ELLENSBURG, Wash. – A first inning grand slam by
Micah McNicoll, along with a strong performance by
Clark Streby, lifted the Saints in a doubleheader split with Central Washington, 8-5 and 10-4, on Saturday.
The Saints (4-18, 3-11) wasted no time to deliver some early runs, something that SMU had struggled to do all year. In the top of the first
Ryan Colvin scored the first run on a sacrifice fly down the right field line.
Hunter Holmason singled through the left side, plating the second run and loading the bases for
Micah McNicoll. McNicoll, who hadn't hit a home run all season, connected on a ball to right field for the first Saints' grand slam of the year and 6-0 lead.
Central Washington's (14-10, 9-5) bats were quite through the first four innings, before a single in the fifth inning scored two runs, putting the Wildcats on the board.
The Saints quickly responded in the top half of the sixth, with
Steven Sordahl and
Austin Feist doubling in back-to-back at-bats, scoring three runs, and extending the lead to 8-2.
The Wildcats made a comeback attempt in the seventh, finally breaking through to
Clark Streby, hitting a three-run home run, and closed the gap to 8-5.
Matthew Dunaway was called in from the pen to throw the final 2.1 innings, and did so in dominating fashion. Allowing only one hit and punching out one, Dunaway recorded the save and the Saints took game one of the doubleheader 8-5.
Streby (3-2) picked up his third straight win of the year after goinog 6.2 innings, allowing nine hits and five runs, all earned, but striking out nine Wildcats, a season-high.
The Wildcats returned the favor of early scoring in the second game, leading off with three runs in the first inning, followed one in the second and two in third.
Saint Martin's got on the board in the fourth inning, starting with lead-off singles by Holmason and
Benjamin Wadowski. After a fly out and walk loaded the bases,
Kahi Hirano grounded to short, reaching on the fielder's choice and RBI; however, a throwing error by the shortstop allowed a second run to score. The Saints trimmed the lead to 6-2.
Central Washington responded once again, scoring two runs in the fourth, followed by one run in the fifth and their 10th run of the game in the sixth. The Saints managed to score two in the seventh; however, they fell 10-4 in the second end of the doubleheader.
Ryan Dorney (0-4) earned the loss after going one inning, allowing three runs, only one earned, on three hits.
Aaron Shoup pitched the next three innings of relief, giving up five runs, three earned while
Robbie Shineman threw the final two innings.
The Saints play the finale of the four-game series tomorrow, March 25 starting at noon. Live video and stats of the game are available on smusaints.com.
