Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Facing off against possibly their toughest opponent so far this season, the Montana State University Billings baseball team was unable produce a win, but still played hard-nosed baseball as they fell 10-4 and 5-1 to 26^th-ranked Western Oregon University Saturday afternoon.
 
Following the pair of losses in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action, the Yellowjackets move to 11-13 and 4-8 in the league while the Wolves improve to 22-7 overall and a GNAC-best 11-1.
 
“We had a few opportunities today that we could not cash in on,” head coach Rob Bishop said following the game. “Western Oregon deserves their national ranking and is a very solid team. They pitched well today.”
 
Game 1: No. 26 WOU 10, MSUB 4
 
In the first game of Saturday's twin bill, Western Oregon struck early with three runs in the first inning off three hits and then tacked on another in both the second and third innings.
 
Despite falling behind early, the Yellowjackets worked hard on both sides of the ball, producing hits and moving base runners around while attempting to keep the Wolves at bay when out in the field, but it proved to be a daunting task.
 
MSUB did manage to finally break through and score in the fourth and fifth innings, scoring a pair of runs in both. In the fourth frame, Brody Miller doubled to left-center field to set up a two-run home run over the center field wall by Blake Nelson.
 
After shutting Western Oregon's offense down in the bottom of the inning, MSUB came back in the top of the fifth led by a single from freshman Ty Gilmore (3-5). Mack Unruh then doubled to right-center field and moved Gilmore over to third to give the Yellowjackets two runners in scoring position and that was all the encouragement Matt Comer and Colby Robison needed as the pair knocked Gilmore and Unruh in with a double and a sacrifice fly.
 
Unfortunately, the Wolves were able to shut the 'Jackets down from there and also tacked on five more runs to clinch the win in the series-opener.
 
Brady Muller (3-1) started the game for MSUB and went 4.2 innings while striking out four batters, but suffered his first loss of the season while Grady Wood (8-0) remained perfect on the mound for the nationally-ranked Wolves as he went seven innings and fanned 10 batters.
 
Game 2: No. 26 WOU 5, MSUB 1
 
Game-two's start mirrored the first game slightly, but the Wolves were only able to edge out to a 3-0 lead through the first two innings this time compared to the 5-0 through three in the first game.
 
The nationally-ranked Wolves kept the 'Jackets' bats quiet for the most part with the lone MSUB run being scored in the sixth inning. MSUB only produced four hits but Brian Hutchings and Kyle Gieselman combined to hold WOU to just six hits.
 
Hutchings (2-3) took the loss on the hill in game-two for MSUB but produced another gem of an outing for the most part as he struck out a half dozen batters.
 
Travis Bradshaw (6-1) claimed the win in four and a third innings of work before Jason Wilson came in to record his first save of the season.
 
The two squads will reconvene at Western Oregon Baseball Field tomorrow at 12 p.m. Pacific time for another GNAC doubleheader.