Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - The Montana State University Billings Baseball team spilt games with Central Washington University for the second straight day, 3-5 in game three and 10-3 in game four to end the series 2-2.

MSUB's late rally feel short in game three as the Yellowjackets lost 3-5.  They Yellowjackets dominated the second game and exploded for eight runs in the first inning of game four on their way to the 10-3 victory. 

GAME 3: MSUB 3 CWU 5

The Wildcats got on the score board first as they scored one run in the first inning and another four in the third inning to take a 5-0 lead.  MSUB was held scoreless until the sixth inning.  Blake Loran singled to left center field that allowed Brad Birch to advance to third base after he was walked one batter earlier.  Drew Fosnes then singled through the left side and drove in Birch for MSUB's first run of the day.

The Yellowjackets got a late rally going in the top of the eighth inning that began with a Kevin Toon single up the middle.  Two batters later, Loran was walked then Fosnes was walked as he followed Loran to load the bases.  Tanner Watson then came to the plate and he too was walked which forced Toon to advance across home plate and cut the CWU lead to 5-2. 

Connor Holbrook was up next and hit a deep pop fly to center field which allowed Loran to tag from third and score while chipping away at the deficit bringing it to 3-5 with two outs.  The next MSUB batter struck out and CWU escaped the inning with the lead intact. 

MSU-Billings could not keep the rally going as they only had one hit in the ninth inning and no runs to give CWU the 5-3 win.

Drew Christina started from the mound for MSUB going 2.0 innings allowing six hits and four runs.  Joe Andriolo came in relief for the second straight day and put in 4.0 innings of work giving up four hits and only one run while striking out one Wildcat. 

GAME FOUR: MSUB 10 CWU 3

The Yellowjackets erupted for eight runs in the first inning alone.  MSUB was able to go through their entire line up and the first four batters even had two at bats in the inning.  Bret Bitow and Brody Miller were both walked to begin the game, then Toon singled through the right side scoring Bitow from second base.  Loran grounded out to second base but Miller was able to score Miller from third.

Toon then stole third base and was able to score on the very next pitch on a passed ball to give MSUB the 3-0 advantage.

Fosnes singled through the right side and CWU was forced to make a pitching change.  Trevor Nix welcomed the new CWU pitcher to the game with a triple to center field that easily scored Fosnes.  Birch continued the Jacket hitting streak with a homerun deep over center field to extend the Jacket lead 6-0.  The shot was Birch's third homerun of the year.

CWU continued to struggle through the inning as Myles Brekram was able to reach first base on a fielding error.  Luke Reinschmidt then singled through the right side pushing Berkram to second base.  Berkram was then advanced to third on a balk from the CWU pitcher only to be advanced home on another balk.  Two batters later, Reinschmidt scored on a wild pitch and pressed the MSUB lead to an astonishing 8-0 by the end of the first half inning. 

MSUB drove in two more runs in the third inning as Toon continued his impressive performance of late as he singled to center field scoring Bitow and Reinschmidt. 

CWU was able to tack on two runs in the fourth inning and one in the fifth, but could not overcome the mammoth 8-0 first inning by MSUB as the Yellowjackets went onto the 10-3 victory to end the series tied at two games apiece. 

Brady Muller started game four for MSUB putting in 5.0 innings of work allowing just five hits and three runs while striking out three batters.  Jake Campeau closed out the final 2.0 innings giving up just one hit, no runs while striking out four Wildcats. 

"Our guys played hard today," head coach Rob Bishop said.  "I was happy with our effort. CWU pitched extremely well in game 1 and we gave ourselves a chance late. Our bats came out hot in game 2 and we were able to get a big win.  Central is a tough team and they will definitely be a factor in the GNAC again this year."

After the series, MSUB improves to 6-18 overall and 5-10 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.  CWU drops to 10-11, 5-7 GNAC. 

The Yellowjackets take their last conference road trip to Idaho in a showdown with Northwest Nazarene University next weekend.