BILLINGS, Mont. – Northwest Nazarene University swept a Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader from Montana State Billings Friday afternoon at Dehler Park.  With the losses, the Yellowjackets fell to 14-19 overall and 5-13 in conference play, while NNU improved to 27-11 and 12-10 in league play.

In the opener, the Yellowjackets put two runners on courtesy of a come-backer up the middle by lead-off hitter, senior Chris Stine, and a walk to senior Jeff Ridgeway.  NNU center fielder, Sean McDonald made a diving catch in deep center to hold both Stine and Ridgeway at their respective bases, saving what could have been two runs.  NNU hurler, J.T. Brodrick, got out of the jam with a strikeout looking to end the threat.

NNU also put two on courtesy of walks in the top of the second, but MSUB hurler, senior Kody Kennedy, got out of the jam with a fly out to center.

Stine began the third with a nice bunt single to third and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Dillon Ness.  He advanced to third on a ball hit off of Brodrick's glove and toward the gap by senior Jordan Kessler.  Kessler made a diving move at first and almost beat the throw from NNU shortstop Cameron Louie.  Brodrick retired Ridgeway to get out of the inning unscathed.

Senior Kevin Zukaitis golfed a two run home run in the bottom of the fourth on a 1-2 count for his second round-tripper of the season and first Yellowjacket home run at home this season and a 2-0 lead.  Sophomore Colby Robison led the inning off with a walk and senior Sam Kinzeler moved him to second on a sacrifice bunt.  Stine almost had his third hit of the game as he drove a ball to center, but McDonald came up with another great diving catch to end the inning.

McDonald broke up the no-hitter by Kennedy in the top of the sixth with a one out single through the left side.  A bunt single by Ty Windall moved McDonald to second as Windall was attempted to sacrifice McDonald over to second and beat the throw to first. Derek Bettinson was plunked by Kennedy on the hand to load the bases. 

A two RBI singled through the left side by Ryan VanBeek tied the game at two moments later.  Ness made a diving save at second and flip to Robison who turned the double play to get the Jackets out of the inning tied at two.

The Jackets had a chance in the seventh as junior Zach Smith roped a double to the gap and move to third on a wild pitch by Brodrick.  The Jackets got a walk for runners at the corners, but McDonald came made up a lot of ground with a running catch in shallow left center to retire Kessler and end the threat after the Crusaders made a call to the bullpen in favor of Kalen Hruza.  Brodrick went 6.2 innings allowing five hits, two earned runs, two walks and he fanned seven.

After Kennedy walked the lead-off batter in the eighth, Bishop made a call to the bullpen in favor of junior Kyle Gieselman.  A Yellowjacket miscue and two stolen bases put runners at second and third with nobody out.  VanBeek hit a sacrifice fly to deep center scoring Windall for a 3-2 lead. 

Ridgeway belted his first triple of the season to the left field gap to begin the bottom of the eighth.  After two outs, Zukaitis brought Ridgeway home with a hot shot to short as Louie couldn't come up with it for an error and a 3-3 score.

Zach Hibbard singled to open the top of the ninth and moved to second on the second Yellowjacket miscue of the game putting two on with nobody out.  Bishop brought in senior reliever Andrew Sanchez moments later.  A sacrifice bunt off Sanchez moved the runners to second and third with one out.  Windall singled to right field scoring Hibbard as the Crusaders went in front 4-3.  Bettinson followed with a three run blast to right for a 7-3 lead. 

Ridgeway hit a RBI double with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to give the Jackets a chance at the comeback.  NNU brought in reliever Ryan Brown after Ridgeway's two-bagger.  Brown retired Robison for the save. 

The Jackets were led by Stine and Ridgeway who each had two hits, while Zukaitis was 1 for 4 with two RBI and a run scored on the home run.  Kennedy went 7.0 innings allowing five hits, three earned runs, four walks and five strikeouts. Gieselman (1-2) took the loss in one inning of work as he allowed one hit, two runs – one earned, one walk and one strikeout.

Bettinson and VanBeek each had three RBI to lead the Crusaders, while Windall and Logan Parker each had two hits.  Kalen Hruza (3-0) earned the win in relief as he went 1.1 innings allowing one hit, one unearned run, one walk and he fanned two.

In the bottom of the second of the nightcap, the Jackets had a great opportunity putting runners at second and third as Kinzeler singled up the middle and moved to second on a wild pitch followed by a walk to Zukaitis.  A passed ball moved both runners to second and third with one out.  McDonald, the NNU hurler, got a fly out and a ground out to end the threat. 

Louie began the third with a triple to left and McDonald reached as he was plunked by the senior Jake Vulk offering.  The runners each moved up on a passed ball, but on an errant throw by Vulk that went to the backstop, redshirt freshman catcher Blake Loran flipped the ball to Vulk who tagged Louie on the leg as he slid into home for the second out.  Vulk fanned Bettinson to get out of the jam after the leadoff triple.

NNU catcher, Justin Henry, hit a come-backer up the middle plating two runs for a 2-0 lead.  Bishop made a call to the bullpen for Gieselman.  McDonald then hit a sacrifice fly to right for a 3-0 lead.  Hibbard singled home a run in the top of the sixth for a 4-0 lead.  A bases loaded hit batsman and a bases loaded walk made the score 6-0.

Vulk (0-4) took the loss in the nightcap as he went 3.1 innings, surrendering five hits, three earned runs four walks and he fanned three.  McDonald (3-1) took complete game shutout win, scattering six hits with one walk and three strikeouts.

The Jackets and Crusaders are scheduled for the final doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday.