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LACEY (Apr. 20) -- Junior Scott Stone (Corvallis, Ore./Crescent Valley HS) was a combined 6 for 9, and senior Kyle Sani (Kennewick/Southridge HS) blasted a pair of home runs in game one as the Central Washington University baseball team swept host Saint Martin's University, 7-6 and 9-2, on Saturday afternoon.

The Wildcats improved to 25-15 overall and kept pace in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings by upping their league record to 16-6. CWU currently trails idle Western Oregon University (18-6 GNAC) by one game entering Sunday's doubleheader in Lacey. Saint Martin's fell to 4-34 overall and 2-19 in the conference.

GAME ONE: CWU 7, Saint Martin's 6
Junior Spencer Hannah (Ferndale) drove in the game-winning run with a two-out single in the top of the ninth inning, helping the Wildcats cap a four-run rally over the final three innings and earn the 7-6, come-from-behind victory over the Saints.

CWU trailed 6-3 after six innings of play before chipping its way back into the game. Sani's second home run of the game -- to center field in the seventh inning -- made it a two-run contest, while Stone had a RBI single later in the inning. The Wildcats then tied the game in the top of the ninth on a bunt single by Hannah, but left the bases loaded in that frame.

The visitors also left the bases loaded in the top of the ninth, but were able to push across the game-winning run. Singles by juniors Ethan Sterkel (Ellensburg) and Justen Weigel (Naches/Naches Valley HS) with one and two out, respectively, gave the Wildcats a pair of baserunners, and after a wild pitch advanced them both into scoring position, Hannah plated Sterkel with his second RBI hit in as many innings to give CWU the lead.

Senior Jason Lotzer (Lynnwood) was the beneficiary of the Wildcats' ninth-inning tally, picking up his third win in as many decisions this season. Lotzer threw two scoreless innings before turning the game over to senior Randy Button (Allyn/North Mason HS) in the bottom of the ninth, and the right-hander earned his fourth save of the year after allowing just one runner -- a leadoff walk to Chandler Tracy.

CWU scored the game's first run in the top of the second on a groundout by senior Justin Peterson (Tacoma/Life Christian Academy), but fell behind 2-1 after a two-run single by Lucas Besel in the bottom of the fourth. Sani's two-run home run in the top of the fifth shifted the lead back to the Wildcats, but that was short-lived after Saint Martin's regained the lead with a three-run fifth.

The Wildcats had a 16-13 edge in hits, led by three-hit performances from Stone and Weigel. Sterkel (2 for 3), Hannah (2 for 4), Sani (2 for 5), and sophomore Kasey Bielec (Port Orchard/North Mason HS; 2 for 5) also had multi-hit games for CWU.

Saint Martin's was led by a three-hit game from Tracy, who doubled and finished 3 for 4 with two runs scored.

GAME TWO: CWU 9, Saint Martin's 2
A five-run sixth inning turned a one-run game into a blowout as CWU completed its doubleheader sweep with a 9-2 victory.

The Wildcats scored two runs in the top of the first -- one on a RBI triple by Sani and the second on a run-scoring double by Stone -- and CWU never trailed in the contest. Saint Martin's did cut its deficit to one after single runs in the second and fourth innings, but the Wildcats' crooked number in the top of the sixth helped put the game away and preserved the win for senior starting pitcher Tyler Roberts (Kennewick/Southridge HS).

In the sixth, CWU used five hits -- including two-run base-knocks by Stone (single) and junior pinch hitter Eddie Malone (Queen Creek, Ariz.; double) -- to add to its lead. The Wildcats then scored a single run in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Hannah.

Stone finished the game 3 for 4 with four RBI, while senior Marc Garza (Othello) went 3 for 5 with a double and upped his season average to .390. Sterkel, junior Joel Johnson (Olympia), and senior Daniel Kathman (Roy/Eatonville HS) all added two-hit outings as the Wildcats accumulated 15 more hits in the contest. CWU is now batting .385 in six games versus Saint Martin's this season.

Roberts, meanwhile, allowed seven hits over four innings of work but did not allow an earned run. He struck out three and walked one in the win, with Button and sophomore Davis Engel (Ellensburg) combining for three innings of scoreless relief.

Bobby Twedt and Jack Freeman were both 2 for 3 for Saint Martin's in the nightcap.

The season series concludes on Sunday at noon with another doubleheader in Lacey.