away from home at 3-8. A tough trip to Colorado Mesa followed, where the Jackets were swept in four games and outscored 32-7, contributing to their current skid and a .400 overall record heading into GNAC competition.
At the plate, Montana State Billings is hitting a collective .310 through 15 games, led by a deep core of contributors. Kaden Bertram leads the regulars with a .392 average and six doubles, while Ryker Fortier (.367) has a team-best 22 hits, seven doubles and 12 RBIs, adding six stolen bases. Jack Nehler is batting .345 with a team-high 18 RBIs and 11 walks, and River Smith (.333) has scored 13 runs with 11 walks of his own. Kyle Henington (.300) has chipped in seven steals, and the lineup has shown pop throughout with 15 home runs, including three from Cade Queen and two each from Bertram, Nate McDonald and Cole Ayala, helping the Yellowjackets to a .494 team slugging percentage and .401 on-base mark.
On the mound, the Yellowjackets own an 8.34 team ERA across 122 innings, allowing 113 earned runs and 19 home runs while opponents hit .312. Sam Coxen has logged a team-high 23 innings with a 4.30 ERA and 22 strikeouts, while Brennen Chappell (2-2) has added 23 strikeouts in 20.2 innings. Carson Waples has been effective in relief with a 3.00 ERA over nine innings, and Cody Snow carries a 2.70 ERA in limited work. However, control has been an issue at times (83 walks), and several outings during the current five-game skid have inflated the overall staff numbers despite two saves and 109 total strikeouts.
The Wildcats and Yellowjackets take the field starting on Friday, Feb. 27. First pitch from Yakima County Stadium is set for 2:00 p.m. PST.
UP NEXT:
CWU heads back out on the road for a series starting on Saturday, March 7 at noon, taking on Western Oregon in the first of four games at the WOU Baseball Field. With back-to-back doubleheaders set for Saturday and Sunday.
