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Billings, Mont. – Austin Rue's game winning home run in the bottom of the eighth gave MSUB the proper momentum to sweep the first pair of games Friday afternoon in their GNAC series with Northwest Nazarene. The Yellowjackets battled back from six runs to defeat the Crusaders 13-11 in game one; then jumped out to an early lead in game two and successfully closed the door, winning 5-4.
 
Game 1: MSUB 13 – NNU 11
 
MSUB and Northwest Nazarene's first matchup was dominated by the offense, combining for 24 runs and 30 hits. Both teams found their offense early as nine of the runs were tallied in the first inning. The Crusaders owned a 5-4 lead entering the second; then tacked on two in the top of the inning and two in the top of the third to build their advantage to four runs (9-4), going into the bottom of the third.
 
Mack Unruh crossed home off a Bryce Todd single to cut the opposition's lead by one, bringing the score to 9-5 entering the top of the fourth. Northwest Nazarene quickly countered scoring runs in the top of fourth and fifth to extend their lead to 11-5.
 
The Jackets' offense stalled as they went scoreless until the bottom of the seventh. MSU Billings came back strong in the seventh, scoring four runs to come within two (11-9) of the Crusaders' lead. Orrin Pyrah, Todd, Rue and Brody Miller all recorded RBI's in the inning.
 
Travis Vincent replaced Lucas Blehm in the top of the eighth and shut down Northwest Nazarene's offense, only allowing one hit and leaving two on base.
 
The games turning point came in the bottom of the eighth as the Yellowjackets trailed 11-9. Unruh and Brad Birch both singled to get on base, and then advanced off a sacrifice bunt by Pyrah. Todd hit a shot to right field to drive in Unruh, cutting the score to 11-10. The Crusaders brought in Jon Matos in an attempt to neutralize MSUB's momentum, but their attempt would not hold any weight.
 
Rue caught one of Matos' pitches in the perfect spot, and sent it over the right field wall, bringing in Todd and Justin Harcharik (pinch ran for Birch), to give the Jackets the 13-11 lead. The home run shot would prove to be the game winning blast, as Vincent closed the deal for MSUB, securing the two run victory.
 
In total, the Jackets finished with 13 RBI's; Rue (2-5) recorded four of the 13 and also scored two other runs. Todd (2-5) finished with three runs batted in, while also scoring two runs of his own.
 
Brady Muller got the start for MSUB, but Vincent was awarded the win. He improves to 2-0 and finished with one strikeout in the match. Lee Busto recorded the team's other strikeout.
 
Matos and Skyler Souza had solid performances at the plate for Northwest Nazarene, combining for six hits, six RBI's and two runs.
 
Andrew Groves was credited with the loss.
 
Game 2: MSUB 5 – NNU 4
 
The Yellowjackets late offensive surge carried over into the evening contest. MSUB opened with four runs in the first as Rue, Colby Robison, Drew Fosnes and Colter Sternhagen all crossed. Northwest Nazarene kept pace as they notched three runs of their own in the top of the second, to cut the Jackets' lead to one (4-3).
 
Robison homered in the bottom of the third to give MSU Billings the 5-3 advantage heading into the fourth. This would be the last run the Jackets would score in the game as they used defense to close out contest. Samuel Paterson started on the mound for the Yellowjackets and put in 6.2 innings of work. He finished with a game high five strikeouts, facing 29 batters. His efficiency allowed for MSUB to keep the slim lead in the late innings.
 
The Crusaders would not go away quietly, as they scored a run in the top of the fifth, to come within one (5-4). Bobby Ragasa came in in the seventh and finished the bout for the Jackets. With two on base, he struck out the final batter to notch his second save of the season.
 
Paterson gets the win and improves to 2-4.
 
Northwest Nazarene out hit MSUB 7-3, Robison finished 1-2, scored two runs, notched one RBI and one home run. Unruh (1-3) recorded a double and two runs batted in.
 
“I am proud of how our guys competed today,” stated head coach Rob Bishop. “We could have very easily rolled over in the first game but our guys kept fighting. Our bullpen was solid today.”
 
The Yellowjackets(10-15-1, 6-4 GNAC) will continue their series with Northwest Nazarene (8-15, 2-8 GNAC) Saturday, March 16 at 1:00 p.m. in Dehler Park.
 
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