BILLINGS, Mont. – With four games remaining on the 2015 Great Northwest Athletic Conference baseball schedule, Montana State University Billings sits atop the conference standings and will hit the road this week to take on Saint Martin's with an opportunity to host the conference championship tournament next weekend.
 
The Yellowjackets (23-21, 18-10 GNAC) are coming off of a 3-1 series victory over Northwest Nazarene last weekend, which was the team's fifth GNAC series win in a row. The string started on March 20 in Nampa, Idaho, when MSUB swept NNU in a four-game series and claimed GNAC Team of the Week honors.
 
Since then, MSUB has gone 16-5 in conference play to force its way into a share of first place with Western Oregon. This weekend, the Wolves host NNU in a four game series while the 'Jackets face SMU for the second time this season. Whichever team claims the regular-season title will serve as the host for the 2015 GNAC Baseball Championships, which are set to run May 7-8.
 
The Yellowjackets took the first series against the Saints 3-1, winning the first three games before dropping the last in extra innings from March 27-28 at Dehler Park in Billings. The 'Jackets outscored the Saints 38-34 in the series, and hit nine home runs as they slugged their way to victory.
 
The Saints have since been eliminated from postseason play, and will close their season by hosting MSUB this weekend. The four game series will kick off on Friday at 2 p.m. Mountain time and conclude Saturday at 1 p.m. Mountain time. Both days will feature a 9-inning/7-inning doubleheader, with live stats available for all games via www.msubsports.com.
 
"Our guys fully understand how tough a team Saint Martin's is, especially at home, and especially late in the year," said MSUB head coach Rob Bishop. "They always compete hard, and they have been pitching very well. I just expect a battle."
 
"Personally I'm going to go out and throw to contact, and allow my defense to work behind me," commented junior right-hander Tanner Johnson on his approach to facing SMU a second time. "I'm also being a good teammate when I'm not pitching, and supporting my teammates no matter what."
 
DOUBLING UP ON TRIPLE PLAYS: For the second time this season, the Yellowjackets turned a triple play and wound up on ESPN SportsCenter Top Plays. This time, the incredible play ended Game 1 of the series, coming with the bases loaded and no outs with the score at 16-8 in the bottom of the ninth inning.
 
Brody Miller snagged a line drive, and flipped to shortstop Corey Morris for the out at second who threw on to Kevin Toon at first in plenty of time to complete the incredible play.
 
The Yellowjackets' first triple play of the year came on Feb. 8 in a game against Colorado State-Pueblo, when Kyle Durbin snagged a line drive, stepped on second base and threw to Toon at first to finish the play. That triple play cracked the Top-10 plays on SportsCenter at No. 9.
 
The triple play coming last weekend made it up the charts to No. 3 on SportsCenter. "I have the easy part, all I have to do is catch the ball," commented Toon on being a part of both triple plays. "It's not something you think about before the pitch. Maybe now it is since we have done it twice, but never before have I thought a triple play is an option here."
 

TANNER AND TREVOR HONORED BY GNAC, NCBWA: After throwing a 9-inning, 3-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts, Johnson was selected as the GNAC Pitcher of the Week. Johnson used 129 pitches to baffle NNU, and enjoyed 16 runs of support from the Yellowjackets' offense in a game that tied the MSUB program record for largest margin of victory.
 
It was the second quality start in a row for Johnson, who has allowed just 19 baserunners and struck out 16 in his last 15 innings of work. It was the first 9-inning shutout of the season and first since the 2011 season when Kody Kennedy blanked Central Washington 3-0 on April 1.
 
"All of my pitches were there working well, and I also had a wonderful defense behind me," said Johnson. "There was a nice offensive cushion given to me, and everything fell into place for that outing to happen."
 
Picking up GNAC Player of the Week and National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association West Region Player of the Week honors was senior Trevor Nix, who went 7-for-11 with eight RBIs for the 'Jackets in the series against the Crusaders. In support of Johnson's gem, Nix went 5-for-6 with six RBIs and came a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.
 
Nix and Johnson gave MSUB its sixth and seventh GNAC Player of the Week honorees of the season, as Miller (twice), Cody Cooper, Durbin, and Luke Reinschmidt have each also earned the award.
 
