Baseball | 4/21/2016 10:45:00 AM

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Apr. 20) – The Central Washington University baseball team took four games from Concordia University in Portland, Oregon last week and this week head to Saint Martin's University.
 
A rainout in early March forced the Wildcats to play a six-game series at Concordia.  After splitting the first two days, a strong performance on day three put the Wildcats back to third in the conference.
 
"Normally when you have six games in three days pitching can be an issue," CWU Head Coach Desi Storey said.  "Our starters went out and got us deep, allowing us to save some arms for later in the series.  We got great performances from Ryan Archibald, on Sunday, and Mackenzie Gaul on Saturday."
 
The Saints are currently the basement dwellers in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with a conference record of 8-20. 
 
When the two sides met in Ellensburg earlier this season Central took three of four from the Saints.  In the series, the Wildcats scored 10 or more runs in two games.
 
Alec Hagerman leads the Saints' offense with a .327 average.  Brandon Witherspoon has hit three home runs, a team high.  As a unit, the Saints are hitting .252 with 13 home runs.  They have scored 170 runs through 38 games.
 
On the mound, Aaron Shoup has posted a team leading 4.94 earned run averaged and a record of 4-3.  Mickey Walter follows closely behind at 4.99, but has earned just one win.  No pitcher for the Saints has an earned run average below 4.90.  Saint Martin's staff has posted a team earned run average of 7.02 and opposing hitters are hitting at a clip of .341 off of the Saints' pitchers.
 
The Wildcats enter the week with a 20-17 record and a 16-12 mark in the GNAC. 
 
Central's pitching staff kept Concordia hitters guessing last weekend and helped guide the Wildcats to four wins.  The starters posted some of their best outings of the season, including a complete game from Archibald and an 8.1 innings performance from Gaul.
 
After Gaul's outing last weekend his earned run averaged dipped to 2.40.  In 45 innings of work the southpaw has held opposing hitters to a .266 average. 
 
"Mac threw a fantastic game for us," Storey added.  "He kept his pitch count down and limited the damage.  He put us in a good spot."
 
Justin Adams and Jake Levin have each recorded a team high four games.  As a staff, the Wildcats have an ERA of 4.51 and are holding opposing hitters to a .272 average. 
 
Out of the bullpen CJ Gettman has worked in 15 games and recorded seven saves.
 
Offensively for Central, Ryan Atkinson has a team high .353 batting average.  He has driven in 14 runs, hit a pair of home runs, and scored 32 times.  Levin and Darren Honeysett have each hit four home runs.  In total, the Wildcats have hit 23 balls out of the park.  Central is hitting .299 on the year, with an on-base percentage of .366.
 
"We are swinging the stick well right now," Storey noted.  "We have some guys that are coming through in big spots for us.  Darren and Ryan are swinging the bat as well as anyone."
 
First pitch is scheduled for 1p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday.