Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Billings, Mont. – Austin Rue extends his hitting streak to 23 games as the Montana State Billings baseball team out score Northwest Nazarene 24-2 to split the series. The Yellowjackets improve to 18-24-1 overall, 14-13 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference; and take a tighter grip on the final spot in the inaugural GNAC Championship Tournament.
 
Game 1: MSUB  8 – NNU  2
 
Despite outing Northwest Nazarene 20-9, the Jackets went scoreless for five complete innings as the Crusaders held the 2-0 lead entering the sixth inning. Brady Muller's effectiveness kept MSUB within striking distance, as he recorded a game high six strikeouts and only allowed two runs in 8.0 innings on the mound.
 
The Yellowjackets hitters turned in quality at bats the entire contest as Drew Fosnes (3-5), Colby Robison (3-5), Austin Rue (3-5) and Orrin Pyrah (3-5) all had three hits in the event. Fosnes and Rue both recorded two RBIs and one run also.
 
Steven DeYoung, Justin Harcharik, Fosnes and Colter Sternhagen tallied extra bases; with Harcharik hitting his first home run of the season, Fosnes hitting a triple, and DeYoung and Sternhagen hitting doubles.
 
The GNAC leading hitter, Logan Parker finished 2-5 with one RBI. Jeremy Burk started for Northwest and gave up 10 hits and two runs in 5.0 innings. Ryan Kuhn was credited with the loss.
 
Muller picked up his fifth win of the season and improves to 5-3.
 
Trailing 0-2 entering the sixth inning, MSU Billings took the lead scoring three runs in the top of the inning. DeYoung's single to right center brought in Sternhagen, Mack Unruh crossed off a Rue single, and Pyrah scored of a Bryce Todd sacrifice fly.
 
Holding the 3-2 lead entering the top of the eighth, the Yellowjackets added four more runs, taking the 7-2 advantage after eight innings of play.
 
The Crusaders had no answer for Muller as he kept them scoreless from the third through eighth inning. MSUB tacked on one run for good measure in the top of the ninth and Travis Vincent sealed the win for the Yellowjackets, as he struck out one batter and forced two pop ups.
 
 
Game 2: MSUB  16 – NNU  0
 
MSUB's late success from the first contest carried over into game two, and the Yellowjackets exploded for 17 hits and 16 runs. Samuel Paterson was magnificent on the mound, pitching the complete seven innings, and only gave up three hits while shutting out Northwest Nazarene. He also neutralized Parker, forcing him to a 0-3 hitting performance.
 
Robison was in the zone, going 4-5 with three RBIs and two runs. Sternhagen also had a great day at the plate, finishing 2-3 with four RBIs and four runs. Harcharik, Brody Miller, Robison and Sternhagen recorded extra bases. Miller and Sternhagen hit home runs, and Harcharik and Robison hit doubles.
 
The Crusaders' hurlers were abused by the Yellowjackets hitting crew. Tyler Marsh started for the opposition and was credited with the loss. He falls to 2-2 on the season as he gave up six hits and five runs in 2.2 innings.
 
Paterson improves to 5-5 in 2013, and drops his ERA from 5.36 to 4.67 with today's outing.
 
After two scoreless innings, the Yellowjackets added 10 runs in the third and fourth innings, to hold a 10-0 lead after four innings of play. Now ahead by double figures, MSUB would not fall prey to Friday's mistakes. The Jackets offense comfortably remained in rhythm behind the effectiveness of Paterson's arm. MSUB added six more runs and easily walked away with the 16-0 shutout victory.
 
“Our guys played hard today; we were exceptional at the plate all weekend and Sam and Brady were terrific on the mound today,” stated head coach Rob Bishop. “We still control our destiny for the post season, and will work to prepare for Central Washington.”
 
The Yellowjackets have a full slate next week; first squaring off with Dickinson State in a Tuesday, April 23 double-header, and then battling Central Washington University in a four game series Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27.