BILLINGS, Mont. – Bring your glove to the ballpark, receive free admission. For fans 18 and under, that is the special offer at Dehler Park Friday through Sunday for a crucial Great Northwest Athletic Conference baseball series between visiting Western Oregon University and host Montana State University Billings.
 
Since being named the GNAC Team of the Week after sweeping Northwest Nazarene University in a four-game road series, MSUB has won 6 of 8 games to give it 10 wins in its last 12 contests overall and push it into second place in the conference standings.
 
Equally hot however has been GNAC-leading Western Oregon University, as the Wolves have won five in a row and are coming off a four-game conference sweep over Saint Martin's last weekend. WOU has won six of its last eight GNAC games overall, and holds a mark of 16-7 in conference play and 21-19 overall.

"You could look at the last three to four weeks and see that this matchup was going to be a big one," said MSUB head coach Rob Bishop. "Our job is just to win each series. It's still way too early to look at the overall standings and have it mean anything."
 

Having played four fewer GNAC games, MSUB is even with WOU in the loss column with a conference record of 12-7 and an overall mark of 17-18. The teams will meet this weekend at Dehler Park in a unique five game series, and all fans ages 18 and under who bring their glove to the game will receive free admission.
 
After the Wolves won the first three games in Monmouth, Ore., on March 13-14, Game 4 was suspended due to weather in the top of the first inning. MSUB currently has a 1-0 lead with the bases loaded and nobody out in the 7-inning contest, and the teams will open this weekend's series by picking up where they left off in that game starting at 1 p.m. on Friday. MSUB will play the first game as the visiting team.
 
The schedule then features a 9-inning game immediately following the conclusion of the suspended game on Friday. Saturday, the teams will play a doubleheader with two 7-inning games starting at 1 p.m., and Sunday the 9-inning single game series finale will begin at 11 a.m. Live video with commentary and live statistics will be available for all five games of the series here.
 
"This weekend really adds a premium to your starting pitchers doing a good job and getting deep into the game," said MSUB head coach Rob Bishop. "Our pitching staff is going to have to do a good job in order for us to be as competitive as we want to be in this series."

The Yellowjackets received big hits up and down their lineup last weekend, picking up a 3-1 series victory over Central Washington. Casey Merritt had a game-tying two-run home run that set up Conner Holbrook's walkoff hit in Game 4, Luke Reinschmidt hit a game-winning inside-the-park home run in Game 1, and Brody Miller totaled four home runs and two grand slams on the weekend.
 
Miller became the second MSUB player this season to win National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association West Region Player of the Week honors, after putting together arguably the greatest four-game performance in GNAC history. He is now eligible to win NCBWA National Player of the Week honors, a feat that Reinschmidt achieved earlier this season after hitting four home runs in an eight-game week.
 
Part of Miller's big weekend came in Game 3 when he hit a grand slam and a two-run home run while driving in six of MSUB's program record-tying 21 runs in a rout of CWU. The lopsided victory set the tone on Day 2 after the teams split the Day 1 doubleheader, and MSUB battled back to pull out the Game 4 victory 10-9 in extra innings for the series and season victory over CWU. MSUB won five of the eight games against the Wildcats this season, and three of the four seven-inning games between the two went to extra innings.
 
CASEY AT THE BAT: Entering the series against Central Washington hitting just .190 on the season, sophomore left fielder Casey Merritt broke out at the plate by going 10-for-18 with seven RBIs. Merritt also scored five runs and had at least two

hits in every game for the 'Jackets. His game-tying home run in the finale may have been the biggest swing of the bat on the weekend for the 'Jackets, as it got the game into extra innings where MSUB walked off with the win. With the big weekend Merritt raised his season batting average to .276, and the home run was the first of his two-year career.
 
FRIENDLY COMPETITION: All season long, Miller and Reinschmidt have gone back and forth leading the team and conference in almost every offensive statistical category. After Miller's big weekend and Reinschmidt's two-home run effort, the two are now either first or second in the GNAC in hits (55 apiece), runs (Reinschmidt 38, Miller 37), home runs (Miller 12, Reinschmidt 10), RBIs (46 apiece), and total bases (Miller 104, Reinschmidt 96).
 
