Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)

ELLENSBURG (Apr. 24) -- Senior Ricky McKinney (Aberdeen) drove home the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Central Washington University baseball team salvaged a doubleheader split with visiting Saint Martin's University on Saturday afternoon. After falling in the opener, 11-8 in 10 innings, the Wildcats took the nightcap 6-5.

Central snapped a 10-game losing streak in Great Northwest Athletic Conference games with the game-two victory, lifting the Wildcats to 11-29 overall and 5-17 in the GNAC. Saint Martin's is 15-23 overall and 10-11 in the conference.

McKinney's sacrifice fly helped Central overcome a 5-3 deficit in the fifth inning. After the hosts scored once in the fifth to make it a one-run game, they tied the game on sophomore Brett Bielec's (Port Orchard/North Mason HS) leadoff home run in the sixth and got two more runners on base before McKinney lofted a fly ball to center field that was deep enough to score sophomore Nate Sadler (Kirkland/Lake Washington HS) with the game-winner.

The comeback earned senior Kevin Walkenhauer (Yakima/West Valley HS) the victory after the right-hander went the distance on the mound and scattered nine hits to even his record at 2-2 on the season. Walkenhauer, who offensively was 0 for 3 at the plate in the game after collecting four hits in six at-bats in the opener, threw 97 pitches en route to the seven-inning complete-game win.

Bielec went 2 for 3 in the nightcap, with both of his hits going for extra bases. In addition to his sixth-inning homer, he provided a two-run triple in the fourth inning that tied the game at 3-3 at the time. Bielec and senior Jake Hammons (Snohomish) each went 2 for 3 in Saturday's finale.

Four Saints had two hits each in game two, including Blaine Evans, who had a pair of doubles.

In a wild opening game, Luke Abbott's first home run of the season in the top of the 10th inning was the difference as visiting Saint Martin's took an 11-8 victory.

The game was a see-saw battle throughout, one that Central led on two occasions. The Wildcats had an early 3-0 edge after one inning and took a 6-4 lead in the sixth, only to watch Saint Martin's tie the score or take the lead each time. The Wildcats had an opportunity to close the game out in the ninth, taking a 7-5 lead into the final regulation frame, but the Saints scored three times to take the lead 8-7.

In the bottom of the ninth, CWU senior Kevin Schneider (Spokane/Mead HS) knotted the game on the first pitch of the frame, delivering a rare inside-the-park home run to right field, and the Wildcats would later have the winning run on second base with two out. However, they were unable to score and the game went to extra innings.

In a game that featured a combined 30 hits and five errors, Central finished with a 16-14 hits advantage. However, their five errors and late-inning woes spoiled a strong start by junior Jake Millbauer (Kennewick/Kamiakin HS), who was left with a no-decision after allowing just three earned runs over eight innings of work.

Walkenhauer was one of six Wildcats with multiple hits in the contest, while McKinney drove in a team-high three runs including his third home run of the season.

Saint Martin's was led by Travis Jones' three hits, while five of Jones' teammates finished with two hits apiece. Relief pitcher Kaleb Wilson (3-5) earned the win after 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief following Schneider's game-tying home run.

The two teams will wrap up their series on Sunday beginning at noon at the CWU Baseball Field.