BILLINGS, Mont. – Three Western Oregon relief pitchers combined to not allow a hit over the final five innings, as the Wolves scored eight runs late and defeated host Montana State University Billings 8-3 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference series finale Sunday afternoon at Dehler Park.
 
Trailing 1-0 entering the fifth inning, WOU plated four runs and added on two in the seventh, one in the eighth and one more in the ninth to secure the victory. Houston Samuel, Shawn Domke and Jacob Storedahl threw the last five innings for WOU, allowing no runs and no hits while striking out a pair and keeping MSUB's bats quiet.
 
The win helped WOU leapfrog back into first place in the conference standings over MSUB, as the Wolves' record moved to 23-22 and 18-10 in GNAC action. The Yellowjackets fell to .500 on the season at 20-20 overall, and are now 15-9 in GNAC play.
 
"Overall we won the five-game series so we are happy about that, and we are going to go back to work this week," commented MSUB head coach Rob Bishop. "I thought we pitched well this weekend and defended well up until today's game. Offensively we were just off a click or two all weekend, and some of that has to do with them being a great team and great pitching staff."
 
After getting the first out in the fifth, MSUB starter Jake Mills walked back-to-back hitters and Marcus Hinkle plated WOU's first run of the game with a double to left. Designated hitter Adam Bloom followed with a two-run double, and came around to score the fourth run of the inning on a fielding error by the 'Jackets.
 
MSUB did well to respond right away however, as Conner Holbrook led off the bottom of the frame with a base hit up the middle and Casey Merritt followed with a single into right center. A walk issued to Myles Berkram loaded the bases, and Brody Miller settled for a sacrifice fly as his deep drive to right center was five feet short of carrying out for a grand slam.
 
Kevin Toon had a sacrifice fly in the next plate appearance, and MSUB cut the deficit to one run at 4-3
 
MSUB had taken the lead in the bottom of the third, when Holbrook hit his first home run of the season over the right field fence.
 
Entering the game in relief of starter Eric Huson, Samuel got through the fifth and pitched a scoreless sixth to keep the lead in the Wolves' paws.
 
Hinkle again kicked off a rally in the seventh inning with a one-out bunt single. With the bases loaded, a ground out by Cody Sullivan plated a run, and Bloom crossed the plate on a wild pitch to make it 6-3 Wolves.
 
With the three-run lead, WOU handed the ball off to its two best relievers as Domke and Storedahl each entered the day with earned run averages below 1.70. Domke allowed one base runner on a walk in the seventh and eighth, and Storedahl closed the door with a perfect ninth inning to seal the victory.
 
The Wolves added a run each in the eighth and ninth to provide an extra cushion for their bullpen.
 
Bloom and Hinkle were the lone Wolves to finish with multiple hits, and they drove in three runs. Cody Poznanski crossed the plate twice for WOU, which drew nine walks and struck out just twice against MSUB's pitching staff.
 
Mills pitched into the seventh inning, allowing five earned runs on five hits with a pair of strikeouts and three walks in his 6 1/3 innings of work. Lee Busto, Adam Cox and Lucas Blehm combined to finish the game, and the trio did not allow a hit despite giving up two runs and six walks.
 
Huson tossed four innings in the start for WOU, giving up three runs on four hits with four strikeouts and four walks.
 
The Wolves left 10 runners on base compared to six for MSUB, and only got the leadoff batter on base one time which came in the ninth inning.
 
Mills and Huson started the game off on a roll, as neither pitcher allowed a hit until Holbrook's home run in the third. The first hit Mills allowed came in the fourth inning, as he matched WOU's starter pitch-for-pitch early on.
 
Holbrook was the only Yellowjacket to finish the day with multiple hits, as he went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. He was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game.
 
Yellowjacket shortstop Corey Morris had six assists at shortstop, and finished the weekend with 22 assists, six putouts and no errors defensively.
 
The powerful combination of Luke Reinschmidt and Brody Miller went hitless for MSUB in the series finale, and Miller finished the five game set 0-for-13 with two RBIs.
 
NEXT UP: MSUB hosts Northwest Nazarene in its home regular season finale next weekend. The four-game GNAC tilt is scheduled for Friday and Saturday with 1 p.m. doubleheader starts both days at Dehler Park. Live video with commentary and statistics will be available for all four games.