BILLINGS, Mont. – League-leading Saint Martin's University swept a Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader at Montana State Billings Monday afternoon, 7-2 and 8-5.  The Saints won all four games in the first conference home series for the Jackets this season.  With the losses, the Yellowjackets fell to 14-17 overall and 5-11 in league play, while SMU improved to 21-14 and 17-3 in the GNAC.

SMU won all eight games in the season series this year, becoming the first team since the Saints won all six games in 2008 with two games cancelled due to snow.  It is the first time a GNAC team has won all eight games in a season series with the Jackets.  SMU improved to 27-4 all-time versus MSUB and is 13-1 all-time in Billings.  In addition, the Saints now have won 12-straight in the series.

Despite the losses, the Yellowjackets had opportunities in both of the games today and in both games yesterday, showing they are right there with the top team in the league.  Senior Jordan Kessler led the way in the double dip Monday going 4 for 7 with a run scored and a RBI.  Senior Jeff Ridgeway was 3 for 6 with a double and a run scored. 

MSUB collected 17 hits in the two games and hit .283 on 17 of 60.  The Saints were a blazing 22 of 60 from the plate for a .367 average.

In the opener, the Saints jumped out to a 4-0 lead through the first three innings. SMU tallied the first run in the second as Cody Brooks scored prior to the third out on a pick off.  In the third, the Saints got a pair of timely RBI singles as they collected four hits in the inning.

The Jackets cut the deficit in half in the seventh and eighth innings plating a single run in each frame.  MSUB had its best chance in the seventh as Kessler began the inning with a single to left.  Andrew Ballinger singled up the middle plating Kessler, who advanced to second on a balk from SMU starter Casey Mitchell.  Trevor Wilson then doubled to center, followed by a pitching change and a hit batsman to load the bases.  SMU reliever, Sean Meehan, got out of the jam retiring Dillon Ness to end the threat.

In the eighth, the Jackets scored the second run courtesy of a Saint miscue as senior Sam Kinzeler reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a throwing error by the shortstop plating Ridgeway for a 4-2 score.

Just like in yesterday's games, the Saints put the game away with a big frame.  This time it came in the ninth as they plated three runs highlighted by a two run home run from Aaron Johnson as he went 2 for 4 with a run scored and three RBI in the game.  SMU added a third run on a RBI single later for a 7-2 win.

Ridgeway and Kessler each collected two hits in the game.  Zach Smith (3-2) took the loss, while Mitchell (5-1) earned the win.  Smith went 4.1 innings allowing eight hits, four earned runs and he fanned four.  Mitchell went 6.2 innings surrendering six hits, one earned run, one walk and he fanned five. 

The Saints jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the nightcap in the first inning on a RBI single, but the lead was short lived as MSUB tied the score in the bottom of the frame on a Kessler RBI single to right center.  SMU added another run in the second off a single from Bobby Twedt.

Andrew Kachel doubled down the left field line in the bottom of the inning plating Smith and Kachel later scored on a sacrifice fly by Stine for a 3-2 lead.  The Saints tied the game in the third on a Josh Grenier RBI single to left. 

Two Yellowjacket miscues proved costly in the fifth as SMU scored three times for a 6-3 advantage.  The Jackets cut the deficit to 6-5 in the bottom of the sixth as Kachel came up big again with a RBI double down the right field line this time.  Stine singled home Austin Rue who pinch-ran for Kachel. 

The Saints added two more runs in their final at bat to go ahead 8-5 for the winning margin.

Kessler, Kachel, Smith and Stine each had two hits for the Jackets and Kachel and Stine had two RBI each to lead the team.  Grenier was 2 for 4 with two RBI and a run scored to pace the Saints.

Junior Brian Hutchings (3-3) earned the loss as he went 6.1 innings allowing nine hits, seven runs only four earned, three walks and four strikeouts.  Nate O'Bryan earned the win for the Saints going 4.0 innings allowing seven hits, three earned runs, three walks and one strikeout. 

The Yellowjackets will look to get back on the winning track as they welcome Northwest Nazarene to town, Friday and Saturday at 3 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively, at Dehler Park.