LACEY, WA — Saint Martin's Baseball (1-23, 1-7 GNAC) faced Central Washington, Whitworth, and Montana State Billings throughout the month of March as they continue to improve.

vs Central Washington

The Wildcats started strong in the first game, scoring five runs in the opening inning. The Saints responded with a run in the second, but Central Washington added another in the third, extending their lead to 6-1. Saint Martin's rallied in the fourth inning, scoring two runs to narrow the gap. The Wildcats, however, maintained their momentum, adding one run in the fifth and four in the seventh. The Saints continued to fight, scoring three runs in the sixth and one in the ninth, but it wasn't enough to overcome the early deficit. Central Washington secured the win with a final score of 11-7. Game two was an exciting outing as both teams would extend the game to 10 total innings, which would result in the contest being resumed the following day due to darkness. Alex Hartnett and Isaac Hoag both had RBIs showcasing their ability to hit during the contest. When resuming play, Central Washington was able to reclaim their momentum to take the contest by a score of 4-2 with two runs in the top of the tenth frame.

In the third game, the Saints turned the tables, delivering a commanding performance and claiming a 10-3 win. The Saint Martin's offense came alive with a corresponding performance from the pitching staff. This victory marked the Saints' first win of the season, improving their record to 1-12 overall and 1-1 in the GNAC. The Wildcats' record moved to 6-7 overall and 1-1 in conference play. Hartnett had another standout performance with a home run and two RBIs. Bryson Nakamoto and Raige Velez shared the mound and were a massive part of the Saints' win. In the second game, the Saints fell 5-2. Despite the loss, there were notable performances. Hunter Sasaki had an RBI allowing Hoag to score, tying the game 2-2. Hollabaugh also added an RBI.

at Whitworth

The series opener saw the Saints struggle to contain Whitworth's offense. However, Hartnett provided a spark with a towering home run, putting Saint Martin's on the board. Peter Hollabaugh also made his presence felt, driving in two RBIs to keep the Saints competitive. Despite their efforts, Whitworth's consistent hitting led them to a decisive 16-6 victory over SMU. In the second game, the Saints' defense tightened up, but Whitworth maintained their edge. One of the standout moments came in the final inning when Cole Yonamine crushed a solo home run, giving the Saints a much-needed boost. Additionally, Hoag showcased his speed and agility, stealing multiple bases and applying pressure on Whitworth's defense. Ultimately, the Pirates would claim game two, 5-2.

The third game proved to be the most thrilling of the series. Saint Martin's pushed Whitworth to the brink, falling just short in a one-run nail-biter. Kyle Schabot had an impressive performance with two crucial RBIs, while Hartnett crossed the plate twice, contributing significantly to the Saints' offensive effort. The team's fighting spirit was on full display in this closely contested battle, but they would end up falling 7-6. In the series finale, Whitworth's bats remained hot, but Saint Martin's still delivered in certain moments. Collin Bell notably sent one deep for a solo home run, giving the Saints a spark, but they would ultimately fall 16-3 as Whitworth continued to roll.

at Seattle

The Saints would have a one-game contest against the Division I Seattle Redhawks just north on I5. SMU would have a plethora of hitters find runs, ultimately leading to a 10-run offensive performance against upper-level competition. The pitching staff would not be able to slow down the Redhawks, however, and the Saints would end up being outpaced 20-10. The bats continue to improve for SMU.

at Montana State Billings

The Saints opened their following conference series against Montana State Billings with a competitive effort. Hartnett led the charge, tallying three RBIs, two hits, and one run. Schabot also contributed with an RBI, a hit, and a run. Despite their strong offensive presence, Montana State Billings secured the win with timely hitting down the stretch, taking game one by a score of 8-6. Game two proved to be a challenging outing for Saint Martin's as Montana State Billings' offense exploded. However, the Saints refused to back down. Schabot brought in a run with a determined plate appearance, and Kelton Tom added another RBI. The Saints remained focused and battled through all nine innings, but were outpaced by the MSUB offense. They would fall 20-2.

The third game saw a barrage of power from Saint Martin's batters. Hollabaugh launched a solo home run, adding an RBI to his tally. Hartnett continued his impressive series with a home run and three RBIs. Bell also went yard, crushing a homer and adding three RBIs. On the mound, Jake Schumacher made an impact by striking out three MSUB hitters, demonstrating resilience from the Saints' pitching staff. They would struggle to close out late into the game however, and would fall to the Yellowjackets, 15-7. In the series finale, Tom stole the show with an explosive performance, blasting two home runs and driving in four RBIs. Schabot continued his steady contributions with two RBIs of his own. Despite another high-scoring effort from Montana State Billings, the Saints showed their determination to compete until the final out. Ultimately, however, they would close out the series with another 15-7 loss.

The Saints are back in action at home this weekend against Northwest Nazarene. Get more information here.