"We always want to beat each other," Reinschmidt said with a smile. "When Brody keeps pushing me, it makes me want to work harder and have better at bats."
 
"It's a friendly competition, that's all," Miller said. "It's good that he's able to push me and I can push him, and I think the inside competition makes our team better."
 
WELL-ROUNDED REINSCHMIDT: While Miller stole headlines with his historic weekend, Reinschmidt had another strong series at the plate by going 6-for-16 with a pair of home runs and eight RBIs. Reinschmidt also crossed the plate seven times in the series, and is now just five runs scored away from setting a new MSUB single-season mark. His .387 batting average leads the team and ranks No. 3 in the GNAC. Reinschmidt also has a team-high seven stolen bases on the season, which is tied for third-most in the conference.
 
MORRIS AT SHORT: Starting all four games at shortstop, Corey Morris put together another productive week at the plate and defensively. Morris was 6-for-14 with a double and four runs scored, and was also hit by a pitch three times while reaching base nine times and striking out just once in 17 times up. With his glove, Morris made 24 plays and just one error. He also had a pair of sacrifice bunts for the 'Jackets.
 

DOUBLE EFFORT FROM STERNHAGEN: With three more doubles last weekend, junior third baseman Colter Sternhagen is now tied for second in the conference in doubles with 14 on the season. He was another productive Yellowjacket against Central Washington, going 9-for-20 at the plate with three RBIs, four runs scored and a sacrifice fly.
 
BOOST FROM BERKRAM: Complementing Merritt's 10-hit effort in the nine-spot in MSUB's lineup last week, leadoff batter Myles Berkram remained in the zone at the plate. He entered the series against CWU batting .481 over his previous eight games, and put up a line of 7-for-16 with four walks and seven runs scored to help lift MSUB over the Wildcats. Berkram also had a pair of sacrifice bunts, reaching base 11 times in 18 plate appearances for MSUB. The sophomore right fielder is now batting .349 on the season.
 
TOON SQUAD: With his second straight productive weekend, first baseman Kevin Toon went 5-for-14 and drove in a pair of runs for the 'Jackets. He also drew three walks, was hit by a pitch, and scored three times as he boosted his season average up to .291.
 
PETERSON MAKES MOST OUT OF START: Freshman catcher Landon Peterson took advantage of his Game 3 start behind the plate, going 1-for-3 and also drawing a pair of walks and getting hit by a pitch to get on base four times in the game. Peterson had a double and three RBIs, and also crossed the plate twice for the 'Jackets.
 
MILLER'S RISE CONTINUES: Among GNAC career leaders Miller made big strides after his standout week. He is now No. 2 alltime in assists (438), total bases (358), and walks (102), and No. 4 in home runs (24), RBIs (152), and hits (240).
 

 

Rk.	Category	Miller	Next	Name, School	GNAC Record	Name, School
2	Assists	438	--	--	570	Jamie Nilsen, CWU
2	Total Bases	358	--	--	469	Jamie Nilsen, CWU
2	Walks	102	--	--	105	Bryce Gardinier, WOU
4	Home Runs	24	26	Daniel Dillard, WOU	43	Chandler Tracy, SMU
4	RBIs	152	165	Bryce Gardinier, WOU	183	2 Players With
4	Hits	240	241	Sean McDonald, NNU	295	Jamie Nilsen, CWU
5	Doubles	44	51	Greg McCarthy, WOU	61	Jamie Nilsen, CWU
7	At-Bats	657	682	Shane Shoeneberg, SMU	746	Joey Price, WOU
8	Starts	178	180	Tim Andra, NNU	201	Jamie Nilsen, CWU
8	Runs	130	138	Shane Schoeneberg, SMU	242	Jamie Nilsen, CWU
9	Games	178	183	Tim Andra, NNU	215	Travis Chetock, WOU

 

MULLER ON VERGE OF STARTS RECORD: With his next start, senior left hander Brady Muller will tie the GNAC record for career starts with 40. With three more regular season series on the schedule, Muller figures to claim the title of GNAC career start king. Muller is also now No. 5 alltime in strikeouts with 218 and in innings pitched with 252, and is sixth in career wins with 18.
 