BRODY BACK AT BAT: After slumping in MSUB's five-game series against Western Oregon, Miller went 9-for-16 with two home runs, two doubles, nine RBIs and six runs scored to get right back into a groove. The reigning GNAC Player of the Year homered in each of the first two games, and was walked three times on the weekend.
 
Miller now ranks third in GNAC career hits with 249, home runs with 26, and starts with 187.


Brody Miller GNAC Career Milestone Chase

Rk.	Category	Miller	Next	Name, School	GNAC Record	Name, School
1	Walks	110	--	--	--	--
2	Assists	468	--	--	570	Jamie Nilsen, CWU
2	Total Bases	375	--	--	469	Jamie Nilsen, CWU
3	Hits	249	276	Joey Price, WOU	295	Jamie Nilsen, CWU
T3	Home Runs	26	26	Daniel Dillard, WOU	43	Chandler Tracy, SMU
3	Starts	187	190	Greg McCarthy, WOU	201	Jamie Nilsen, CWU
4	RBIs	163	165	Bryce Gardinier, WOU	183	2 Players With
5	Doubles	46	51	Greg McCarthy, WOU	61	Jamie Nilsen, CWU
6	At-Bats	686	696	Travis Chetock, WOU	746	Joey Price, WOU
T6	Games	187	187	Joey Price, WOU	215	Travis Chetock, WOU
8	Runs	137	138	Shane Schoeneberg, SMU	242	Jamie Nilsen, CWU

 

WINNING FORMULA: Leading the GNAC in runs per game with 7.43, the key to success for MSUB all season long has been production at the plate. When the Yellowjackets score six or more runs they are 19-7, and when they score five or less they are 4-14.
 
BERKRAM OFF THE BRICKS: Maintaining his success in the leadoff spot in MSUB's lineup last weekend, sophomore right fielder Myles Berkram supplied power for the 'Jackets as well. He batted 5-for-16 with three

doubles, six RBIs and eight runs scored. Berkram drew four walks and stole a base, while slugging .500 and getting on base at a clip of .476.
 
He came up with a huge swing of the bat more than once in the series, first in Game 1 with the bases loaded. Berkram lofted a deep fly ball into left field that smashed off the bricks on the wall and missed being a grand slam by a foot. He settled for two RBIs to push MSUB out to a five-run lead.
 
In Game 2 with MSUB down by two runs in the bottom of the last inning, Berkram shot the gap in left center to even the score at 11-11. Then he crossed the plate as the winning run to give MSUB a doubleheader sweep.
 
Berkram is now batting .346 on the season and is No. 6 in the GNAC in on-base percentage at .447.
 
NO JAM TOO BIG FOR JAKE: With the 'Jackets holding on to a narrow 9-7 lead in the seventh inning of Game 1, the Crusaders put runners on second and third with nobody out. Keeping his composure, senior right-hander Jake Mills wiggled out of the jam with a strikeout, a groundout that got the lead runner at the plate, and a popout to end the inning. The 'Jackets scored seven times in the bottom of the frame, en route to the 16-8 victory. Mills allowed just one hit and no walks over his three innings of work, the most valuable relief appearance on the weekend for MSUB.
 

DURBS AT THIRD: Durbin had a big weekend at the plate for MSUB, going 4-for-10 with six runs scored, a double and his third home run of the season. He also drew a walk, was hit by a pitch, and did not strike out in 13 times to bat against the 'Saders. Making a heads up play on a ground ball, it was Durbin who threw home to cut down the lead runner and help Mills escape the jam without giving up the lead.

MORRIS AT SHORT: With another error-free weekend at shortstop, Morris made 21 more plays without an error and has had just one miscue in his last 14 games. He also hit 6-for-13 at the plate with two doubles, two RBIs, and four runs scored while getting walked twice and laying down two sacrifice bunts.
 
HOLBROOK HOMERS, HANDLES HURLERS: Catching 25 of the 32 innings for MSUB on the weekend, senior backstop Conner Holbrook went 5-for-14 with six RBIs, four runs scored and his second home run of the season. In the third game, Holbrook hit hard line drives to right field in his first three times up, all three of which would have been hits had they not been directly at NNU right fielder Tim Jones. Holbrook didn't lose confidence however, finishing with hits in each of his final two plate appearances as he kept his batting average on the season at a lofty .325.
 
