The annual CWU night hosted by the Seattle Mariners was electric, with the Mariners slamming the Marlins in a 14-0 wipeout. The Wildcat experience started before the first pitch was thrown, with both students and alumni alike grabbing and sporting the white and red CWU themed Mariners jersey and taking their spot on the left field foul ball line. To start the April 26 game, CWU’s own Director of Bands Dr. T Andre Feagin sang the national anthem.

The game was a stomping from the start, with Starting Pitcher Luis Castillo and the Mariners not allowing a single hit in the first inning. When the Mariners first came out to bat, both Center Fielder Julio Rodriguez and Designated Hitter Jorge Palanco hit home runs to start off the game. The first inning ended 6-0. The Mariners would go on to continue their scoring frenzy, finishing with their most runs scored so far in the season. The only impression the Marlins had on the night was hitting two foul balls into the CWU section.

For some, it was their first time going to CWU night, let alone a Mariner’s game at T-Mobile Park. Sophomore Leilani Santiago had never been to the ballpark before April 26 for Central’s takeover. “I’ve never had a better night in my life,” Santiago said. “This is what being a college student is really about.”

Hondo Acosta-Vega, a fourth year double major in Secondary Education and English Language Arts, had been to Mariners games in the past but this was his first time at CWU night. “The vibes, the energy,” Acosta-Vega said, describing the game and crowd. “[it was] easily one of the best events I had the chance to attend while being a student here at Central.”

Tommy Fernandez, a lifelong Mariners fan and Slice’s program manager, had been to three previous CWU night’s before this one. “It was great to see everybody here… showing off their Wildcat pride,” Fernandez said. “It’s always a thing that I know that not only staff, faculty, but alumni, they all look forward to it.”  

After a quarter of hard news, the Wildcats finally had a chance to catch their breath and have some fun. The Central fans were active the entire game, taking part in every chant, starting a wave, even jumping on each other’s shoulders in hopes of getting a game ball.

After the game ended and the fireworks lit up the sky, flocks of white jerseys left the stadium representing Central Washington University with pride. At the time of writing, the Mariners are 17-12 and starting their series against their American League West rivals, the Texas Rangers. The series starts Friday, May 2 at 5:05 p.m.