BILLINGS, Mont. – One series in Colorado just wasn't enough for the Montana State Billings baseball team as it returns to the Centennial State this Saturday and Sunday at Regis University. The Jackets and the Rangers are scheduled for doubleheaders both days. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. both days.

 

MSUB enters the series with a 2-2 record after battling back to earn a series split at Colorado State-Pueblo last weekend. The Jackets dropped the first two games of the series by a total of three runs, but came back with impressive wins in games three and four, 21-15 and 6-5. Three of the four games in the series were decided by a total of four runs.

 

The Jackets set a school record for runs in a game with 21 against the Thunderwolves on Saturday. Sophomore transfer Colby Robison went 9 for 15 with a double, a triple, a home run and 10 RBI in the series. He slugged 1.000 and made good on all six of his chances at shortstop and hit a team-high .600 for the series. Robison was rewarded for his efforts being named GNAC Player of the Week Tuesday.

 

As a team, the Yellowjacket bats came alive as they hit .328 for the series with 45 hits and 15 extra-base hits, including 10 doubles, three triples, two home runs and 33 RBI. The team slugged .489 and scored 36 runs.

 

On the bump, junior Brian Hutchings was the lone Yellowjacket starter to earn a victory. He pitched six innings, allowing four hits, three earned runs, two walks and six strikeouts in the final game of the series. It was Hutchings' first career start as a Yellowjacket. Senior Brian Howe had one save, while senior Archie Smith earned the other victory in relief.

 

Regis University had all four of its games cancelled due snow this past weekend versus Hastings College. The Rangers are coming off of a 15-29 record overall and an 11-22 mark in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in 2010. Regis was selected sixth overall in the preseason coaches' poll and picked third in the Plains Division with 18 points and one first place vote.

 

The Rangers had two players selected to the RMAC Preseason All-Conference Team in outfielder Alex Haag and relief pitcher Bryant Asnicar. Asnicar was one of five unanimous selections to the preseason team.

 

Asnicar went 2-4 a year ago in 20 relieve appearances with three saves. He tallied a 1.86 ERA in 29 innings of work. Asnicar allowed 27 hits with 18 runs, but just six were earned. He walked 24 and fanned 30, while the opposition hit just .237 against him.

 

Haag finished second on the team in average in 2010. He hit .352 with 51 hits, 11 doubles, two triples and 10 home runs to go along with 34 RBI. Also returning this season is catcher Zach Blakeley who hit .333 with 39 hits, three doubles, two triples and four home runs. 

 

Along with Asnicar, Charlie Henderson also returns to the staff. He went 5-5 in 2010 in 14 starts. Henderson logged a team-high 93.2 innings, allowing 120 hits, 67 runs – 52 earned, 27 walks and he fanned a team-high 55. 

 

The Rangers hit .312 in 2010 with 458 hits, 164 extra-base hits with 93 doubles, 13 triples and 58 home runs. Regis slugged .511 and reached base at a .392 average. The staff tallied a 6.94 ERA in 347.2 innings. The Rangers allowed 485 hits, 349 runs with 268 earned. They walked 189 and fanned 243. 93 miscues led to 81 unearned runs.

 

This also is the first meeting with Regis since baseball was reinstated at MSUB in 2006. The Jackets are 6-5 against teams from the RMAC as they are 3-0 against Colorado Christian, 2-2 against Colorado State-Pueblo and 1-3 against Metro State. MSUB hosts Colorado Christian later in the season.