MULLER TO BECOME GNAC STARTS KING: When senior Brady Muller takes the mound for the Yellowjackets this week against SMU, he will make his 41st career start to give him the most in GNAC history.
 
Brady Muller GNAC Career Milestone Chase

Rk.	Category	Muller	Next	Name, School	GNAC Record	Name, School
T1	Starts	40	--	--	40	3 Players with
4	Strikeouts	230	231	Steven Schutte, NNU	269	Nick Waechter, WOU
4	Innings	263.1	265	Roger Evenson, NNU	280.1	Nick Waechter, WOU
6	Wins	19	20	2 Players with	28	Nick Waechter, WOU

REINSCHMIDT THE RBI MACHINE: Keeping pace with Miller in virtually every offensive category, Reinschmidt went 6-for-18 at the plate with six RBIs, two doubles, a triple and three runs scored. Reinschmidt is on the verge of breaking most offensive single-season MSUB records, and is now No. 4 in GNAC history in career triples with 11. The conference record for three-baggers is 14.
 
Luke Reinschmidt MSUB Single-Season Milestone Chase

Rk.	Category	Reinschmidt	Next	Name, Year	MSUB Record	Name, Year
1	Total Bases	120	--	--	--	--
2	Home Runs	10	--	--	14	Brody Miller, 2015
2	RBI	55	--	--	57	Brody Miller, 2015
2	SLG	.646	--	--	.750	Ryan Duncan, 2008
T2	Runs	42	--	--	44	Brody Miller, 2015
T2	Hits	67	--	--	69	Brody Miller, 2013
4	At Bats	178	180	Brody Miller, 2013	187	Colby Robison, 2013
T5	Triples	4	5	3 Players with	6	Drew Fosnes, 2013

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE: With nine players selected to the 2015 GNAC academic all-conference team, the Yellowjackets led all teams in the conference and represented more than a third of the 26 players to receive the honor. Lucas Blehm, Lee Busto, Jake Campeau, Blake Loran, Holbrook, Muller, Nix, Casey Merritt, and Mills all received the honor announced Tuesday.
 
Friday, May 1 – 2 p.m. MTN – SMU Baseball Field – DOUBLEHEADER
Saturday, May 2 – 1 p.m. MTN – SMU Baseball Field – DOUBLEHEADER
Saint Martin's University Saints
2015 Record: 16-30, 8-20 GNAC
Head Coach: Ken Garland, 7th season
2014 GNAC Finish: 3rd (18-30, 14-17 GNAC)
 
The Saints lost their series with Central Washington last week, effectively eliminating them from contention for a repeat berth in the GNAC Championships.
 
SMU is being led this season by senior Chandler Tracy, who is batting .343 and whose 12 home runs are second most in the conference behind Miller's 14. Tracy has driven in 35 on the season, and his slugging percentage of .729 is the highest in the GNAC.
 
Carl Svanevik and Travis Shaw are also strong hitters for the Saints, and are batting .329 and .321, respectively. Svanevik has eight home runs and a team-high 38 RBIs with 13 doubles in 46 games. Shaw has homered three times and driven in 20, with 13 doubles and 32 runs scored for SMU.
 
On the mound, SMU has relied on Josh Moss, Zach Carter, and Nick Mailhot as its primary starters. Carter has one complete game and leads the team with 49 strikeouts in 74 innings while holding a 6.45 ERA. Moss has struck out 42 in 63 1/3 innings, while holding a 4.83 ERA.
 
Out of the bullpen, Torin Dooley has been effective in 37 2/3 innings, holding a strong ERA of 2.63 and an opponents batting average of .237.
 
As a team SMU averages 4.5 runs per game while allowing 5.82.
 
Last Time Out: The Yellowjackets took 3 of 4 from the Saints, pulling up their alltime record against the Washington opponent to 18-40. MSUB won the first three games and twice had the winning run on base in the final two innings of Game 4, but a big five-run ninth inning salvaged a victory for SMU in Billings.
 
The Series: MSUB is now 9-21 at home against SMU, and will enter this week's road trip with an alltime record of 9-19 playing in Lacey. Last season the teams split the four-game series at the SMU Baseball Field, with the Saints winning a doubleheader on March 14 and MSUB winning a doubleheader the next day.