LACEY, Wash. – The Saints offense manufactured nine runs to lift Saint Martin's to a win in the opening half of a doubleheader against Montana State Billings, before a pitchers' duel sent the second game into extra innings, where MSUB walked away victorious.
 
In the first games, both teams combined for 15 runs, 30 hits, and 24 runners left on base; however, the back end of the doubleheader was two aces going toe-to-toe, pitching a combined 12.0 shutout innings and 15 strikeouts.
 
The Saints (3-15, 2-8) quickly jumped out to a lead over the Yellowjackets (11-9, 6-4) on a double to right center by Ryan Colvin, scoring Colton Peha in the first inning. The Saints capitalized on an error by MSUB in the second inning, resulting in three more runs and a 4-0 lead after two.
 
The Yellowjackets answered back in the third inning, plating three runs on three hits and one error. The score remained 4-3 until the bottom of the sixth when Kahi Hirano singled up the middle, scoring Ryne Oshiro. Austin Feist delivered the blow, scoring two more runs in the inning on a triple to right center. The Saints lead stretched to 7-3.
 
Once again the Yellowjackets managed to trim the score to one run entering the bottom of the eighth inning. Feist provided the critical insurance run, homering to left center, his third home run of the year. Oshiro also added a run on a RBI single up the middle.
 
Luke Hare closed the door in the ninth inning, securing his first save of the season and a 9-6 victory. Clark Streby (2-2) picked up his second win of the year after throwing six innings, allowing three runs, none earned on eight hits, with five strikeouts. Matthew Dunaway threw one inning of relief before Hare closed out the final two innings.
 
In what looked like to a pitching bill between two of the best starter in the GNAC in Mickey Walker of SMU and Steen Fredrickson of MSUB; the game lived up to expectations. Walker and Fredrickson combined for 12 shutout innings, tossing 15 strikeouts, and only allowing eight hits.
 
Walker, who was coming off a no-decision last week where he threw eight innings, allowing one run, and punching out eight; Walker lowered his ERA to 3.90. He worked out of multiple jams in the game, including runners on second and third in the second with a strike out looking, stranding two runners in the third, and a catching a break in the sixth inning.
 
With runners on the corner, and one out, Walker forced a ground ball to shortstop; however Oshiro mishandled the ball and was late getting the runner at second, thus allowing what looked like the go-ahead run. However, the ump ruled interference on the runner at second, and resulted in calling the runner at first out as well, turning the ground ball into an inning ending double play.
 
The Saints never found their offensive rhythm in the second game, failing to connect on the clutch hit. SMU left 10 runners on base in the nine innings. The Yellowjackets finally broke through in the top of ninth, scoring six runs and claiming their first lead of the day. The Saints loaded the bases in the ninth, including a run walked in, but ended the game on a line out to left field.
 
Walker picked up his second no-decision after throwing seven shutout innings, striking out five, and only allowing four hits. Adam Eskil (0-2) picked up the loss after giving up four runs in 1.1 innings of work, with Zach Robinson and Robbie Shineman polishing off the final inning.
 
The Saints will face the Yellowjackets in another doubleheader, tomorrow, Saturday, March 17 at 12:00 p.m. Live stats and video of the game will be available on smusaints.com.