ELLENSBURG, Wash. – A rally in the eighth inning of game one helped the Western Oregon University baseball team split Sunday's doubleheader with Central Washington in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference opening series for both teams this weekend. The Wolves fought back to take game one, 4-3, before CWU came back with a 7-2 win in game two as the teams ended up splitting the four-game series going 2-2.

In the opener, CWU (4-4, 2-2 GNAC) posted the first two runs in the third. WOU (3-3, 2-2 GNAC) came back with the equalizing runs in the fifth. Alex Garcia and Ryan Santa Cruz walked to open the inning. Tyler Brandenburg drove in the first run of the game for the Wolves with a sharp single to left field. After a double play on a fly ball to center and throw home to cut down the potential run at the plate, Derek Maiben singled to center to score Brandenburg to tie the game at two.

The Wildcats answered in the home half of the fifth with a run to go back in front 3-2.

It would stay that way into the eighth when WOU would go in front for good. Justyn Herzog singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ryan Witt followed with a single to left to put runners at the corners. A passed ball would allow Herzog to score the tying run and pinch-runner Hank Forrest to advance to second. A groundout moved Forrest to third. Following a flyout for the second out, a big wild pitch would get away giving Forrest the chance to score and move WOU in front at 4-3.

After Ryan Shipley came on in relief of Logan Hatley who tossed the first six innings, Shipley went the next 1.2 innings allowing just two baserunners. In the bottom of the eighth, Shipley recorded two outs around a single and a wild pitch that had a runner in scoring position out at second. Nathan Bonck came on in relief and induced a groundout to end the threat.

In the ninth, a pair of walks opened the inning. Bonck locked in getting back-to-back strikeouts and then a groundout to end the game giving WOU the 4-3 win.

CWU held a 9-8 advantage in hits with Derek Maiben going 4-5 to lead the way. On the mound, Hatley started and went the first six innings allowing three earned runs and five strikeouts to get the no-decision. Shipley ended up with the win (1-0) going the next 1.2 innings without allowing a run. Bonck then picked up the save (1) going the final 1.1 innings with two strikeouts.

Zach Berryman, Mitch Lesmeister and Jake Tilley all led the Wildcats with two hits apiece. On the mound, Brayde Hirai started and went the first 5.2 innings allowing two earned runs to get the no-decision. Riley Wingerson worked the next 1.2 innings allowing two earned runs to take the loss (0-1).

In game two, WOU jumped out to a couple of leads before the Wildcats came on strong down the stretch to take the win.

Hunter Johnson got the third inning going with a one out double down the left field line. He would then swipe third just in time for Blayze Arcano who singled up the middle for the RBI and 1-0 lead. The Wildcats tied the game in the home half of the third and WOU would regain the lead in the fifth.

With one out, Johnson launched a solo homer to left-center for the 2-1 lead. In the home half, CWU came right back to plate four runs and take a 5-2 lead after five.

WOU would threaten with two runners on in both the sixth and seventh innings, but couldn't push across another run as CWU added two more in the sixth to take the 7-2 win.

CWU held a 7-6 edge in hits with Johnson going 3-3 to lead the Wolves. On the mound, Seth Kuykendall started and went the first three innings allowing one earned run and posted five strikeouts to end up with the no-decision. Dylan Myers was next in as he worked 1.1 innings allowing two earned runs with a strikeouts to end up with the loss (0-1). Wryland McKnight worked two-thirds of an inning and Dominic Miller finished off the final inning.

Berryman and Justin Hampson led CWU with two hits apiece. Tyler McClain drove in three runs. On the mound, Reid Rasmussen grabbed the win (1-1) going six innings and allowing two earned runs.

WOU will now be off until March 26-27 when they will host MSU Billings for a four-game GNAC series with doubleheaders both Friday and Saturday.