BILLINGS, Mont. – Currently just one game out of first place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference baseball standings, Montana State University Billings is getting set to resume action this week after a weekend off.
 
The Yellowjackets (14-17, 9-6 GNAC) have won seven of their last eight games heading into this week's action, and are currently in second place behind Western Oregon University (16-19, 12-7 GNAC). The Wolves split a four-game series with Central Washington last week, and it will be the Wildcats who come to Billings this weekend for a four-game set against the Yellowjackets at Dehler Park Friday and Saturday.
 
The Yellowjackets will play 1 p.m. doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday against CWU, with both days featuring one 9-inning and one 7-inning game. Live video with play-by-play commentary and live statistics will be available for all four of this week's games via www.msubsports.com.
 
This will be the second series of the season for MSUB against Central Washington, after the teams split the four-game set in Ellensburg, Wash., on Feb. 28 and March 1. The Yellowjackets won Game 1 14-6 and Game 3 11-9, and fell in extra innings 4-3 in the series finale as the Wildcats salvaged a series split.

"We felt like we played pretty well over there, and they are a good team," said MSUB head coach Rob Bishop. "Every game was a fight there and I am fully expecting the same thing this weekend. It will be four competitive games from start to finish."
 
Most recently, MSUB took 3 of 4 from Saint Martin's in a GNAC tilt at Dehler Park on March 27-28. After winning the first three games of the series and extending their winning streak up to seven games, victory twice evaded the Yellowjackets by inches in the finale as SMU held on for a wild 12-7 extra-inning win.
 
Senior Brody Miller earned GNAC Player of the Week honors for his three home runs and perfect defense in the series win over Saint Martin's, and Luke Reinschmidt went 10-for-17 with two doubles, a home run and 10 RBIs in the series.
 
As a team the Yellowjackets totaled nine home runs in the four games, and scored 38 runs while batting .376. MSUB is now averaging 6.87 runs per game and continues to lead the GNAC in many major offensive categories.
 
HOLBROOK HITTING, HANDLING STAFF: Senior catcher Conner Holbrook batted 4-for-9 last week with a crucial two-run triple in Game 1 that helped push MSUB to victory. He has started 13 games behind the plate this season, and is batting .353 while striking out just six times in 57 plate appearances.
 
BERKRAM'S BAT BOOMING: After stepping into a starting role for the Yellowjackets, sophomore outfielder Myles Berkram has caught fire as of late, hitting .481 (13-for-27) over his last eight games. Berkram had his first career home run in the series against Saint Martin's, and drove in three runs while scoring four for the 'Jackets. Berkram is now batting .328 on the season while reaching base at a clip of .400.

"I have been seeing the ball really well, and the lineup we have right now has really helped me succeed," Berkram said. "I have just been really confident in my teammates and they have allowed me to become the player that I have."
 

REINSCHMIDT REMAINS RED HOT: With 10 more hits in the series against Saint Martin's, Reinschmidt maintained his team-best .389 batting average and is currently tied with Miller for second place in the GNAC in hits with 49 apiece on the season.
 
Reinschmidt drove in 10 runs for MSUB including one on a walk-off single in Game 3, to push his GNAC-leading RBI total to 38 on the season. He is now just 14 RBIs shy of the MSUB single-season record of 52 held by Colby Robison, with 16 games left on the regular-season schedule for the 'Jackets.
 
He and Miller are also tied for second in the conference with eight home runs each, and Reinschmidt is third in runs scored with 31 and in stolen bases with seven. The eight home runs tie the MSUB single-season record.
 
TOON HEATING UP: After a slow start at the plate junior Kevin Toon has turned it around offensively, as he batted 9-for-16 in the series against the Saints while driving in five runs. In the finale he hit his first home run of the season, and added two doubles while driving in four and scoring twice. The first baseman has also been outstanding with the glove this season, making just one error in 195 chances.
 
BUSTO DE-'PEN'-DABLE: Currently ranking No. 2 in all of the NCAA Division II in pitching appearances this season is junior reliever Lee Busto, who with 20 thus far is just one away from tying the MSUB 

single-season record. Busto has been stellar over his last 13 outings, holding an earned run average of 4.97 with eight strikeouts and just six walks in 12 2/3 innings. The GNAC record for single-season appearances by a pitcher is 35, held by Tip Wonhoff of Saint Martin's (2005).
 
CAMPEAU CONTROLS CENTRAL: The last time MSUB starter Jake Campeau faced Central Washington he tossed a 7-inning complete game and struck out five while walking none. He allowed just two earned runs on three hits and will look to replicate the performance when he takes the mound the second time around.

"We are all as confident as we have ever been and we all believe in each other right now," Campeau said. "We are really starting to click as a pitching staff, and on offense we are starting to do what we do."
 
ACCUMULATING ACCOLADES: Miller's claim as the GNAC Player of the Week two weeks ago was the latest tip of the cap to the Yellowjackets in a season that has been packed with honors. Miller was the fourth Yellowjacket this season to earn the GNAC's weekly honor, and after MSUB swept Northwest Nazarene in a four-game series on the road, the team was selected as the GNAC Team of the Week for March 16-22. Cody Cooper, Kyle Durbin and Reinschmidt were joined by Miller as former Players of the Week, and Reinschmidt became just the second player in GNAC history to earn National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association National Player of the Week honors when he homered four times in eight games during the Yellowjackets' trip to Dixie State.
 
MILLER CONTINUES CLIMB: With another solid weekend on the diamond, Miller continued his ascent up the GNAC alltime record books in many categories. Entering this week's games Miller is now third alltime in assists (431) and walks (99), fourth in RBIs (138), fifth in hits (230), seventh in at-bats (639), total bases (333), and doubles (41), and eighth in games started (174), home runs (20), and runs scored (122).
 

