BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Over the course of 14 innings, Kim Nelson, Lauren Maley, and Lindsay Miller allowed a combined three runs on 10 hits as the pitching staff led the Saints to a 2-1, 3-2 sweep over Western Washington.
 
Pitching proved to be the strong suit for both teams in the doubleheader, with only a total of eight runs were scored by both offenses. But timely hitting by the Saints put them on the board first in both games, allowing their pitchers to work with a lead most of the game. Maley earned her 13th victory of the season and her first save of the year while Nelson pitched five strong innings.
 
Kim Nelson (6-4) only made one bad pitch all day, a solo home run in the bottom of the second, before rebounding to throw 1-2-3 innings in the third, fourth, and fifth. Laruen Maley came in to pitch the final two innings, throwing two perfect innings and locked up the 2-1 win and her first save of the season.
 
The Saints (19-14, 9-7) got on the board first, starting the first inning on a single by Lindsay Miller. Lauren Diuco followed it up with single up the middle before Kylie Lopez advanced both runners into scoring position with a groundball. Nelson picked up the RBI with a sac fly to right, bringing home L. Miller. Devyn Connolly closed out the inning with a RBI single to the pitcher before being thrown out at second.
 
The two runs of support proved to be all that was needed for Nelson and Maley, quieting the Vikings (12-26, 6-13) bats, giving up the one run on four hits. The Saints held the Vikings to without a hit in the final four innings.
 
"We got an early lead, and played good defense," said head coach Jim Peterson. "We also got solid pitching from both Kim Nelson and Lauren Maley."
 
In the second half of the doubleheader, the Saints once again got on the board first, this time, scoring a run in the third inning. Regan Byrd delivered home Lauren Diuco on a sac fly with one out. The Vikings were able to strike right back, tying the game in the bottom half of the third on a RBI single to center.
 
Saint Martin's regained the lead in the fourth, with two outs in the inning, L. Miller singled through the left side. Her single brought home Nicki DeHan. L. Miller came around to score on the next at-bat, with Diuco singling through the right side for the RBI.

Western Washington managed to trim the game back to a one run game in the fifth inning with an RBI single to left field. After the Vikings' run in the fifth, Maley shut the door with a 1-2-3 sixth and seventh inning to earn the W and complete the sweep.
 
L. Miller got the start, going 1.2 innings, giving up two hits and striking out one before Maley (13-9) earned the victory. Maley tossed 5.1 innings, giving up two runs, one earned on four hits with three strike outs while walking none.
 
"It was an all-around good game with excellent pitching and several timely hits," said Peterson. "It was a good win for us with Regan (Byrd) making a great diving catch in right field."
 
The Saints travel to Montana State Billings for a four-game series next weekend. First game is Saturday at 12: 00 p.m. PST with live stats and video links available on smusaints.com.