ELLENSBURG (Feb. 8) --The Central Washington University baseball team earned a four-game sweep over Saint Martin's, winning both games on Sunday afternoon by scores of 9-2 and 5-3, making them a perfect 4-0 to start the season.

Senior relief pitcher, Davis Engel (1-0) picked up the win in game one and Kyle Atkinson went 2-4 driving in three of the 9 runs. Game two got Jacob Forrester (1-0) his first win as a Wildcat, getting big help offensively from his catcher Zach Reay went 2-2 with 2 RBI's with a two-run homerun in the second inning.

Game 1

In game one, the Wildcats were led by relentless offense and a strong pitching performance from Mitch Yada, who made his Wildcat debut. Yada gave up two runs and had five strikeouts in his 4 1/3 innings of work.  

The Wildcats offense came to life in the fourth inning when they scored four runs on a two-out rally. Ryan Atkinson drove in Cameron Harper on a line drive single to left field, followed by RBI singles from Benjamin Dunbar and Myles Wesener to give the Wildcats a 4-0 lead. Atkinson also added two more RBI's in the 6^th inning totaling three in the game.

"I really wanted to keep things simple, because yesterday was my first game and I was a little over anxious at the plate," said Atkinson. "Today I got some pitches I could drive and score some runs for my team."

Engel came in for Yada in the bottom of the fifth and was able to shut the door for the Wildcats by allowing only one hit in his 3 2/3 innings. The Saints pushed back against the Wildcats scoring their two runs in the top of the fifth on a Blake Lord fielder's choice and a wild pitch making the game 4-2.

The only other inning that had runs cross the plate was in the sixth when CWU was able to make the game out of reach. The Wildcat's rally was started by a double down the left field line by Benjamin Dunbar, who had three hits in the game. Jeff Beckman also tallied three base hits for the CWU offense.

Game 2

In the second game of the double header, the Wildcats jumped to a quick lead in the second inning by a 2-run blast over the left-center field fence in the second inning by catcher Zach Reay.

Initially, Reay was awarded first base after a catchers interference call. Saint Martin's coach, Ken Garland, appealed the call and was successful in sending Reay back to the plate, where he capitalized on the next pitch.

Central Washington pitcher Jacob Forrester was able to keep the Saint's hitters off balance at the plate holding SMU scoreless and allowing just two hits in four innings of work, picking up his first win in his first collegiate start.

"When you have a true freshman starting his first Division II game you can't ask for anything better," Reay said about his battery mate. "You could see in the first inning he was making the game a little too fast, but in the second and third innings he really started to settle down and be more efficient."

In the fifth inning the Wildcats were able to score again off a wild pitch with a runner on third, and a bases loaded sac fly by Kasey Bielec scoring Reay to extend the lead to 4-0.

The Saint's found a way to put three runs on the board in the sixth inning after a couple walks from Trevor Cook, which prompted pitching coach Rob Hippi to bring in the reigning GNAC leader in saves, Cory Welch. Saint Martin's hitters Zach Raczok and Adam Eskil were able to both get doubles off Welch bringing the Saint's within one.

The Wildcat offense was able to get one of those runs back after John Dailey led off the inning being hit by a pitch, advancing to second and stealing third to then be scored by Harper's fielders choice RBI making the game 5-3.

That would be the end of scoring, while Welch got his second save of the season after allowing no hits in the seventh inning.

Next week, the Wildcats head to Sonoma State to play four non-conference games in California's bay area.