Rk.	Category	Miller	Next	Name, School	GNAC Record	Name, School
3	Assists	431	436	Tim Andra, NNU	570	Jamie Nilsen, CWU
3	Walks	99	101	Adam Siler, SMU	105	Bryce Gardinier, WOU
4	RBIs	138	165	Bryce Gardinier, WOU	183	2 Players
5	Hits	230	235	Greg McCarthy, WOU	295	Jamie Nilsen, CWU
7	At-Bats	639	682	Shane Schoeneberg, SMU	746	Joey Price, WOU
7	Total Bases	333	336	Sean McDonald, NNU	469	Jamie Nilsen, CWU
7	Doubles	41	43	Shane Schoeneberg, SMU	61	Jamie Nilsen, CWU
8	Starts	174	180	Tim Andra, NNU	201	Jamie Nilsen, CWU
8	Home Runs	20	22	Kevin McCarthy, NNU	42	Chandler Tracy, SMU
8	Runs	122	138	Shane Schoeneberg, SMU	242	Jamie Nilsen, CWU
12	Games	174	175	4 Players	215	Travis Chetock, WOU

MULLER BACK AT IT: After missing the NNU series with an injury, MSUB ace Brady Muller showed no signs of lag as he struck out the first seven Saints that he faced and ended up with 10 in a 7-inning performance in Game 1. Muller's 49 strikeouts on the season rank fourth in the GNAC, and he is within striking distance of the MSUB single-season record of 64 which he set a season ago.
 
A four-year starter for the Yellowjackets, Muller, like Miller, is moving up in the GNAC career charts in several major alltime categories. Muller is now fourth in games started (38), fifth in strikeouts (211), sixth in innings pitched (244), and seventh in wins (17).
 

Rk.	Category	Muller	Next	Name, School	GNAC Record	Name, School
4	Starts	38	39	Charles Pollock, NNU	40	Roger Evenson, NNU
5	Strikeouts	211	223	Mike Ward, WOU	269	Nick Waechter, WOU
6	Innings	244	246.1	Mike Eisenhauer, WOU	280.1	Nick Waechter, WOU
7	Wins	17	18	Aaron Vaughn, NNU	28	Nick Waechter, WOU

 

 
Friday, April 10 – 1 p.m. – Dehler Park – Doubleheader
Saturday, April 11 – 1 p.m. – Dehler Park – Doubleheader
Central Washington University Wildcats
2015 Record: 17-18
Head Coach: Desi Storey, 24th season
2014 GNAC Finish: 2nd (31-18, 17-14 GNAC, GNAC Tournament Champions)
 
After splitting the first series of the season with each team winning two games apiece, the reigning GNAC Baseball Championship Tournament winners are headed to Billings for Round 2 against the 'Jackets.
 
The Wildcats lost their first two games at home against GNAC-leading Western Oregon last week, but rallied to win both on Day 2 to salvage a split against the Wolves. CWU had 23 hits on the second day against WOU, collecting 9-4 and 6-3 victories. CWU is now in fourth place in the conference standings with a record of 8-12, and is one game under .500 at 17-18 on the season overall.
 
The 'Cats are being led by reigning first-team all-GNAC senior Kasey Bielec, who is leading the conference in batting average at .403 this season. He is also reaching base at .483, slugging at .630 and has 28 RBIs.
 
Close behind Bielec is Darren Honeysett, who is batting .395 with 12 doubles, seven home runs and 29 RBIs on the season. Honeysett's .677 slugging percentage is second-best in the conference behind SMU's Chandler Tracy (.780).
 
Also batting north of .300 for CWU this season are Benjamin Dunbar and Randy Fuller, who are at .351 and .314 respectively.
 
Jonathan Dailey leads the team with five stolen bases in five attempts, and is batting .299 with eight doubles and 21 runs scored.
 
On the mound, last year's GNAC Newcomer of the Year Cory Welch is leading the squad with a 3.90 ERA in 13 appearances including five starts. His seven saves lead the GNAC, and he has 39 strikeouts against just 14 walks in 43 2/3 innings.
 
The Wildcats have used a wide range of arms in a starting role this season, with six different pitchers having started at least five games each. CWU will be without ace and GNAC Pitcher of the Year Brandon Williams, who sustained a season-ending injury after starting five games and holding a 3.56 ERA over 30 1/3 innings.
 
Zach Johnson has been the most consistent starter for CWU, holding a 3.60 ERA over eight starts with 35 strikeouts and 18 walks in a team-high 50 innings pitched.
 
As a team the 'Cats have the second-best offense in the league behind the 'Jackets, as CWU is batting .291 with an average of 5.71 runs per game. The Wildcat pitching staff holds a team ERA of 4.86, with 250 strikeouts and just 130 walks in 275 2/3 innings pitched.
 
Last Time Out: The 'Jackets stormed to a 14-6 win in the teams' GNAC season-opener, but were shut down by Williams in a 13-4 loss in Game 2 in which he struck out 13 in seven innings without allowing an earned run. A huge 3-run home run by Trevor Nix in the eighth pushed MSUB to a come-from-behind 11-9 win in Game 3, but Bielec hit a walk-off double in the eighth inning of the finale to boost CWU, 4-3.
 
The Series: After the early-season split the Yellowjackets are now 33-34 alltime against the Wildcats dating back to April of 2006. CWU won the season series last year 5-3, by winning the final two games in Billings after the teams split the first six.