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Coach Bishop Post-Game Interview

 
Billings, Mont. – Montana State Billings baseball team took care of business Friday afternoon as they secured a spot in the inaugural Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championship Tournament. Despite falling 17-7 in game one, the Yellowjackets came back strong in game two, winning 20-8 and improving to 19-25-1 overall, 15-14 in the GNAC.
 
Game 1: MSUB  7 – CWU  17
 
The Wildcats offense was on fire the entire contest, scoring runs in seven out of nine innings. Kyle Sani headlined the event with a 5-5 performance, hitting three home runs, and recording five RBIs and four runs. He came one home run shy of tying the GNAC single game record, held by John Thomas (Central Washington vs. Lewis-Clark State; 5-1-02). Kramer Ferrell also turned in quality at bats, as he hit two home runs and finished 5-3 with four RBIs and four runs.
 
MSU Billings hitting crew played well but could not keep pace. Austin Rue extended his hitting streak to 24 games with a 2-3 outing, also registering two runs. Drew Fosnes, Brody Miller and Mack Unruh all hit home runs to help the Yellowjackets' cause.
 
Friday's contest did not fare well for pitchers; Joe Adriolo (L, 2-6) started on the mound for MSUB and allowed six earned runs while striking out four batters in 4.1 innings. Joe Arlt got the nod for Central Washington and also gave up six earned runs in 4.2 innings. Max Dickinson earned (W, 3-0) his third win of the season, holding the Jackets scoreless in 2.1 innings, while retiring four batters and only allowing two hits.
 
The Wildcats held the 7-1 advantage entering the bottom of the fifth. Back to back home runs by Miller and Fosnes brought MSU Billings within three (7-4) of Central's lead, as Rue came in off Miller's shot. Unruh then went yard two batters later bringing Colter Sterhagen in with him to complete a five run inning.
 
Central held the slight one run lead (7-6) after five innings of play. Despite having their advantage cut, the Wildcats never panicked and continued to churn out runs while the Jackets' offense wet cold. Central Washington outscored MSU Billings 10-1 between the sixth through ninth inning, and ran away with the 17-7 victory.
 
Game 2: MSUB  20 – CWU  8
 
Colby Robison took matters into his own hands, tying a GNAC single game record, recording nine RBIs. He hit two home runs, as he finished a perfect 5-5 at the plate with three runs. Robison's success ignited the offense, as Bryce Todd (3-4), Miller (3-5) and Fosnes (2-4) combined for seven runs and six RBIs.  Rue (2-3), advanced his hitting streak to 25 consecutive contests, and is now tied for third all-time in the GNAC for longest hitting streak over 20 games.
 
Sternhagen notched his third home run of the season, and also recorded three RBIs.
 
Sani followed up his morning performance with one home run, finishing 2-4 with three RBIs and two runs.
 
Tanner Watson started for the Yellowjackets and allowed four earned runs in 2.2 innings on the mound. Jacob Bohne (W, 1-0) was credited with the victory, striking out two Wildcats' batters in 2.1 innings.
 
Tyler Roberts (L, 3-5) started for the opposition and struggled in his 1.0 inning at the helm. He gave up seven earned runs and six hits.
 
The Yellowjackets offense could not be stopped, scoring runs in every inning. MSUB finished with 20 runs off 20 hits. Heading into the top of the third, the Jackets held the 8-0 lead. Central Washington cut the advantage in half, scoring four runs in the top of the inning (8-4). Todd countered in the bottom of the third for MSUB, driving in Steven DeYoung off a single to right field. The Jackets then tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the fourth, to hold a 12-4 advantage after four complete innings.
 
Central Washington could not effectively answer the powerful Yellowjacket attack in the later innings. MSUB outscored the Wildcats 8-4 in the final three innings, and cruised to the 20-8 victory.
 
MSUB and the Wildcats will resume their series Saturday, April 27 at 1:00 p.m. The doubleheader will be the final home contests of the season, and mark the 2013 Senior Day.   
 
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