Box Score (Game 1)

Box Score (Game 2)

Photo Gallery

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings baseball team put on a hitting display Friday afternoon in a doubleheader sweep of visiting Central Washington University at Dehler Park on Alumni Day.  The Jackets won the opener 8-5 and the nightcap 11-8.  MSUB snapped a four-game skid as it improved to 18-23 and 9-17 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  Central Washington fell to 12-32 and 5-25 in conference play.

MSUB put on a hitting display as it had one of its most productive offensive doubleheaders of the season, recording 19 runs, 30 hits and a .441 average.  The Jackets held CWU to just .233 from the plate with 13 runs and 14 hits for the Yellowjacket Baseball Alumni who were introduced prior to the game.

“I thought we did a great job at the plate today,” MSUBH head coach Rob Bishop said.  “In both games the bullpen did a great job coming in and slamming the door.  Howe (Brian) and Smith (Archie) had good outings for us which is nice to see in their final home series as seniors. 

The Yellowjackets plated four runs in the bottom of the second inning with two outs.  A costly error plated senior Kevin Zukaitis who had reached on a single and moved to third on a single from freshman Blake Loran.  Junior Trevor Wilson reached on the error for a 1-0 lead. Moments later, sophomore Austin Rue placed a nice bunt single to third scoring Loran.  Then senior Chris Stine singled two more runs home for a 4-0 lead.

CWU got on the board in the top of the third as Jimmy Ryerson doubled to right plating lead-off hitter Kelly Gau for a 4-1 score.  A wild pitch and a passed ball plated the second run of the inning for the Wildcats.  Senior Yellowjacket hurler came back with a strikeout to get out of the frame.

Zukaitis laced a RBI single to center after sophomore Colby Robison roped a double down the left field line and then stole third for a 5-2 lead.  The Wildcats again tallied two out runs as designated hitter Clifton Coulter belted a two RBI double to left center for a 5-4 score in the top of the fourth.

MSUB added to its lead in the bottom of the frame as senior Jordan Kessler singled home Rue for a 6-4 lead.  Coulton came up with a RBI pop single to second base as freshman Dillon Ness lost the ball in the sun for a 6-5 score in the sixth. 

After a meeting on the mound with Bishop and the infield, Kennedy got a big strikeout to get out of the jam and the frame.  Yellowjacket senior, Jeff Ridgeway, tripled off the left field wall scoring two runs for an 8-5 lead with two out in the bottom of the sixth. 

It was his second triple of the season and sixth of his career breaking a tie for fourth all-time with former Yellowjacket Nick Harris and Robison.  Ridgeway now is tied with former Yellowjackets Stefan Malkuch and Doug Longfellow for second all-time.  Former Yellowjacket Cole Pryor, leads the school's record book with eight triples.

Senior Brian Howe came in to pitch the ninth in relief of senior reliever Archie Smith.  Howe retired the side in order for his sixth save of the season.

The Yellowjackets were led by Zukaitis who went 3 for 5 with three singles, a run scored and a RBI.  Rue also belted three hits as he was 3 for 4 with three runs scored and a RBI.  Stine was 2 for 5 with two RBI, while Ridgeway was 1 for 5 with a triple and two RBI.  MSUB tallied 15 hits for the game.

Kennedy improved to 3-6 on the year as he went six innings allowing seven hits with five runs – four earned, two walks and he fanned seven Wildcats in 115 pitches.  Smith pitched two innings with three strikeouts, while Howe earned the save.

Central Washington opened the nightcap with three runs in the first helped out by two Yellowjacket miscues.  The Wildcats plated the three runs on just one hit for the early lead.

Two singles and a nice bunt single by Ridgeway on three first pitches loaded the bases for the Jackets in the bottom of the first.  A sacrifice fly by Robison plated Stine for a 3-1 score.  A fielder's choice and an error plated the second run of the inning, followed by Loran doubling home a run to left to even the score at three. 

CWU regained the lead in the top of the second on a pair of singles, a walk and a hit batsman for a 4-3 lead with nobody out.  Chaz Ochbina singled home two runs for a 6-3 lead off Yellowjacket reliever junior Kyle Gieselman, who entered for senior Jacob Vulk earlier in the inning.  Glen Reser singled home two more runs moments later for an 8-3 lead.

The Jackets loaded the bases in the bottom of the second with one out on three straight singles by the top of the order once again.  A come-backer up the middle by Zukaitis scored two runs for an 8-5 score.

MSUB continued to cut into the deficit as Stine singled home Loran off CWU reliever Mike Miller in the bottom of the third for an 8-6 score.  Kessler hit a sacrifice fly to center, plating pinch-runner junior Jonathon Crews for an 8-7 deficit. 

A single by Ridgeway and a Wildcat miscue followed by a hit batsman put the Yellowjackets in business in the bottom of the fourth.  A call to the bullpen followed as Blaine Holbrook relieved Miller.  After the Yellowjackets loaded the bases, the third CWU miscue plated the tying run as Loran reached on the error. Rue legged out an infield single as the Yellowjackets took the lead for the first time in the game at 9-8.  Stine then was plunked by a pitch for a 10-8 advantage.

Kessler singled up the middle with two out plating Stine for an 11-8 lead in the bottom of the sixth. 

Howe came in to pitch the seventh for a save opportunity and retired the side in order for his seventh save of the season, tying former Yellowjacket Mike Cease for the most saves in a career.  It also breaks the school record for saves in a season also held by Cease with six in 2007.

“Brian (Howe) is as competitive of a player as I have ever been around,” Bishop said.  “Regardless of what kind of stuff he has, we know he will compete and throw strikes.  I am happy for him to get into the record books and he definitely deserves it.”

MSUB again brought the lumber with 15 hits in the nightcap.  MSUB had three hits each from Stine, Kessler and Ridgeway, while Zukaitis went 1 for 4 with two runs scored and three RBI.  Gieselman (2-2) earned the win in relief going five innings allowing three hits one run, one walk and two strikeouts.  Howe pitched the seventh for the save.

“Gieselman settled down nicely after the first few hitters and pitched like we know he is capable,”  Bishop said.  “When he throws a first-pitch strike he is as effective as anyone on our staff.”

The Yellowjackets and the Wildcats will conclude the four game set tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Dehler Park with a doubleheader.  Saturday also is Senior Day as the Yellowjackets will honor 11 seniors playing their final home games prior to the first game Saturday.