BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings baseball team returns to Dehler Park Friday as it hosts Central Washington in a four-game, Great Northwest Athletic Conference series to close the 2011 home season.  The Jackets and the Wildcats are scheduled for a doubleheader Friday at 1 p.m., and a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m.

Friday also marks MSUB Baseball Alumni Day as all Yellowjacket baseball alumni in attendance at the game will be introduced and honored at the game, prior to the playing of the National Anthem. Each alumnus then is invited onto the field to join the current Yellowjacket baseball student-athlete who is playing in the alumnus's old position for the anthem.

Following the doubleheader at 8 p.m., Friday evening, the alumni are invited to enjoy complimentary cocktails and appetizers at The Rex, 2410 Montana Avenue in downtown Billings.  The alumni will be introduced to the current baseball coaches and other Yellowjacket Athletics staff. 

If you are a Yellowjacket baseball alumnus, we hope you can attend this fun event.  Please RSVP to Julie Seedhouse, Director, Alumni Relations at jseedhouse@msubillings.edu or 406-247-5780 with your name, position, years played, uniform number and hometown.  In addition, please include how many complimentary tickets you would like for the game, and if you and a guest plan to attend the reception at The Rex.

Saturday is Senior Day for the Yellowjackets as 11 MSUB student-athletes will be playing their final home games in a Yellowjacket uniform.  The 2011 senior class includes: Tyler Gilder; Brian Howe; Kody Kennedy; Jordan Kessler; Sam Kinzeler; Jeff Ridgeway; Andrew Sanchez; Archie Smith; Chris Stine; Jacob Vulk and Kevin Zukaitis.  All of the seniors will be introduced and honored prior to the first game.

The Yellowjackets had their bye week last week and have not played since Apr. 24.  This marks the second 10-plus day layoff for the Jackets this season.  The Jackets didn't play from Mar. 19 to Apr. 1 as the home opening series with Western Oregon was postponed, while a non-conference series with Colorado Christian was cancelled due to inclement weather.

MSUB enters the series with a 16-23 record overall and a 7-17 mark in GNAC play.  The Jackets dropped four straight their last time out against Western Oregon (Apr. 23-24) and have lost 10 of 12.  Central Washington enters with a 12-30 record overall and a 5-23 mark in the GNAC.

The Yellowjackets are led by sophomore Colby Robison who leads the team with a .333 average in 39 games.  He is the lone Yellowjacket to play and start all 39 games thus far.  Robison leads the team with 49 hits, 12 doubles, five triples and 31 RBIs.  He has two home runs on the year and 77 total bases which also leads the team.  Robison leads the team with a .524 slugging percentage is reaching base at a .388 clip.  He is a perfect 7 for 7 in stolen bases.

Second on the team in average is Ridgeway at a .320 clip.  He is tied for second in hits with 41, second in doubles with nine and leads the team with four home runs on the year.  Ridgeway is slugging .500 on the year and reaching base at a team-high .400 clip. 

As a team, the Jackets are hitting .263 on the year with 320 hits with 62 doubles, nine triples, nine home runs and 156 RBIs.  The Jackets are slugging .351 and reaching base at a .347 clip.  MSUB is 33 of 45 in stolen bases and has a .957 with 58 errors.  The 58 miscues have led to 39 unearned runs.

Conversely, the opposition is hitting .291 with 344 hits including 59 doubles, eight triples, 14 home runs and 205 RBIs.  The opponents are slugging .389 and reaching base at a .387 clip.  They have a .963 fielding percentage with 52 errors and 39 unearned runs.

On the bump, the Jackets are led by junior Brian Hutchings who is 4-4 on the year in 10 starts.  He has one complete game and leads the team with 59.1 innings pitched.  Hutchings is second in strikeouts with 44 and has a team-best 3.64 ERA.  Junior Zachary Smith is second in innings pitched with 48.1, while Kennedy is third at a 47.2 clip.  Kennedy leads the team in strikeouts with 48.  Howe leads the team with five saves on the year.  A. Smith is 4-2 with a 4.33 ERA in 11 relief appearances and the opposition is hitting a team-best .208 against him. 

As a staff, the Yellowjackets have a 5.59 ERA in 307.2 innings of work.  The Jackets have allowed 230 runs with 191 earned runs.  They have walked 148 and fanned 234.  Conversely, the opposition has a 4.04 ERA in 316.1 innings.  They have allowed 181 runs with 142 earned, walked 133 and fanned 269. 

Central Washington is led by Kelly Gau who leads the team with a .346 average.  Gau has a team-high 44 hits on the year with three doubles and 14 RBI.  Nate Wallen is second in average at .339 and leads the team with eight doubles.  Wallen is slugging a team-high .441.  David Leid and Derrick Webb lead the team with three home runs each, while Webb leads with 22 RBIs.

The Wildcats are hitting .289 on the year with 407 hits, 54 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs and 168 RBIs.  They have committed 67 errors leading to 50 unearned runs.  The opponents are hitting .307 against them with 423 hits, 71 doubles, eight triples and 15 home runs.  The opposition has committed 78 miscues leads to 51 unearned runs. 

On the mound, the Wildcats are led by Jake Millbauer who is 2-5 with a 5.68 ERA in 10 starts.  He leads the team with 63.1 innings pitched and is second in strikeouts with 24.  Kyle Long is second in innings pitched at 56.1 and leads the team with 31 strikeouts. 

As a staff, the Wildcats have a 4.99 ERA in 335.2 innings of work.  They have allowed 236 runs and 186 earned runs.  WWU has walked just 81 and fanned 174.  The opposition has a 3.71 ERA in 346.2 innings.  It has allowed 194 runs and 143 earned, while walking just 87 and striking out 244 Wildcats.

Central Washington leads the all-time series 19-15, but the Jackets won three of four earlier this season in Ellensburg.  MSUB is 6-8 all-time in Billings against the Wildcats and 9-11 on the road.