BILLINGS, Mont. – Getting set for its most densely-packed road trip of the season, the Montana State University Billings baseball team is heading for St. George, Utah where it will face three nonconference opponents and play nine games over a seven-day stretch.
 
The journey begins on Monday with a three-game set against Azusa Pacific. The 'Jackets will then take on Dixie State in three games and will close the trip with three more against Minot State. All nine games will be hosted by DSU at Bruce Hurst Field, and live stats will be available for all of them at www.msubsports.com. The games against Dixie State will also feature a live video stream.
 
"We have tried to minimize our travel by playing nine games in St. George on one extended trip," said MSUB head coach Rob Bishop. "We are grateful to Dixie for hosting us for the week."
 
The Yellowjackets (1-3) got their season started last week with four road games against Colorado State-Pueblo. A key 3-run home run by Brody Miller helped keep the 'Jackets alive and earn an extra-inning victory in the series, and a rare triple play turned by Kyle Durbin and Kevin Toon landed MSUB on Sports Center with the No. 9 play on the day's Top-10.
 
Miller led the team with six RBIs on the road trip, and Luke Reinschmidt also hit his first home run of the season and drove in five runs. Bret Bitow led the team by going 6-for-14, and he had four RBIs, a double, a triple and three runs scored.
 
The 'Jackets are batting .304 as a team after their first four games, and have a slugging percentage of .406 and an on-base percentage of .382.
 
On the mound, Cody Cooper had two spotless appearances last week, earning the save in the Yellowjackets' win and allowing two hits and no runs while striking out four in 1 2/3 innings. Tanner Johnson was also outstanding in his first start as a Yellowjacket, allowing one run on two hits with two strikeouts in five innings in the series finale.
 
Lee Busto suffered two hard-luck losses, as he pitched effectively as well allowing just two earned runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings out of the bullpen.
 
"Our goal is to find out more about our team and continue to improve in every aspect of our game with the GNAC schedule approaching," Bishop said. "We are encouraged by our young guys and believe our best baseball is ahead of us."
 
Azusa Pacific University Cougars
Monday, Feb. 16 – 1 p.m. – Doubleheader
Tuesday, Feb. 17 – 11 a.m.
 
The Cougars are coming off of a 3-1 series victory over Cal State Monterey Bay, after opening their season with a 6-2 win over Cal State San Bernardino.
 
Daniel Martin has started the season red hot for the Cougars, going 10-for-18 with three home runs and 11 RBIs over his first five games. His .556 batting average, 1.111 slugging percentage and .636 on-base percentage all lead the team, and he has played perfect defense at second base with no errors in 19 chances.
 
Jordan Brower is batting .421 (8-for-19) over his first five games and has a pair of doubles, and Mitch Dergazarian has scored five runs and has played perfect defense in 18 chances in center field.
 
On the mound, four different Cougars are 1-0 on the season, and the staff has 37 strikeouts against just 20 walks so far. Mike Fairchild has had one of the strongest starts of the season for APU, allowing one earned run with three strikeouts and no walks in 4 2/3 innings. Jacob Cage also had a strong outing, striking out six and walking one while allowing two runs and earning the win in five innings.
 
Michael Shaw has the lone save of the season for APU, and has not allowed a run or a hit in two innings overall as the closer.
 
"Azusa Pacific is a terrific program that is a top-tier west region opponent," Bishop said. "They finished near the top of the PacWest last year."
 
The Series: This will be the first meeting between the two teams since MSUB reinstated baseball during the 2006 season.
 
Dixie State University Red Storm
Thursday, Feb. 19 – 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 20 – 4 p.m. – Doubleheader
 
DSU will face No. 4 Colorado Mesa in a four-game series and will then play a three-game set against Azusa Pacific before taking on the Yellowjackets next weekend.
 
The Red Storm began the 2015 season 0-4 after getting swept by visiting Cal Poly Pomona in a four-game series from Feb. 6-8 at Bruce Hurst Field.
 
Donald Glover and Austin Nelson are the two DSU players batting above .300 on the season. Glover is 5-for-13 and has the Red Storm's lone home run of the season. His slugging percentage of .615 leads the team.
 
Nelson is 4-for-11 with a double and has played error-free defense in 10 chances so far at third base.
 
Evan Parker and Bronson Anderson have each been solid out of the bullpen for DSU this season, combining to allow just one run and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. Chance Abrath had the best start for the Red Storm, allowing two runs on four hits with six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings against the Broncos.
 
"Dixie State is a regional team every year," Bishop said. "In playing them and Azusa Pacific we will get a look at where we stack up versus the very best."
 
The Series: MSUB is 3-13 all-time against the Red Storm, and all of the games have been played in St. George. DSU took last season's series 3-1, and has won eight of the last nine meetings between the teams overall.
 
Minot State University Beavers
Saturday, Feb. 21 – 1 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 22 – 11 a.m. – Doubleheader
 
The first game against the Yellowjackets will be the season opener for the Beavers. Minot State plays Dixie State at 4 p.m. on Feb. 21, interrupting its three-game series against the 'Jackets.
 
"Minot is a team that we know little about, but I do know their head coach Brock Weppler and his ability to build a competitive team," Bishop said. "All three games are going to be a great challenge."
 
The Series: MSUB is a perfect 6-0 all-time against MSU, having won three doubleheaders all at home.