ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Behind a strong defensive effort, the Montana State Billings baseball team swept a doubleheader Friday afternoon at Central Washington with a 3-0 and a 4-2 win.  The Yellowjackets improved to 11-12 on the year and 4-6 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  CWU fell to 6-18 and 1-13 in conference play.

“Our pitching was great today,” MSUB head coach Rob Bishop said.  “We came out and Kody (Kennedy) played a great game in the opener and Hutch (Brian Hutchings) started off well in the nightcap and Archie (Smith) finished for us for the doubleheader win.”

Junior Kody Kennedy had a dominating performance on the mound in the opener as he pitched a complete game, two-hit shutout for the win.  He fanned a game-high nine batters and walked just two while improving to 2-4 on the year.

The Jackets tallied seven hits and three runs in the game, while junior Zachary Smith led the way going 3 for 3 with a run scored.  MSUB jumped out in front 1-0 in the third as Smith singled up the middle followed by a Riley Rosvold single to the right side and freshman Dillon Ness reached on the first of two Wildcat miscues to score the run. 

MSUB added another run in the sixth as senior Jeff Ridgeway walked and then stole second and later scored on a throwing error for a 2-0 lead.  The Jackets added the third run of the game in the top of the ninth as senior Kevin Zukaitis led the inning off with a walk.  He later scored on a Blake Loran single to left center for a 3-0 lead. 

It was the Jackets' first shutout win since an 8-0 win at Central Washington Mar. 14, 2009.  It was just the 10^th nine-inning pitched game by a Yellowjacket starter in school history.  In addition, it was Kennedy's fourth complete game of his career which ties him for sixth all-time.

In the nightcap, the Jackets fell behind 1-0 in the bottom of the first as the Wildcats scored on a RBI single to left center.  MSUB took the lead in the top of the second as it evened the score on a Z. Smith RBI single to left center, followed by a Riley Rosvold infield single plating Andrew Ballinger for a 2-1 score.  The Jackets added another run in the third on a Colby Robison RBI triple to left center for a 3-1 score.

The Wildcats cut the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the frame on a bases loaded passed ball.  MSUB hurler, junior Brian Hutchings, left the game not feeling well as senior Archie Smith came into the contest in relief and fanned the next two batters to get out of the jam.

The Jackets added the insurance run in the sixth as senior Jordan Kessler got things started with an infield single, followed by Smith doubling to left center to put MSUB up 4-2.  Smith finished the game and earned his fourth win of the season as he improved to 4-1 on the year in 4.2 innings of relief.  He struck out six and allowed just two hits.

Offensively, the Jackets were led by Z. Smith again who was 2 for 3 with two RBI in the nightcap.  He was 5 for 6 with two RBI and a run scored for the doubleheader.

The Yellowjackets and Wildcats complete the four-game series tomorrow beginning at 12 p.m. Pacific time.