BILLINGS, Mont. – Luke Reinschmidt drove in five runs and had a walkoff single in Game 1 to help the Montana State University Billings baseball team to an 11-10 win, but visiting Saint Martin's salvaged a victory with a 12-7 extra-inning triumph in Game 2 Saturday at Dehler Park.
 
The victory in Game 1 gave the Yellowjackets seven wins in-a-row, after MSUB swept SMU in a doubleheader Friday to win the first two games of the series. The 'Jackets are now 14-17 overall and are just a game behind Western Oregon in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings at 9-6. The Wolves lost 3 of 4 games at Northwest Nazarene this weekend, as MSUB cut into their lead atop the conference standings with a 3-1 weekend record.
 
The Yellowjackets hit three more home runs in the final two games, totaling nine on the weekend. Brody Miller hit his third of the weekend in Game 1, as his crucial three-run blast to dead center gave MSUB the lead in the seventh inning after trailing 8-6.
 
The Saints (13-17, 7-9 GNAC) responded in Game 2 on Saturday, hitting three home runs and scoring five in the ninth inning to put the game out of reach for the 'Jackets. Carl Svanevik had four RBIs in the final two innings of the day, and had seven overall in Saturday's doubleheader.
 
"I am really happy and proud of our team," commented MSUB head coach Rob Bishop. "We fought the whole time. When you look up late in the game against Saint Martin's, the score is always going to be close. They are not going to quit, and they were pretty good today."
 
Game 1 – MSU Billings 11, Saint Martin's 10
 
After driving in four runs on four hits, Reinschmidt delivered his biggest of the game with a walkoff base hit into left center with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth. After Miller had been intentionally walked, he came across the plate to score the winning run as the Yellowjackets erupted out of the third-base dugout and mobbed Reinschmidt.
 
Reinschmidt and leadoff hitter Myles Berkram did the majority of the damage for the 'Jackets, accounting for nine of the team's 21 hits and combining to drive in seven runs. Berkram hit his first home run of the season, clearing the fence in right field for a solo blast in the sixth inning.
 
The Saints got on the board in the first on a single by Svanevik, but a two-run double by Reinschmidt in the bottom of the frame was followed by an RBI-single by Colter Sternhagen as MSUB jumped ahead 3-1.
 
Reinschmidt shot another two-run double into right field in the second, but Svanevik matched his effort in the third as the score moved to 5-3.
 
With two outs in the fifth inning, freshman center fielder David Bellamy evened the score at 5-5 with a two-run single into center field. The Saints then moved ahead 8-5 on home runs by Chandler Tracy and Adam Eskil in the sixth.
 
Berkram sparked a rally in the seventh with an RBI-single to right center, and Miller's big three-run shot put the 'Jackets up 10-8.
 
Refusing to go away, Travis Shaw tied the game in the top of the ninth with a two-run double down the left-field line. Facing a bases-loaded situation with two outs, reliever Adam Cox buckled down and struck out Jake Huskey to keep the score at 10-10.
 
Conner Holbrook led off the ninth with a double, as the 'Jackets rallied their way to the victory on Reinschmidt's eventual game-winner.
 
The 'Jackets used six pitchers in the first game, with starter Tanner Johnson lasting 2 1/3 innings. Jake Mills tossed 2 1/3 in relief, allowing no earned runs with two strikeouts and three hits.
 
For SMU, starter Zach Carter was effective over seven innings, allowing 10 runs on 18 hits with two strikeouts and no walks. Chase DeCoito took the loss as he surrendered the game-winning run to the Yellowjackets.
 
"Cox came in and did a good job in the bases-loaded situation getting us out of there," Bishop said. "Luke and Miles both had big games for us in the first game with nine hits between them."
 
Game 2 – Saint Martin's 12, MSU Billings 7 (9 Innings)
 
Despite leading 4-1 after three innings of play, the Yellowjackets failed to complete what would have been their second-straight GNAC sweep as the Saints rallied for the late victory.
 
It took three tries for the Saints to pull away, as they took the lead in the seventh and eighth innings only to watch the Yellowjackets survive both times.
 
MSUB nearly walked off with a win in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with just one out and the score tied at 5-5. Reliever Josh Moss recorded a strikeout and then a sinking line drive was snagged by Blake Lord in left field before it could land and end the game.
 
Svanevik launched a monstrous home run well beyond the fence in right field in the eighth, a two-run shot that put his team up again 7-5.
 
The Yellowjackets responded with a leadoff double by Brody Miller, and a two-out base hit by Reinschmidt to make it 7-6. Kevin Toon lifted a fly ball deep to center field, pushing Bellamy onto the warning track. As the freshman reached up in full stride, the ball glanced barely off of his glove and Reinschmidt scored the game-tying run from first.
 
On the very next pitch, Colter Sternhagen blasted a sinking liner into center, and Bellamy made a diving, game-saving catch that prevented the 'Jackets from walking away with the win as Toon was on his way home.
 
Svanevik again had the big hit for SMU in the top of the ninth with a two-run single, and Tracy hit a deep home run to right center to put the game out of reach.
 
The 'Jackets loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame, but did not score as Dooley closed the door to earn the victory.
 
"In the second game, we didn't get it going all the way offensively," Bishop said. "We had little spurts here and there and some chances early to score runs, but once it got to extra innings, it was back and forth."
 
Cody Cooper, the reigning GNAC Pitcher of the Week got the nod in Game 2, striking out six in 5 2/3 innings while allowing four runs on eight hits. Seven relievers combined to finish the job for MSUB, with freshman Griffen Pape (0-2) taking the loss.
 
Nick Mailhot started for SMU, throwing 5 2/3 innings and striking out three against two walks with four runs on eight hits. Moss threw 1 1/3 innings of relief, and Dooley finished the game for the Saints.
 
THE BUZZ: Reinschmidt and Miller entered Saturday ranked first and second respectively in the GNAC in hits, with the former collecting eight on the day and the latter collecting a pair…Miller is currently working on a nine-game hitting streak and has a hit in 17 of his last 18 games overall…Reinschmidt drove in eight runs on the day, pushing his GNAC-leading figure to 40 on the season…the Yellowjackets lead the GNAC in home runs with 26 on the season, and Miller and Reinschmidt are tied for second-most in the conference with eight apiece…SMU's Tracy maintained his GNAC lead in home runs, with his pair on Saturday giving him 11 on the season...Reinschmidt was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day with his eight hits and eight RBIs.
 
AHEAD: The Yellowjackets are off next weekend, and are next scheduled for a nonconference game against Dickinson State on April 8 at Dehler Park. MSUB's next conference series is set for April 10-11 against Central Washington.