Box Score

LEWISTON, Idaho (Feb. 19) -- Sophomore Brett Bielec (Port Orchard/North Mason HS) went 2 for 4 with a double and a home run, but the Central Washington University defense committed three errors which led to six unearned runs in a 10-3 baseball loss to Saint Martin's University at the Guardian Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Tournament at Harris Field on Friday morning.

The loss drops the Wildcats' record on the season to 2-3, while Saint Martin's improved to 2-6 with the victory.

Bielec led off the game with a home run for Central Washington in the bottom of the first inning, which at the time made it a 2-1 score after the Saints had scored two runs in the top of the first. Saint Martin's added a single run in the second inning before blowing the game open with five unearned runs in the top of the sixth inning after a costly CWU error to start the frame.

Staring at an 8-1 deficit, the Wildcats scored once in the bottom of the sixth after senior Jake Hammons (Snohomish) led off with a triple and came home on senior Kevin Schneider's (Spokane/Mead HS) ensuing single through the infield.

Junior Bryce Hjellum (Kennewick/Kamiakin HS) pitched fairly well in his second start of the season but was tagged with the loss after surrendering eight runs (two earned) on eight hits in seven innings of work. He threw an even 100 pitches and struck out six Saints hitters but walked two and hit three batters.

Saint Martin's scored once each in the eighth and ninth innings against the Central bullpen, while the Wildcats tallied the game's final run in the bottom of the ninth on a RBI groundout by senior pinch-hitter Danny Myers (Tumwater).

The Wildcats were outhit, 10-8, by their fellow Great Northwest Athletic Conference members in Friday's non-conference counter. Bielec was the only CWU player with more than one hit, while three players -- Cody Brooks, Aaron Johnson, and Travis Jones -- all went 2 for 5 for Saint Martin's.

Central Washington continues tournament play on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 20) against another GNAC rival, Western Oregon, beginning at 3 p.m.