NAMPA, Idaho – A Luke Reinschmidt home run and stellar pitching performances by Matt Hape and Jared Winslow helped the Montana State University Billings baseball team to a 3-2 victory in Game 2 of a Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader at Northwest Nazarene University on Friday, as the teams split two games at Vail Baseball Field.

NNU hit three home runs and scored 10 runs in the sixth inning, as the Crusaders powered their way past MSUB 12-4 in Game 1.
 
The Yellowjackets managed just 10 hits in the doubleheader, and no MSUB player had more than two hits against NNU's pitching staff. Hape started Game 2 and gave up two runs on four hits with five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings, and Winslow was perfect in 2 2/3 innings of relief.
 
Reinschmidt hit his team-leading fourth home run of the year in the third inning of Game 2, a solo blast that proved to be the game-winning run. MSUB's senior had two RBIs on the day, and reached base three times to lead MSUB offensively.
 
"We needed a big performance in Game 2, and we had several guys come through for us," said MSUB head coach Rob Bishop. "Matt and Jared were good on the mound tonight, and that was a huge win for us at this point in the season."
 
MSUB is now 8-7 on the season and 2-4 in GNAC games, while NNU is 9-7 overall and 4-2 in conference play.
 
Game 1 – Northwest Nazarene 12, MSU Billings 4
 
Yellowjacket starter Tanner Johnson and NNU starter Jaramy Jacobs took turns blanking their opponents' lineups, as neither team scored through the first five innings.
 
Landon Peterson broke up Jacobs's no-hit bid with a single in the sixth inning, and Casey Merritt brought home the first run of the game with a ground ball to make it 1-0. Reinschmidt followed with a sacrifice fly, and the 'Jackets supplied Johnson with a 2-0 advantage.
 
The floodgates opened in the bottom of the frame however, as Tyler Davis led off with a solo home run and drove in a second run in the same inning when he became the 10th batter to hit five runs later. Josh Hatfield followed with a two-run single, and Ryan Johnson put the finishing touches on the incredible rally with a three-run home run to left that made it 10-2.
 
Alec Leighton came through with a big pinch-hit, two-run double in the seventh as the 'Jackets responded, but it was the end of the offense as the Crusaders closed out the victory.
 
Jacobs had nine strikeouts and just one walk, giving up three earned runs on three hits in seven strong innings. Saige Tyndall, Tyler Marsh, and Darren Crosby combined to finish the game for NNU. Davis was 2-for-4 with four RBIs in the opening game, and first baseman Brett Nielsen had NNU's other home run in the big inning to finish with three RBIs.
 
In total, nine different Crusaders had a hit in the game, and four different players drove in multiple runs.
 
Game 2 – MSU Billings 3, Northwest Nazarene 2
 
Entering the game having lost four of its first five GNAC contests, MSUB desperately needed to pick up a victory and the team's pitching staff came through in a big way. Hape provided his best start of the year and Winslow earned his first career save with the most important pitching appearance on the mound to date for the 'Jackets this season.
 
With the 'Jackets clinging to a one-run lead, Winslow entered the game with the tying run on second base and just one out in the fifth. The freshman right-hander pitched out of the jam with a pair of fly outs, before slamming the door without allowing a baserunner the next two innings.
 
Kevin Toon led off the second inning with a double, and came around to score on an RBI single by Kyle Durbin. Corey Morris put the ball in play with two outs, and Zach Robinson came across the plate on a fielding error to give the 'Jackets a 2-0 lead against NNU starter Colton Loomis.
 
Johnson almost single handedly created NNU's run in the bottom of the second inning, as he singled, stole second, and moved to third on a wild pitch. That created the opportunity for Tim Jones to plate his teammate with a fly ball to right field, and the 'Saders got onto the scoreboard against Hape.
 
Colton McCluskey answered Reinschmidt's home run with one of his own in the bottom of the third, as he brought his team back within a single run.
 
The 'Jackets threatened again in the fifth inning, putting runners on second and third with no outs after a double by Myles Berkram. Loomis struck out the next two batters, and catcher Andrew Helmstadter ended the inning by picking off Toon at first base after a pitch to Adam Cox.
 
Loomis allowed just one baserunner in the final two innings, and suffered the tough loss in a complete-game, 11-strikeout performance.
 
Helmstadter and Durbin were the only players to collect multiple hits in the game, as MSUB out-hit NNU 5-4 in the nightcap.
 
THE BUZZ: Winslow was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day for the 'Jackets…the home run by Davis was the first one Johnson has allowed in his career…Toon snapped an 18-game hitting streak when he went 0-for-4 in Game 1…MSUB was outstanding defensively, not making an error in either game…Merritt and Reinschmidt each had a stolen base in the first game.
 
NEXT UP: The series concludes on Saturday with another 9-inning/7-inning doubleheader at Vail Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m., with live video and statistics available through MSUB's Stretch Internet portal here.