Muller battled for his most recent victory, throwing 122 pitches to get through eight strong innings against the Wildcats. Although he allowed eight runs, only half of them were earned. With his pitch count in the mid-90s through six innings, Muller took the hill in the seventh and eighth and retired the side in order both times to set himself up to receive the win.
  

Rk.	Category	Muller	Next	Name, School	GNAC Record	Name, School
3	Starts	39	--	--	40	2 Players With
5	Strikeouts	218	223	Mike Ward, WOU	269	Nick Waechter, WOU
5	Innings	252	262	Tip Wonhoff, SMU	280.1	Nick Waechter, WOU
6	Wins	18	20	2 Players With	28	Nick Waechter, WOU

 

OTHER MENTIONABLES FROM THE MOUND: Senior right hander Jake Campeau struck out five and did not walk a batter in a 5 1/3 inning start in Game 2…it was the second time this season Campeau didn't allow a free baserunner to the Wildcats, and he gave up just three earned runs on five hits in his outing…Bryon Baker made his fourth appearance of the season after battling injury, and tossed 1 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run…Lucas Blehm came on and kept the Wildcats at bay in the crucial Game 4 win, earning the victory by not allowing an earned run in 1 2/3 innings of work…junior Lee Busto made two more appearances to push his total to 22 on the season, the fourth-most across all of NCAA Division II…Busto did not allow a run or a walk in his two innings of work against CWU…Jake Mills stood out in a relief role, allowing just two total hits and striking out four without giving up a run in two innings of work.
 
Friday, April 17 – 1 p.m. – Dehler Park – 7 Inning/9 Inning DOUBLEHEADER
Saturday, April 18 – 1 p.m. – Dehler Park – 7 Inning DOUBLEHEADER
Sunday, April 19 – 11 a.m. – Dehler Park – 9 Inning SINGLE GAME
 
Western Oregon University Wolves
2015 Record: 21-19, 16-7 GNAC
Head Coach: Kellen Walker, 4th season
2014 GNAC Finish: 1st (30-21, 22-10, GNAC Championships runners-up)
 
Coming off of a big series sweep over Saint Martin's, the Wolves hold a four-game lead over MSUB in the wins column while the teams are even in losses with seven apiece in GNAC play.
 
Pitching has been the cornerstone for the Wolves this season with five pitchers having thrown at least 12 1/3 innings and holding an earned run average below 4.00. Among WOU's top three relievers, none have an ERA above 2.03 and they have combined for six saves.
 
Jacob Storedahl has struck out 12 against just seven walks in 12 1/3 innings, allowing one earned run for an ERA of 0.73 in 14 relief appearances. Brady Miller has tossed 24 1/3 innings out of the bullpen, holding a 1.11 ERA with 26 strikeouts and 10 walks. Completing the relief pitching trifecta is Shawn Domke, who leads the three with 26 2/3 innings pitched and has 22 strikeouts against nine walks and a 2.03 ERA in 14 appearances.
 
WOU has utilized four primary starting pitchers, with Jesse Pratt and Darrien Moran leading the team with nine starts apiece. Pratt has a 2.65 ERA and a 6-1 record with 58 strikeouts in 57 2/3 innings with three complete games. Moran, the reigning GNAC Pitcher of the Week, holds a 3.90 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings.
 
Western Oregon is led by a trio of .300 hitters, in Matt Taylor (.373), Cody Sullivan (.354), and Nathan Etheridge (.321). Leading the team in production at the plate is Garret Harpole, who has eight home runs and 34 RBIs while slugging .547. Etheridge and Taylor have combined for 21 doubles, while Sullivan has eight doubles, four triples, a pair of home runs and 25 RBIs.
 
The Wolves have 37 stolen bases on the season which is second-most in the conference, and the team's 4.35 ERA is also the second best mark. WOU leads the league in shutouts with four, and is second in saves with seven.
 
The Series: With the three losses earlier this season, MSUB is now 9-52 against WOU alltime. The Yellowjackets are 4-25 at home against the Wolves, and 5-24 away.
 
Last Time Out: The 'Jackets lost a marathon 11-inning bout 7-6 in Game 1, and the Wolves took care of business with victories in Game 2 (8-1) and Game 3 (14-5). The 'Jackets will look to jump ahead in the first game this weekend, with the lead already in their hands and the bases loaded with no outs in the top of the first.