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

ELLENSBURG (Apr. 25) -- The Central Washington University baseball team collected a combined 19 hits in two games, but the Wildcats were unable to keep down a more opportunistic Saint Martin's University squad in falling twice to the visiting Saints on Sunday. Game scores were 12-7 and 4-3.

The Wildcats are now 11-31 overall and 5-19 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. Saint Martin's, which won the weekend series three games to one, is now 17-23 overall and 12-11 in the GNAC.

Central never led on Sunday, falling behind 3-0 in the top of the first inning of the opener, but the Wildcats did close to within one run with a two-run fourth inning as they executed a double-steal -- their second double-steal of the game -- and scored the first run on a throwing error. The second run of the inning came on a groundout by freshman Sean Murphy (Bothell/Woodinville HS).

No sooner than had CWU closed to within one did Saint Martin's extend its lead. The Saints scored twice in the fifth and three times in the sixth to take an 8-2 lead. Central scored once in each of its next three innings at the plate, but the Saints tacked on three runs in the top of the eighth and one in the ninth to keep the Wildcats at bay. Senior Kevin Walkenhauer (Yakima/West Valley HS) cut into the deficit in the final frame with a two-run home run.

Senior left-hander Tyler Warne (Aberdeen) had a rough outing in his second start of the season, walking four and allowed six hits over five innings of work, and the bullpen allowed seven runs on as many hits over four innings.

Senior Kevin Schneider (Spokane/Mead HS) went 3 for 5 with a double to lead Central's offense, while senior Ricky McKinney (Aberdeen) had two hits and two runs scored but the Wildcats were outhit by a 13-10 count.

Travis Jones drove in seven runs for Saint Martin's with a RBI groundout in the first, a three-run home run in the sixth, and a three-run double in the eighth inning. Five different Saints players had two hits apiece.

In the nightcap, Central was within one run for the final four innings but the Wildcats were unable to tie the score following an early 2-0 deficit in falling, 4-3.

Saint Martin's broke the shutout with two runs in the third inning against senior Jake Hammons (Snohomish), who, like Warne, was making his second pitching start of the season. The second of the Saints' runs was unearned after one of three errors by the Wildcat defense.

Central cut into the deficit with its first run of the game in the fourth, as senior Evan Churlin (Monroe) had a run-scoring single with two out.

Each team scored twice on three hits in the sixth, as the Saints scored on two-out hits by Blaine Evans (double) and Zach Leonard (single). Central's tallies came home on a groundout by redshirt freshman Marcus Evans (Kent/Kentlake HS) and an infield single by McKinney. However, after getting the potential game-tying run to second base, SMU relief pitcher Antone Saltvick induced a pop out to end the inning.

Neither team scored in the seventh, although Saint Martin's left the bases loaded. Central was retired in order by Saltvick, who earned his second save of the season.

Each team totaled nine hits in game two, with Churlin and junior Chance Plutt (Dillon, Mont./Beaverhead County HS) leading Central with two hits each. Saint Martin's picked up a three-hit game from Josh Grenier and two each from Blaine Evans and Michael McIver. Starting pitcher James Douglas (3-0) allowed all nine hits over 5 2/3 innings but earned the victory.

Central Washington will visit conference leader Western Oregon for a four-game series next weekend (May 1-2) before closing out its 2010 season at home on May 7-8 at home against Montana State Billings.