NAMPA, Idaho - MSU Billings wrapped up a four-game conference series at Northwest Nazarene with a clean sweep over the Crusaders. The Yellowjackets needed a big comeback in Game 1 after being down 7-0, but rallied for a 13-7 win followed by a record-setting performance in Game 2 with a 21-6 (5 innings) victory on Saturday afternoon.
 
Montana State University Billings finished the Great Northwest Athletic Conference series against Northwest Nazarene scoring 34 runs on 36 hits on the day. The team had 11 doubles in the two games and three sacrifice flies. Across the four games the Yellowjackets recorded 55 runs on 61 hits. In the process the 'Jackets set several new MSUB records including the single-game run record with 21.
 
The St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day is Taylor Hoke. The senior shortstop was a perfect 5-5 at the plate scoring five runs, 2 RBI's, had two doubles, and made no errors on the field. With the four games this weekend, Hoke pushed her batting average to .406 and is now fourth overall in the conference. 
 
Game 1 (MSUB 13, NNU 7)
 
The game started slow for both teams. NNU left bases loaded in the first and MSUB left bases loaded in the second. In the third inning the Crusaders' offense scored three runs for the first runs of the game. Northwest Nazarene put up three runs on four hits aided by two errors from the MSUB defense.
 
Still with nothing to show on the scoreboard, MSUB's Emily Osborn led off the top of the fourth with a single into right field. Freshman Kelsey Devlin hit the Yellowjackets' second double of the game which sent Osborn to third. After loading the bases with a single from Heather Tracy, for the second straight inning the 'Jackets were unable to push any runs, again leaving the bases loaded.
 
The Crusaders added four runs in the fourth inning. Gatalina Schuster belted the first of two grand slams on the day for NNU giving her team a seven-run advantage.
 
Down 7-0, the Yellowjackets came alive in the fifth inning exploding to score seven runs on four hits to tie the game. The MSUB lineup went around once plus one as the 'Jackets used two doubles, two singles, three walks, and two fielder's choices to march across the single-inning seven runs.
 
With the game tied at seven, MSUB launched another offensive onslaught to add six more runs in the seventh inning to break the tie and grab the win. The lineup went around the circle again with the Yellowjackets slugging the team's sixth double and four additional singles for the six runs.
 
The six doubles from the Yellowjackets ties the MSUB single-game record. Hoke had two doubles, with Bella Rovens, Brittney Sanders, Devlin, and pinch hitter Myrissa Prince all belting out one.
 
Hoke went 4-4 in the game with two runs and a RBI. Devlin was 3-4 with two RBI's and a run scored.
 
In the circle for NNU, Ashley Pesek (7-21) took the loss pitching 6 and 1/3 innings allowing 11 runs on 13 hits, walking six, but fanning five.
 
For MSUB, Amanda Roark got the start tossing three innings allowing five runs on eight hits. Senior Jessica Campbell (2-2) stepped in for four innings, giving up two runs on three hits and fanning five for the win.
 
"We got started a little late on offense and gave up a few runs to them on defense," MSUB head coach Lisa Allen said. "Our bats came alive in the 5th including some clutch at bats by pinch hitters. Our offense did well in the 7th pushing more runs across as well."
 
Game 2 (MSUB 21, NNU 6 (5 innings))
 
The second game of the day and fourth of the series was a record-breaking affair for the 'Jackets. MSU Billings slugged out 21 hits, scoring 21 runs with 19 RBI's.
 
The 21 runs breaks the MSUB single-game record of 20 set by the team in 2007 against the University of Great Falls.
 
The 21 hits ties the MSUB record from that same game against UGF from 2007 and the game last Saturday, Apr. 3 against Central Washington when MSUB scored 12 runs on 21 hits to win with a Rovens' walk-off homer in the eighth inning.
 
The 19 RBI's breaks the record of 18 from the record-setting game in 2007 against the UGF Argos.
 
Every player in the MSUB starting lineup struck a hit during the game and scored at least one run. The Yellowjackets poured in five more doubles and two sacrifice flies. Eight pinch hitters entered the game for MSUB. None of the 17 MSU Billings players who entered the batter's box in the second game struck out.
 
"Our offense came out much earlier and stayed hot throughout the game including some pinch hitters," Allen said. "We gave up a few runs early, but responded well."
 
In the five innings, the 'Jackets scored at least one run per inning. MSUB started off with a seven-run first inning, adding two in the second, three in the third, a big eight-run inning in the fourth, and closed the game out with a single run in the fifth inning to end the game on the eight-run mercy rule.
 
Northwest Nazarene scored six runs on 10 hits. Pesek launched a double and the second grand slam of the day for the Crusaders. She finished 2-3 with five RBI's. Whitney Carlton hit a triple in the game and scored two runs. Abigail Watkins (0-9) tossed 3 and 1/3 innings for NNU scattering 14 hits while 12 earned runs crossed the plate for the loss.
 
"We are very pleased with the weekend," Allen commented on the team's overall performance. "Our defense continued to play strong and our offense continued to hit extremely well."
 
Designated player Cameron Cassinelli went 4-4 at the plate scoring two runs with three RBI's. Sanders was 3-3 in the second game with three runs scored and four RBI's. Cassinelli, Sanders, Devlin, Aubrey Conceicao, and pinch hitter Hali Gruntowicz each struck doubles in the game. Hoke and Sanders had sacrifice flies and Rovens a sacrifice hit in the game.
 
In the circle, Mary Grace Bywater pitched two innings for MSUB. Jessyka MacDonald (14-6) earned her fourteenth win of the season tossing three innings facing 11 batters, not allowing a hit or run and striking out four.
 
With the wins Montana State University Billings improves to 23-18 on the season and 13-7 in the GNAC. Northwest Nazarene slides to 7-33, 2-18 in the conference. MSUB is now sitting in sole possession of second-place in the league standings. With just four conference games remaining in the regular season, MSUB hosts Western Oregon Apr. 24-25 with the top-4 GNAC teams advancing to the conference tournament the following week.
 
Next up for the Yellowjackets though the team hosts a four-game nonconference series against the University of Great Falls next weekend. The first double-header is scheduled to begin Saturday, Apr. 18 at Avitus Group Stadium with the first pitch to be thrown out at 1 p.m. Live stats for all four games will be available at msubsports.com.
 
The Buzz… Along with the team records more individual marks were set by the Yellowjackets…Emily Osborn is now fourth for career at bats with 532, is fifth in career doubles with 30, and with three RBI's this weekend is now tied with the MSUB all-time leader Kelly Parsons (2208-11) at 130…With five this weekend, Aubrey Conceicao has 150 career hits and 92 RBI's sending her to ninth and tied for fifth respectively at MSUB…Taylor Hoke added 12 at bats, eight hits, and five RBI's this weekend…The shortstop is now tied with Conceicao in career RBI's and has 154 career hits tying her for seventh all-time at MSUB with Joey Ehnes (2002-05)…Brittney Sanders launched two doubles today taking her season total to seven career total to 30 tying her with Osborn for fifth overall… Jessyka MacDonald added two wins, two appearances, nine strikeouts and eight innings this weekend…The senior now has 321 strikeouts tying her for third all-time at MSUB with Amanda Todd (2011-14) and 32 career wins tying her for fourth.