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ELLENSBURG (Mar. 24) -- Junior Spencer Hannah (Ferndale) reached on a two-out error to cap a two-run, bottom of the ninth inning rally in game one, and the Central Washington University baseball team used a 13-hit attack in game two to sweep its doubleheader from Montana State University Billings by scores of 7-6 and 8-4 on Sunday afternoon at the CWU Baseball Field.

The Wildcats are now 15-11 overall and 9-3 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play, remaining one game back of Western Oregon University in the GNAC standings. MSU Billings is 12-19-1 overall and 8-8 in the conference.

GAME ONE: CWU 7, Montana State Billings 6
The Wildcats overcame a rough start, trailing 6-2 after 3 1/2 innings and committing five errors before their first hit at the plate, but scored five runs in the final four innings to stun the Yellowjackets, 7-6.

CWU fell behind 1-0 in the first inning after MSUB scored on a double play groundout. The Wildcats took the lead in the bottom of the second without the benefit of a hit, as a walk, two sacrifice bunts, and two errors led to their two runs.

MSU Billings scored three times in the top of the third and twice in the fourth, taking advantage of three CWU errors over that span. That 6-2 score remained intact through the sixth, with right-handed pitcher Joe Andriolo took a no-hitter into the fifth inning.

The Wildcats chipped away at the deficit over the final four innings. Junior Ethan Sterkel (Ellensburg) hit a solo home run to lead off the sixth, and then delivered a RBI single in the seventh to make it a 6-4 score. Then in the eighth, CWU scored an unearned run after a hit by senior Justin Peterson (Tacoma/Life Christian Academy) and a misplayed ball in the outfield.

While the offense began to rally its way back, junior relief pitcher Willie Davies (Shoreline/Shorecrest HS) did a masterful job keeping the Yellowjackets off the scoreboard. The right-hander came on in the fourth inning and allowed just two hits, while striking out four and walking just one, over the final 5 2/3 innings.

In the ninth, Sterkel reached on a one-out single before MSUB turned to closer Travis Vincent. His first pitch hit senior Kyle Sani (Kennewick/Southridge HS) to give the Wildcats a pair of base runners, and two batters later, junior Joe Castro (Union City, Calif./James Logan HS) tied the game with a RBI single to left field and took second on the throw. Then, with two runners in scoring position, Hannah hit a ball to shortstop that was bobbled on the initial fielding play and the subsequent throw was not in time as Sani scored the winning run.

After its slow offensive start, CWU finished with nine hits as Sterkel went 3 for 5, Castro went 2 for 3, and Peterson was 2 for 4.

MSUB had 10 hits, including two each from the top four spots in its batting order. Colby Robison and Tanner Watson drove in two runs each for the Yellowjackets.

GAME TWO: CWU 8, Montana State Billings 4
CWU scored at least one run in each of its first five innings at the plate, and sophomore Max Dickinson (Hoquiam) went four innings in his first start of the season as the Wildcats defeated the Yellowjackets, 8-4.

The Wildcats scored first on a RBI double by Sani in the first inning, eventually leaving the bases loaded in the inning. MSUB rallied back in the top of the second, as a bases-clearing double by Brody Miller gave the Yellowjackets a two-run lead, but CWU responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning on a two-run single by senior Marc Garza (Othello).

CWU took the lead in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Peterson, and then tacked on two more runs in both the fourth and fifth innings. Sani hit a two-run home run over the scoreboard in left-center field to account for the Wildcats' fourth-inning tallies, while Castro (double) and Garza (single) had RBI hits in the fifth.

Dickinson, meanwhile, earned the win in his longest outing of the season. Normally a reliever who had logged just 7 1/3 innings in eight previous appearances this season, he went four innings and scattered five hits in Sunday's victory for a win in his first pitching decision of the season. Sophomore Davis Engel (Ellensburg) worked the final three innings to earn his second save of the season.

The Wildcats totaled 13 hits, keyed by a 3 for 4 outing from Castro, who doubled, stole two bases, and scored three runs. Garza (2 for 3), Sani (2 for 3), Peterson (2 for 3), and freshman Kramer Ferrell (Ellensburg; 2 for 4) also had multi-hit games, with Sani and Garza each driving in three runs.

Drew Fosnes and Colter Sternhagen had two hits each in four at-bats for the Yellowjackets.

CWU will wrap up the first round of conference play next weekend with a four-game series at Western Oregon (15-11, 10-2 GNAC).