BILLINGS, Mont. (Apr. 9) – The Central Washington University baseball team swept its doubleheader against Montana State Billings, improving the Wildcats' record to 16-15 overall and 12-10 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. 
 
"After last weekend a split would have kept us there," CWU Head Coach Desi Storey said.  "Taking three gets us right back on track.  We are now in striking distance from Northwest Nazarene.  We needed it."
 
The Yellowjackets are now 17-15 overall and 11-12 in GNAC contests.
 
Dylan Freyre got Central's offense going, singling to right field and driving home Ryan Atkinson. 
 
Tanner Romo followed suit a few batters later in the first, bring home Freyre on a single.
 
Freyre struck again in the fifth, singling up the middle and bringing Reid Martinez around to score.
 
The Yellowjackets scored just twice.  The first came on a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, while the second run came across in the ninth inning on a single.
 
Freyre finished three-for-five, with a run scored, and two runs batted in.  Jake Levin joined the three hit parade, as well. 
 
McKenzie Gaul (2-3) put together a phenomenal start, going seven innings and allowing just one run.  He only allowed five hits and two walks, while striking out three.  CJ Gettman earned his fifth save of the year.
 
"Mac threw great," Storey noted.  "He pounded the strike zone and it was good to see him throw like that."
 
In game two the Yellowjackets pushed a run across on a single to center, gaining an early 1-0 advantage.
 
Their lead quickly vanished in the top of the second.  Randy Fuller hit a sacrifice fly to score Kyle Stahl, levelling the score. 
 
James Smith III hit a solo home run later in the inning, taking a 2-1 lead for the Wildcats.
 
"Jimmy and Darren are both getting back on track and hit one out, that was great to see," Storey noted.
 
Central scored again in the fourth innings on a double steal.  Atkinson stole third, while Martinez took second, but a throwing error allowed Atkinson to score and Martinez moved to third.
 
A wild pitch allowed Freyre to score in the fourth, putting Central up 5-1. 
 
A solo home run by Darren Honeysett in the top of the sixth gave the Wildcats a 6-1 advantage.
 
Billings pushed a pair of runs across in the bottom of the sixth, cutting the deficit to 6-3.
 
Levin went five innings on the mound, allowing three runs on five hits.  He struck out four hitters.
 
"Jake was a little shaky in the first, but settled down and threw some goose eggs," Storey said afterward.  "Threw 100 pitches and just had a great day on the bump."
 
Jacob Forrester recorded his first save of the season. 
 
The Wildcats head down to Concordia University next weekend for a six-game road stand.  Two games are makeup dates after rain postponed them earlier this season in Ellensburg.