ELLENSBURG, Wash. – After the Saints dropped the opener of the doubleheader, Saint Martin's rallied from a 7-3 deficit to win 8-7 on a walk-off sac fly by Micah McNicoll to split the day and series.
 
Trailing by four in their final inning, Adam Eskil doubled down to left center, scoring two, followed by a two RBI single by Ryan Colvin. With the score tied, runners on second and third and one out, McNicoll sent everybody home with a fly ball to center field, scoring Sordahl and walking off the 8-7 victory.
 
"Our offense was clicking all day," said head coach Kelly Gau. "We couldn't get the clutch hit in game one despite having many opportunities. We kept competing throughout and finally strung them together down to our last outs in game two. We had some guys step up big out of the bullpen all weekend to keep us close which was the difference in the end."
 
In the first game, Central Washington (20-18, 15-13) used five runs in the first inning to take control of the game, They added one in the second, one in the seventh before closing out with four in the ninth. Both of the Saints' (8-28, 7-21) runs came from the bat of Austin Feist, who drove in one on a single in the seventh, and his team-leading fifth home run of the year in the ninth.
 
Garrison Ritter (0-1) picked up the loss after starting four innings, allowing six runs on seven hits before Matthew Dunaway threw four innings of relief. Dunaway allowed only one run and struck out four before Robbie Shineman logged the final inning.
 
In the second game, Central Washington once again jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the first inning. The Saints battled back in the fourth inning, starting with a fielder's choice for Kahi Hirano, scoring Jake Leonard. Ryne Oshiro followed it up with a two RBI single through the left side to tie the game at 3-3 apiece.
 
The Wildcats managed to add three runs in the sixth inning before adding another in the seventh to stretch their lead back to four.
 
In the final inning, the Saints led off with two walks, followed by an error by CWU to load the bases with nobody out. Adam Eskil did the first damage, scoring two runs on a double to cut the lead to 7-5. After a strike out and intentional walk to Steven Sordahl to load the bases again, Ryan Colvin made it count, with a single down the right field line to tie the game. With the game winning run 90 feet away and one out, McNicoll did all that was needed, lifting a ball to center field and sending the Saints home with a W.
 
Benjamin Wadowski got the start but was unable to make it through the first inning, with Luke Hare coming in to throw the next 3.1 shutout innings. Ryan Dorney pitched one inning, giving up three runs but all unearned before Adam Eskil (1-3) earned the victory after throwing the seventh inning.
 
"Kudos to Adam Eskil for getting it done on the mound and at the plate," said Gau. "Coming off an injury earlier this season, it's been good to see him have success. Ryan Colvin and Micah McNicoll had clutch swings in the last game as well. It's been a pleasure to see the guys put in a lot of work during the week, and then get it done on the weekend."
 
Saint Martin's hits the road for a four game series with Western Oregon next weekend, starting April 21. Live stats and video of the games will be available with links on smusaints.com.