Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Billings, Mont. – Montana State Billings baseball team put together two complete team efforts as they grab the first two games in the series with Central Washington 5-2, 5-3. The Yellowjackets (12-17-1, 8-6 GNAC) neutralized the No. 1 hitting team in the conference, holding them to five total runs on the day.
 
Game 1: MSUB 5 – CWU 2
 
Brady Muller (W, 3-2) pitched one of his best games of the season, tallying six strikeouts while only allowing seven hits and two runs in nine innings. He was aided by a solid offensive output, as MSUB out hit the Wildcats 9-7. Austin Rue (2-5) and Drew Fosnes (1-4) each recorded two RBI's in the contest, while Colter Sternhagen finished 2-4 with one RBI and two runs.
 
Fosnes and Sternhagen both went yard, as each player hit one home run in the matchup.
 
Skye Adams (L, 4-1) entered the contest as the GNAC leading pitcher and competed fiercely, as he got the start for Central Washington and finished with a game high nine strikeouts in 8.1 innings of work. Ethan Sterkel (No. 2 hitter in the GNAC) was as advertised finishing 2-3 with one double.
 
The Yellowjackets took the early lead, scoring the game's first run in the top of the second with Sternhagen homering to left center. Central answered in the bottom of the third as Kramer Ferrell hit a home run to even the count at 1-1.
 
MSUB's offense went silent for five innings and the Wildcats took the 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth, with Marc Garza crossing on a fielder's choice.
 
Behind by only one run, Muller turned the pressure up, forcing the opposition to go three up, three down in the bottom of the seventh and only allowing three combined hits in the eighth and ninth, leaving two on base.
 
The hitting crew complimented Muller's efforts scoring four runs in the final two innings to steal the win from the conference leading Wildcats. Fosnes homered in the eighth, bringing Brody Miller in with him, and Rue's single up the middle in the ninth brought in Justin Harcharik and Sternhagen.
 
Game 2: MSUB 5 – CWU 3
 
The Wildcats came back strong in the second game, out hitting the Yellowjackets 11-10. Central owned an early 2-0 lead as they entered the fourth inning. MSUB cut the advantage in half (2-1) with Fosnes scoring off a Sternhagen single to left field. After Central went scoreless in the bottom of the inning, the Jackets took the 4-2 lead in the top of the fifth scoring three runs.
 
Fosnes' sacrifice fly drove in Rue and Colby Robison's home run to left center brought in Miller. In the bottom of the fifth, the Wildcats' Joe Castro singled to center field to cross Sterkel, bringing the score to 4-3 entering the sixth.
 
With the slight lead in hand, Travis Vincent closed the door on the Wildcats, only giving up one hit in the final two innings. The Yellowjackets added one run in the top of the seventh and eventually walked away with the 5-3 victory.
 
Robison was brilliant in the second contest, finishing 4-4 with two RBI's and one run. Fosnes (1-3) also notched two RBI's and scored one run.
 
Lee Busto started for the Jackets but Tanner Watson was credited with the win (1-3). Vincent earned his second save of the season. Busto recorded a team high three strikeouts.
 
Tyler Roberts (L, 1-3) started for Central and finished with seven strikeouts.
 
“Our guys played well today all around,” stated head coach Rob Bishop. “Muller, Watson and Vincent were great on the mound and we were able to get key hits when we needed them. Central is a good team so we will have our hands full again tomorrow.”
 
The Jackets and Wildcats (13-11, 7-3 GNAC) will resume their series Sunday, March 24 at 12 noon (Pacific Time). Fans can stay tuned with the live action by following the “live stats” link listed below.
 
Live Stats