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Billings, Mont. – Costly errors plagued the Yellowjackets in their second day of competition with the Crusaders. MSU Billings had a total of six errors on the day as Northwest Nazarene won both contests; 4-2, 7-5. The Jackets split their series with the Crusaders 2-2 and fall to 10-17-1 overall, and 6-6 in the GNAC.
 
Game 1: MSUB 2 – NNU 4
 
MSUB struggled to convert their opportunities as they left eight runners on base, and were out hit by Northwest Nazarene 11-7. Joe Andriolo (2-4) put in a valiant effort in his 6.2 innings on the mound, throwing 109 pitches, and tallying one strikeout in 32 batters faced. Travis Vincent also saw action, and tallied a team high two strikeouts while only allowing one hit and no runs in 2.1 innings pitched.
 
Colby Robison had the best day at the plate for the Yellowjackets, finishing 2-4 with one RBI. Austin Rue (2-5) registered the team's other RBI.
 
Aaron Vaughn was a quality competitor as he pitched 7.2 innings and struck out five batters on his way to recording his third win of the season (3-3). Skylar Souza found several gaps in MSUB's defense finishing 3-4 with two runs batted in.
 
After Brody Miller scored the game's first run in the bottom of the first off a Robison single to center field; the Crusaders took the lead (2-1) in the top of the second scoring two runs, with one being unearned. Sam Cook scored on an error by Orrin Pyrah.
 
MSUB quickly countered in the bottom of the inning, as Austin Rue drove Brad Birch in off a single to right center to even the score at 2-2 entering the third inning.
 
Northwest Nazarene regained the lead (3-2), scoring one run in the top of the fourth.
 
The Yellowjackets struggled to get quality at bats for the remained of the contest, as they only registered three hits and left four on base from the third through ninth inning. Northwest Nazarene added another run in the top of the seventh, and would go on to claim the 4-2 victory. Andriolo was credited with his fourth loss of the season.
 
Game 2: MSUB 5 – NNU 7
 
Lack of conversion was the underlining tone in the afternoon contest also, as the Yellowjackets left 13 on base compared to the Crusaders five. They also outhit Northwest Nazarene 13-7, but recorded four errors in the event.
 
Birch and Justin Harcharik turned in great numbers for MSUB. Birch finished a perfect 3-3, batting in one run, and Harcharik went 3-4, scoring one run. Tanner Watson made the start for the Jackets and notched two strikeouts in 3.2 innings of work. Bobby Ragasa relieved Watson in the fourth and also recorded two strikeouts in his four innings at the helm.
 
Six different Crusaders saw time on the mound, with Fernando Robles making the start. Andrew Groves was credited with the win (1-0) and Jon Matos earned his fourth save of the season, striking out two batters in the final inning.
 
Matos was also solid at the plate, as he went 2-4, scored one run and batted another in. Left fielder, Greg Hata, finished a perfect 3-3 with two RBI's.
 
As the Crusaders led 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth, Birch brought Colter Sternhagen home with a single to left field to even the score 3-3. Robison made a costly throwing error in the top of the seventh that allowed Cook to cross to give Northwest Nazarene the 4-3 lead going into the bottom of the inning. Robison would redeem himself as he scored the game tying run to send the game into extra innings.
 
The Yellowjackets would not be able to complete their comeback attempts, giving up three unearned runs in the top of the eighth and trailed 7-4 going into the bottom half. Harcharik scored one run for MSUB in their final at bats, but Matos would have the best of the Jackets' hitters and walked away with the 7-5 win for the Crusaders.
 
Ragasa (0-2) was credited with the loss.
 
MSU Billings heads back on the road for their next conference series, as they travel to Ellensburg, Wash. to compete with Central Washington University starting Saturday, March 23 at 1:00 p.m. (Pacific Time).