NAMPA, Idaho –
Kyle Durbin twice found space in left field on Friday, as he provided two game-winning, two-run doubles in the final inning of each game in a doubleheader as Montana State University Billings beat Northwest Nazarene 5-3 and 6-3 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference baseball action at Vail Baseball Field.
Durbin broke a 3-3 score in Game 1 with his first hit of the game, and then lifted MSUB from a 3-2 deficit in the seventh inning of Game 2 with another two-run shot that gave the 'Jackets the lead 4-3 in the last inning.
MSUB head coach
Rob Bishop earned his 500th career victory with the two wins Friday. Bishop entered the game with 498 victories, in a career that started at Huron University, lasted a decade at Miles Community College and is in its fifth season with the Yellowjackets. His combined record sits at 500-289-1 dating back to the 1999-2000 season.
The Yellowjackets improved to 9-16 on the season and are now just one game below .500 in the GNAC at 4-5. The Crusaders fell to 14-13, and dropped below MSUB in the conference standings now with a record of 4-6.
"Durbin came up huge in that last inning of Game 2," said Bishop. "I am so proud of how our guys kept fighting today. We have been on the short end of a few of these games so it feels good to get it done. Our pitching was great today."
Both Yellowjacket starters turned in solid efforts, and MSUB's bullpen did not allow a single run in 5 2/3 innings of work.
Game 1 – MSU Billings 5, Northwest Nazarene 3 Loading the bases while trailing 3-2,
Bret Bitow drew a walk to tie the score before Durbin pushed MSUB ahead with a two-run double to left that proved to be the deciding factor.
For the third game in-a-row and for the sixth time in their last seven games, the 'Jackets scored first with a run on an RBI-groundout by
Brody Miller in the first inning.
The senior second baseman was responsible for the next run MSUB scored seven innings later, as his fifth home run of the season brought the 'Jackets to within a run 3-2 in the eighth.
MSUB starter
Jake Campeau retired eight of the first 10 batters he faced, using four strikeouts and a double play to get through the first three innings without allowing a runner past first base.
A leadoff walk drawn by Josh Hatfield keyed NNU's first run of the game in the fourth inning, as he stole second and then scored on an RBI-double by Kaleb DeHaas that evened the score at 1-1.
After MSUB scored in the first, NNU starter Colben McGuire retired 10 straight 'Jackets before a leadoff single by
Corey Morris in the fifth. McGuire had a hand in a double play on the very next batter however, negating MSUB's threat and helping keep the score tied.
The Crusaders picked up two more runs in the sixth, as Kyle Thomson led off with a single, stole second and scored on a ground ball by Hatfield. Andrew Helmstadter followed that up with a solo blast to left center field, giving NNU a 3-1 lead heading into the final three innings.
Campeau handed the ball off to
Lee Busto with one out in the sixth, and the Yellowjackets' bullpen took care of business from there. Busto retired his two batters on ground balls, and
Lucas Blehm allowed just two hits and a walk in two scoreless innings to keep the 'Jackets in the game. After MSUB took the lead in the top of the ninth,
Adam Cox closed the door quickly by retiring the side in order and ending the game with a called third strike to snap MSUB's three-game losing skid.
Blehm (1-0) earned his first victory of the season for the 'Jackets, while the save was the second for Cox. Andrew Groves (1-4) took the loss for NNU, giving up the narrow 3-2 lead by allowing all three of MSUB's runs in the ninth.
Luke Reinschmidt and Morris each had a pair of hits for MSUB in game one, and Miller and Durbin each drove in two.
Game 2 – MSU Billings 6, Northwest Nazarene 3 Durbin again found magic in his bat in the final inning, stroking a go-ahead two-run double into the gap in left center that took MSUB from trailing 3-2 to leading 4-3.
The hit was part of a five-run seventh inning, as the 'Jackets rallied late to sweep the Crusaders in the first doubleheader of the four-game series.
Jake Mills (2-1) had an excellent start for the 'Jackets, striking out eight and walking just one while allowing three runs on seven hits in six innings. Cox again took the ball and earned his second save of the day by throwing a scoreless seventh with two strikeouts.
It was NNU that got on the board first in Game 2, thanks to a first-inning sacrifice fly by Helmstadter that plated Thomson. The Crusaders added one run in both the fifth and sixth innings, as RBIs by Tucker Campbell and Tyler Davis gave NNU a late 3-1 advantage.
The 'Jackets had trouble against NNU starter Jake Reppert, who didn't allow a runner past first base until the fourth inning. Overall Reppert struck out eight and walked three, allowing one run on eight hits in six innings of work. Nick Strange (0-1) was tagged with the loss, as he was responsible for MSUB's five seventh-inning runs.
Myles Berkram got the late rally started with an infield single, and scored on a throwing error after an ensuing infield single by Bitow. After an intentional walk issued to Miller, Durbin's big swing gave MSUB the lead. Morris plated one more with a bases-loaded walk, and Reinschmidt crossed the plate on a wild pitch to seal the victory.
THE BUZZ: Each team committed just two errors on the day…MSUB out hit NNU 22-16 in the doubleheader, as the 'Jackets notched 11 hits in each game…Durbin was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day for his two game-winning hits…MSUB has now won four games in-a-row against Northwest Nazarene dating back to last season.
UP NEXT: MSUB looks to keep the momentum rolling as the teams are scheduled to wrap up the series with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. Live stats will be available for both games Saturday at Vail Field.
