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BILLINGS, Mont. – This is the team head coach Rob Bishop knew he had. The Montana State University Billings baseball team played some of their best baseball of the season Sunday as they claimed another pair of wins, 8-2 and 4-0, over Minot State University to sweep their home-opening weekend.
 
The Yellowjackets (8-10) are now in the midst of a season-best four-game winning streak as the Beavers (5-21) fall further into the depths of a seven-game skid.
 
“Our pitching and defense were outstanding this weekend,” Bishop said. “Sam Paterson and Matt Eames both had excellent performances for us today and led the way to earn this sweep.”
 
MSUB never trailed in either of Sunday's games, and eased out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning of game-one before stretching the lead further with two more runs in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings. Minot State was able to avoid the shutout in game one with a pair of runs in the top of the ninth inning, but could pull no closer.
 
In his first weekend back to action, Colby Robison continued to work hard with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate in game-one. The junior shortstop also had a run scored and another batted in to go along with two stolen bases while Austin Rue and Jordan Carlson each scored two runs. Leadoff man Ty Gilmore and Blake Nelson both recorded two RBIs in the contest.
 
Samuel Paterson had the shutout going through the first eight innings, but ended up giving up the two unearned runs in the ninth. The junior left-hander from McMinnville, Ore. fanned five batters in his time on the mound to record his first win of the season while Paul Thompson fell to 0-4 for the year after starting the first six innings.
 
Matt Eames pitched the complete second game to earn MSUB's first shutout of the season. The Skyview High School product improves to 1-1 for the year after striking out six batters and giving up just two hits.
 
Austin Zorn also went the full distance on the hill, but he relinquished four earned runs and struck out just two batters.
 
Gilmore, Justin Harcharik and Robison all recorded two hits in game-two but it was Gilmore who had the most prolific outing in the contest as he went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
 
MSUB recorded a single run in the bottom of the first and then scored their final three runs in the following inning. Four different Yellowjackets scored in the game between Gilmore, Harcharik, Blake Loran and Orrin Pyrah.
 
The 'Jackets will remain at home for another week and will jump back into their Great Northwest Athletic Conference slate with a four-game series against Central Washington University. The Yellowjackets and Wildcats will tangle first on Friday, March 30 in a 1 p.m. doubleheader before continuing their rivalry on Saturday, March 30 with another 1 p.m. doubleheader.