LACEY, Wash. – Behind Kim Nelson's and Lauren Maley's complete game gems, Saint Martin's swept Western Oregon in two critical GNAC games on Senior Day.
 
Game One
 
Hot-hitting Alyssa French put the Saints (24-14, 16-8 GNAC) on the board in the third inning with a home run, her third of the year, and a 1-0 lead.
 
Western Oregon (24-21, 11-13) capitalized on a Saints' fielding error to tie the game in the top of the fourth.
 
Senior shortstop Alyssa Slate, with Emily Baca on first, turned on a full count pitch for a two-run home run to left field to give SMU a 3-1 lead in the fifth inning.
 
With runners on the corner, French picked up her third RBI on a groundout, scoring Sabrina Hicks and extended the score to 4-1.
 
Western Oregon tacked on one final run in the seventh to cut the lead down to two before ultimately falling 4-2 to Saint Martin's.
 
Kim Nelson (12-7) earned her team-leading 12th victory after throwing a complete game on 10 hits, allowing two runs, one earned run while striking out zero.  She has only given up one earned run over her last 14 innings.
 
Game Two
 
WOU jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, scoring a run on a sacrifice fly from third baseman Kuehl.
 
The Saints responded the next half inning on a RBI single from senior Jackie Schmaeling, scoring Lauren Diuco and tied the game at 1-1.
 
Fellow senior Mary Dettling was given the green light on a 3-0 count and rewarded the decision with a RBI single to left center, scoring Lindsay Miller and giving the Saints a 2-1 lead.
 
The Wolves' first baseman Kelly locked the game at a 2-2 tie on a RBI single to right field in the fourth inning.
 
The Saints' game-winning run came in an unusual fashion, in the fifth inning, Slate moved up from second to third on a wild pitch before being advancing home after the ball went out of play.
 
Western Oregon got the tying run on-base in the final inning before Slate and Hicks turned the classic 6-4-3 double play to secure the 3-2 victory.
 
Lauren Maley (7-2) pitched effectively and quickly, working a complete game on 54 pitches. She gave up two runs on five hits and like Nelson, did not strike out a batter.

"Although we didn't play great today, these were huge wins to get into the conference tournament," said head coach Rick Noren. "It was great to see Alyssa Slate come up with a big home run as well as another for Alyssa French. Our defense was up and down today with some great plays but we also made some mistakes that we will need to clean up. Mary Dettling had a couple of key hits driving in important runs. Lindsay Miller made a couple of great running in left field."
 
Up Next: The Saints travel to Oregon for two games against Western Oregon before finishing up the regular season against Concordia University.