BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings baseball team took care of business last week by playing some of their best baseball of the young season. The Yellowjackets (8-10, 1-5 GNAC) completed their first weekend-sweep over an opponent last weekend and that should provide them with a boost in confidence heading into this weekend's four-game series with the Wildcats of Central Washington University.
 
Last weekend, MSUB dipped out of their Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule to open their home-slate with a four-game series against Minot State University. The Yellowjackets capitalized on their first time being home and swept the Beavers by a combined score of 36-11 including a 6-5 extra-inning win in the second game of the weekend and capped by their first shutout of the season in Sunday's finale.
 
Lead-off man Ty Gilmore scored three runs for the Yellowjackets last weekend and batted in another four while Blake Nelson recorded six RBIs.
 
In his first weekend back to full action, shortstop Colby Robison was a breath of fresh air both at the plate and at his signature position. The 6-1 junior recorded six hits, scored five runs and batted in another four while also recording 21 assists, five putouts and no errors in the field.
 
On the mound, Bobbie Ragasa had the most prolific outing for the Yellowjackets last weekend as he recorded all nine outs in his three innings of work in the first game of the series. He rode the momentum to earn his third save of the year.
 
A freshman, Gilmore continues to pace the 'Jackets at the dish with a .400 batting average and is one of just two players to have started every game for head coach Rob Bishop. He leads the team with 30 total bases off of a team-best 26 hits and four doubles and is second on the team with 10 runs batted in.
 
Matt Comer and Justin Harcharik both also boast above .300 batting averages with Comer second on the squad with a .313 while Harcharik is hitting at an even .300 clip.
 
Ragasa currently leads MSUB's pitching corps with a 2.00 earned run average. While he has not recorded a decision this season in nine innings of work, the 5-9 right-hander from Milwaukie, Ore. has given up just two earned runs so far this season in five appearances.
 
Samuel Paterson is the other Yellowjacket with an ERA below 3.0 with a 2.51. The 5-9 lefty from McMinnville, Ore. is currently 1-3 for the year and has been the Yellowjackets' go-to man as he has recorded a team-most 32.1 innings of work.
 
The Wildcats are led at the plate by Kyle Sani with a .412 batting average. He leads the team with 28 hits and 17 RBIs and is tied with two others for most home runs on the season, two.
 
Five other players for the Wildcats are batting better than .300 for the season with Brady Kincannon leading the team with 19 runs scored and a team second-best 14 RBIs.
 
Kyle Long is CWU's leading pitcher as far as ERA goes with a 3.64 in six appearances, but Brandon Rohde has gone for a team-high 32.2 innings while leading the team with 34 strikeouts.
 
The two programs will play in a pair of doubleheaders this weekend with the first pitch of the weekend scheduled to be thrown out Friday at 1 p.m. The Yellowjackets and Wildcats will play a nine-inning game before going another seven both days.
 
Saturdays games will start at 1 p.m. as well and can be followed via a Live Stats link on MSUB's official athletic website, www.msubsports.com.