DENVER, Colo. – The Montana State Billings baseball team split a non-conference doubleheader at Regis University Saturday afternoon.  The Jackets battled back to win the opener 6-5, while Regis won the nightcap 9-2.  The two teams will play the final doubleheader of the series tomorrow at 11 a.m.

In the opener, the Rangers, who had their first four games of the season cancelled last week due to snow, played like it was midseason as they scored three times in the bottom of the first inning.  A pair of RBI singles and a RBI sacrifice fly helped out by a Yellowjacket miscue led to the 3-0 lead.

The Jackets got on the board in the top of the third as sophomore Austin Rue walked, followed by a single from senior Jeff Ridgeway.  Freshman Dillon Ness laid down a great sacrifice bunt moving the runners into scoring position.  Senior Kevin Zukaitis scored Rue on a RBI single. 

Regis' starting pitcher Charlie Henderson's next throw was errant plating Ridgeway for a 3-2 deficit.

The Yellowjacket defense stepped up in the bottom of the fourth as senior hurler Jacob Vulk got into some trouble loading the bases with nobody out on three hit batsmen. Bishop made a call to the bullpen as Ryan Pollock came on in relief.  Wes Keenan hit into a fielder's choice to the hot corner where Rue stepped on the bag and fired home for the double play.  A RBI single through the right side moments later swelled the lead to 4-2.

MSUB took the lead for the first time in the fifth as it plated three runs on five hits for a 5-4 advantage.  The Jackets got things started on a RBI double by Ness to right center.  Robison singled up the middle, followed by a RBI single from senior Jordan Kessler.  Senior Sam Kinzeler followed the act with a RBI single giving the Jackets the lead.

The Rangers tied the game in the bottom of the frame on a solo home run by Jon Shoutta for a 5-5 score.  Regis could have regained the lead as Jay Rollison doubled down the left field line putting runners at second and third.  The Jackets brought in senior pitcher, Archie Smith who got out of the jam with a groundout. 

Regis' heralded relief pitcher, Brian Asnicar, who earned all-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference honors last year, relieved Henderson in the seventh.  Robison gave him a rude introduction to the 2011 season with a solo home run to left for a 6-5 lead.  Asnicar was named to the preseason all-conference team this season.  It was Robison's second round-tripper of the year.

MSUB had an opportunity in the eighth to add some insurance runs, but left the bases loaded.  In the bottom of the frame, a throwing error by the Jackets ended up not hurting as Smith got out of another jam unscathed with a big strikeout to end the frame.

Smith struck out two of the final three in the ninth to improve to 2-0 on the year.  He tallied four strikeouts in 4.1 innings of relief.  Asnicar (0-1) took the loss in 1.2 innings allowing one earned run on one hit with two walks and two strikeouts.

Robison led the way for the Jackets going 2 for 4 with two runs scored and a RBI.  Shoutta went 2 for 5 with two RBI and two runs scored for the Rangers.

In the nightcap, the Jackets jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a RBI single by Robison for a 1-0 lead.

Five runs came across the plate in the bottom of the frame for the Rangers as they took command of the game.  A two RBI double by Rollison and a pair of sacrifice flies highlighted the frame as the Rangers had four hits off MSUB senior starter Kody Kennedy.

The Rangers added another run in the second on a RBI single by Shoutta.

The Jackets looked as if they had something going in the fifth as junior Trevor Wilson singled and later reached second on a wild pitch.  Senior Chris Stine reached on a fielding error scoring Wilson for a 6-2 deficit.  The Rangers got the twin-killing to end the threat.

Regis added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth for a 9-2 win.

Kennedy (0-2) took the loss for the Jackets in 4.1 innings of work.  He allowed nine hits, nine runs – eight earned, one walk and he fanned five.  Mike Waldorf pitched the final 1.2 innings surrendering one hit and fanning three.  Steve Falconi (1-0) picked up the win, allowing six hits, two runs – one earned and he fanned seven.  

Robison again led the way for the Jackets offensively as he went 2 for 3 with one RBI.  Rollison also had a good nightcap for the Rangers as he was 2 for 3 with three RBI and one run scored.  Robison finished the doubleheader 4 of 7 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored.