Wildcats Take Momentum Into Series Against Saints
Story Links ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington Baseball will take on Saint Martin in a home conference game on Friday. This is the third meeting this season between these two teams. The ‘Cats are 3-3 against Saint Martin’s and in their last doubleheader, Central Washington took the first game 7-5 and lost the second game 5-6.
QUOTE FROM HEAD COACH DESI STROREY
“We hope to continue to improve and compete against St. Martin’s, looking forward to staying at home and having an opportunity to build on last week.”
LAST TIME OUT
Central Washington defeated Montana State Billings last weekend to improve to 12-20 overall and 8-8 in GNAC play. The Wildcats completed the sweep by winning the final game 9-4.
In the fourth game, both teams came out and scored early. Foltz put Montana State Billings on the board with an RBI single. At the end of the first game, “Baba” Varner Jr. scored on a wild pitch that tied the game at one. Ben Leid put Central Washington ahead in the bottom of the third with an RBI single that scored Larson. Jake Felton then roped an RBI single that gave the ‘Cats a 4-1 advantage.
Montana State Billings responded by scoring four runs in the fourth to tie the game at four. The Crimson and Black took control of the game with a five-run sixth inning to take a 9-4 lead with one inning remaining. Charlie Larson hit an RBI double to right field, then Ohland nailed an RBI single, and finally, Trenton Love reached on a fielder’s choice and Leid scored the Cats’ ninth run from third.
GRAPH STATISTICS
Ben Leid has the best batting average on the team, hitting .325. Travis Helm leads the team in RBIs with 24 and Sam Lauderdale has hit five home runs so far this season. Baba Varner Jr., Charlie Larson and Ben Leid each have 8 doubles this season.
On the mound, Brayde Hirai is 2-3, has a 4.25 ERA and has struck out 14 this season. Through 38.2 innings of work, Ryan Arredondo recorded 12 strikeouts. Daniel Charron is 3-3 and has 27 strikeouts.
SCOUTING OF THE SAINTS
The Saints are 10-19 overall and 7-9 in GNAC play. They are coming off a four game series against Western Oregon where the Saints lost the first three games but avoided a sweep, winning the final game 6-4.
Brady Bean leads the St. Martin’s offense hitting .402 with a .515 slugging percentage. Damon Ingram has knocked in the most runs for SMU this season with 17 RBIs. Additionally, Damon is Saint Martin’s power hitter with three home runs. Michael Yamaguchi has 8 doubles, and Bean has hit two triples.
The Saint’s starting pitchers are Cole Hatton and Justice Yamashita. Hatton is 1-3, has one save and has struck out 28 over 34.2 innings of work. Yamashita is 2-4 and leads the team in strikeouts with 44 over 38.1 innings.
Other groups the ‘Cats could face include Finnley Butler (7.04 ERA), Nikki Scott (7.86 ERA) and Carson Jones (5.57 ERA).
looking ahead
The Wildcats close out their nine-game homestand with a game against Eastern Oregon on Tuesday, April 11 at 3:00 p.m.
