YAKIMA, Wash. – The Central Washington University baseball team closed its home opening series with a doubleheader split Saturday afternoon, defeating Montana State Billings 6-5 in a come-from-behind victory in the first game, then dropping the second game after the Yellowjackets got a late-inning rally to claim the series finale 8-4 at the Yakima County Stadium
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUPS:
 
Game 1
Final: Central Washington (6), Montana State Billings (5)
Records: CWU (3-11, 1-2 GNAC), MSUB (8-10, 2-1 GNAC)
 
Game 2
Final: Central Washington (4), Montana State Billings (8)
Records: CWU (3-12, 1-3 GNAC), MSUB (9-10, 3-1 GNAC)
Location: Yakima County Stadium, Yakima, Wash.
 
GAME 1:
 
SCORING:
 

• The Yellowjackets struck first in the third inning when Ryker Fortier doubled to center field to drive Nate McDonald in from second base, followed by another double from Jack Nehler that drove in Fortier to give MSUB a 2-0 lead.
• The Wildcats responded in the bottom frame of the third with Ethan Buckley hitting a single into left-center field to drive in Kaiden Hernandez and Logan Blank to tie the game at 2-2.
• Central got another run in the fifth inning when Ethan Swenson hit a groundout to shortstop, allowing Buckley to score from third base to give CWU a 3-2 lead.
• MSUB returned the favor in the sixth and seventh innings with Kyle Henington driving in McDonald to tie the game, and then Cole Ayala hit a two-run shot to left-center field to give the 'Jackets a 5-3 lead.
• The Crimson and Black would get the final laugh in the bottom of the eighth as Andrew Charron got an RBI single to drive in Jonathan Rominger to cut the lead to one. Then, Hernandez hit a double to left field that allowed Conrad Henkel to score from second and Charron to turn on the jets from first and score to give the Wildcats a 6-5 lead. They would get the final three outs through flyouts as CWU claimed its first home victory of the season.

 
HITTING:
 

• Ethan Buckley and Kaiden Hernandez each recorded two RBIs, two hits, and scored a run each.
• Andrew Charron and Ethan Swenson each recorded an RBI, a hit, and Charron scored a run.
• Logan Blank and Conrad Henkel recorded two hits each and both scored a run.
• Kellen Berg, Max Bledy, and Sinclair Lee each recorded a hit, while Jonathan Rominger scored a run after pinch running for Swenson.
• The Wildcats reached base 14 times by hits and walks.
• Cole Ayala led the Yellowjackets with two RBIs, a hit, and a run scored, while Jack Nehler and Nate McDonald each recorded two hits and Nehler recorded an RBI and McDonald scored two runs.

 
PITCHING:
 

• Kyler Malnar pitched seven innings, allowing five runs, eight hits, and striking out seven of the 34 batters he faced.
• Drake Anderson pitched two innings, allowing zero runs, one hit, and striking out two of the seven batters he faced.
• Cade Queen pitched four innings for the Yellowjackets, allowing two runs, six hits, and striking out eight of the 21 batters he faced.
• Malcolm Bartholomew pitched 3.1 innings for the Yellowjackets, allowing four runs, seven hits, and striking out one of the 17 batters he faced.
• Blake Sweat pitched 0.2 innings for the Yellowjackets, allowing zero runs, zero hits, and facing one batter.

 
GAME 2:
 
SCORING:
 

• Ryker Fortier opened the scoring in the fifth inning with a bunt that allowed Nick Reed to score for the first run of the game. River Smith followed that with an two-RBI single to right field to drive in Nate McDonald and Fortier to make it a 3-0 lead.
• Central answered in the bottom of the fifth with Jake Lockwood hitting a double to left field to score Conrad Henkel, followed by a single from Logan Blank to score Lockwood. Then a wild pitch allowed Blank to advance to second while Kaiden Hernandez advanced home to tie the game at 3-3. Later, Ethan Buckley hit a sacrifice flyout to allow Blank to tag up and score from third base to give CWU the 4-3 lead.
• The Yellowjackets then responded right after in the top of the sixth with Kyle Henington hitting an RBI single to score pinch runner Keeton Bell to tie it at 4-4. Then, Jack Nehler singled to left field to drive in McDonald for the lead, while Henkel bobbled the ball to allow Henington to score. Bertram hit another deep single to left-center field to drive in Fortier and Nehler to give the 'Jackets an 8-4 lead that they would hold to win the game in the seventh inning, splitting the second day.

 
HITTING:
 

• Logan Blank, Ethan Buckley and Jake Lockwood each recorded an RBI, while Blank and Lockwood also recorded a hit and a run scored each.
• Conrad Henkel and Kaiden Hernandez each recorded two hits and one run scored.
• The Wildcats reached base nine times by hits and walks.

 
PITCHING:
 

• Logan Thompson pitched five innings, allowing three runs, five hits, and striking out four of the 24 batters he faced.
• Braden Zadow pitched 0.1 innings, allowing two runs, three hits, and facing three batters.
• Drake Anderson faced three batters, allowing three runs and two hits.
• Kellen Berg pitched 1.2 innings, allowing zero runs, two hits, and striking out one of the six batters he faced.
• Owen Combs pitched 4.1 innings for the Yellowjackets, allowing three runs, four hits, and striking out two of the 19 batters he faced.
• Carson Waples faced one batter for the Yellowjackets, allowing one run and one hit.
• Hayden Mullins pitched 2.2 innings for the Yellowjackets, allowing zero runs, one hit, and striking out one of the 10 batters he faced.

 
SERIES HISTORY:

• Central trails the all-time series 68-81.
• MSUB leads the last 10 matchups 7-3
• The Wildcats are 35-44 against the Yellowjackets at home.
   

UP NEXT:
 
The Wildcats head back out on the road, heading to Monmouth, Ore., to take on the Wolves of Western Oregon for a four-game series starting on Saturday, March 7. First pitch from the WOU Baseball Field is set for noon.