ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Montana State Billings baseball team split a Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader at Central Washington Saturday afternoon to conclude a four game series.  The Wildcats won the opener 8-3, but the Jackets scored nine runs in the second inning of the nightcap en route to an 11-5 win.  MSUB improved to 12-13 on the year and 5-7 in conference play.  CWU fell to 7-19 overall and 2-14 in the GNAC.

“Our bats finally came alive again,” MSUB head coach Rob Bishop said.  “It was a difficult day with a 20mph wind and it was cold.  Our guys competed well and Zach (Smith) pitched well again and our defense was solid.”

Freshman Dillon Ness led the way offensively going 5 for 10 in the doubleheader with five RBIs.  Senior Jeff Ridgeway continued his hot play this season as he went 4 for 9 with a double and a run scored along with two RBIs Saturday.

Central Washington broke open a scoreless game in the fifth with a fielder's choice RBI sacrifice bunt, followed by a two RBI single to center and a RBI double down the left field line. Junior Kyle Gieselman relieved starter Jacob Vulk and got out of the inning with a double play for a 4-0 deficit.

The Wildcats added a run in the sixth for a 5-0 lead, but the Jackets came roaring back in the seventh plating three runs to cut the deficit to 5-3.  A RBI double to right center by senior Chris Stine got things started followed by Ness' two RBI single to left center. 

The Jackets got the first two batters out in the eighth, but CWU added three important insurance runs after that with a pair of RBI singles and a RBI double for an 8-3 lead.  MSUB loaded the bases in the top of the ninth, but a game-ending double play ended the threat.

Vulk (0-3) took the loss in 4.1 innings as he allowed four hits, four earned runs, three walks and he fanned four.  CWU's Jake Millbauer (1-3) earned the win in 6.1 innings of work, while Palmer Brown picked up his first save of the year.

The Jackets loaded the bases in the first inning of the nightcap, but only came away with one run on a Ridgeway RBI single for a 1-0 lead.  CWU plated two runs in the bottom of the frame to take the lead, 2-1.

MSUB scored nine runs in the second inning for its largest single-inning output of the season.  CWU didn't do itself any favors in the inning as it committed three miscues in the frame.  A two RBI single up the middle by Ness and a two RBI triple by sophomore Colby Robison highlighted the inning.  Senior Sam Kinzeler and Stine each had RBI singles, while Ness tallied his third RBI of the inning with a RBI single through the left side as the Jackets batted around.  MSUB tallied eight hits in the inning for a 10-2 lead.

CWU scored a run in the third to cut the deficit to 10-3, but the Jackets added a run in the fifth on a Blake Loran RBI single for an 11-3 lead.

The Wildcats added two more runs in the bottom of the frame on a two RBI single through the right side.  CWU had the bases loaded with one out, but MSUB pitcher, junior Zachary Smith, got the next two batters to foul and fly out, respectively, to get out of the jam.

Smith (3-1) earned the win in 5.1 innings of work.  He allowed 12 hits, five runs – three earned, one walk and he fanned two.  Gieselman pitched the final 1.2 innings with one strikeout.  Offensively the Jackets exploded for 15 hits as six different Yellowjackets had multi-hit games.  Ness and Ridgeway each had three hits, while Ness tallied three RBI.

With the win Saturday, MSUB surpasses its win total from last year and now will return home to open the 2011 home slate Tuesday with a non-conference doubleheader against Minot State.  First-pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Dehler Park.  Tuesday begins an 18-game home stand.