Box Score (Game 1)

Box Score (Game 2)

Photo Gallery

BILLINGS, Mont. – Strong pitching performances by Western Oregon propelled it to a doubleheader sweep at Montana State Billings Sunday afternoon at Dehler Park.  WOU won the opener 13-1 and the nightcap 5-1.  The Yellowjackets fell to 16-23 on the year and 7-17 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, while WOU improved to 27-11 and 17-3 in conference play.

The Wolves picked up right where they left off yesterday as they tallied two runs in the top of the first on a two-run blast off Yellowjacket hurler, junior Zach Smith.  WOU added a two out run in the second as Josh Solemsaas singled to right plating Eric Copenhagen for a 3-0 lead. 

The Jackets got on the board in the bottom of the second as freshman Dillon Ness got plunked by the Grady Wood offering and later scored on a RBI ground out by senior Sam Kinzeler for a 3-1 score.

WOU added another home run in the third as Michael Chiarelli went yard over the right field fence for two more runs and a 5-1 lead.

Redshirt freshman, Blake Loran, broke up Wood's no-hitter in the fifth with single up the middle to begin the inning.  The Jackets were unable to get anything across as a base-running mistake ended the inning.

The Wolves plated six runs with nobody out in the sixth as Chiarelli led the inning off with a double, and scored followed by a grand slam to left center from Grant Glover for an 11-1 lead.

Dillard came up big again the top of the eighth as he lined a bases-loaded double to left for two more scores and a 13-1 lead. 

Yellowjacket sophomore, Joel Barnett, saw his first action on the mound of the season as he pitched the ninth.  Barnett recorded a strikeout and two fly outs to end the inning.

Robison had two of the Yellowjackets' four hits in the game, while Ness was 1 for 3 with a run scored.  Kinzeler had the lone RBI.  Smith (3-3) took the loss in five innings as he allowed nine hits, eight runs – seven earned, two walks and six strikeouts.

Grant and Dillard combined to go 5 of 8 with two runs scored and eight RBI.  Chiarelli went 2 for 5 with two RBI and two runs scored as WOU belted 16 hits in the game.  After giving up the early run, Wood settled down on the mound and went the distance scattering four hits, one earned run, no walks and he fanned a game-high 11.

Dillard again was a Jacket killer in the nightcap as he began with a RBI double in the top of the first.  Griffin Boyd hit a two RBI single and then was caught in a run down to end the inning and increase the lead to 3-0.  A double steal with runners at the corners plated the fourth run for the Wolves in the top of the second for a 4-0 lead.  Headrick singled home a run for a 5-0 lead. 

The Jackets got on the board in the bottom of the fifth as junior Riley Rosvold and senior Chris Stine hit singles through the right side and senior Jeff Ridgeway singled home Rosvold through the right side for a 5-1 score. 

MSUB continued finding the gaps in the bottom of the sixth as Robison and Ness each singled through the right side to put runners at first and second with nobody out.  After WOU starter, Kirk Lind, retired two batters, the Wolves made a change on the mound for Ian MacDougall.  MacDougall fanned the final

batter of the inning to get out of the jam.

Stine led the way going 2 for 4 in the nightcap, while Ridgeway was 1 for 2 with the lone RBI.  Boyd went 2 for 3 with two RBI to lead the Wolves.  Dillard went 1 for 3 with a run scored and a RBI.

Lind (4-1) earned the win in 5.2 innings of work.  He allowed seven hits, one earned run, one walk and fanned six.  Junior Brian Hutchings took the loss for the Yellowjackets, falling to 4-4 on the year.  He went 6.0 innings allowing six hits, five runs – two earned, two walks and he also struck out six.  Senior Brian Howe pitched the seventh fanning one.

The Yellowjackets have next week off before concluding the home season May 6-7 versus Central Washington.  Game times are 3 p.m. on Friday, May 6, and 1 p.m. on May 7.  May 6 is MSUB Alumni Day, while May 7 is Senior Day.