BILLINGS, Mont. – Getting set for its second conference road trip of the season, the Montana State University Billings baseball team will travel to Nampa, Idaho this weekend to take on Northwest Nazarene University in a four-game series at Vail Baseball Field.
 
The Yellowjackets (7-6, 1-3 GNAC) will face the Crusaders on Friday afternoon with a 3 p.m. doubleheader. Saturday's doubleheader will start at 1 p.m., and both days will feature a 9-inning/7-inning format. Live video and statistics for all four games will be available through MSUB's Stretch Internet portal here.
 
"We know we are going to see four great starting pitchers, and they have a really good lineup," MSUB head coach Rob Bishop commented on the Crusaders. "They are a very experienced team, but the teams that do well at the end of the year are the teams that win games on the road. Whether that happens this weekend or at some other point, it definitely needs to happen."
 
MSUB is coming off of a 1-3 start to its conference season, as Central Washington University pushed ahead of the 'Jackets in 3 of 4 games last weekend in Ellensburg, Wash. The four games were decided by a combined six runs, with the 'Jackets losing by scores of 8-6, 8-7, and 2-1, and winning Game 3 7-5. MSUB will look to bounce back against NNU, which has started the year 8-6 overall and won its first GNAC series 3-1 over Saint Martin's University.
 
"I always get to see family when we go to NNU, so it's always fun to go there," said junior left fielder Casey Merritt, who is a Twin Falls, Idaho native. "It's great to see my family and I love getting the opportunity to play in front of them."

TOON KEEPS HITTING STREAK INTACT: Leading the Yellowjackets with six hits last weekend, senior first baseman Kevin Toon had at least one hit in all four games and pushed his hitting streak to 18 games. Dating

back to last season, Toon is now tied for the ninth-longest hitting streak in GNAC history, and is second in MSUB history behind former Yellowjacket Austin Rue's string of 27 games with a hit.
 
Standing in the box with the tying runs on base in the final inning of Game 1, Toon smoked a line drive that was headed down the line in right field. CWU first baseman Randy Fuller snagged it at the last second, saving the game on a ball that likely would have scored the speedy Luke Reinschmidt from first base and tied the score.
 
Overall on the year Toon is second on the team with a .356 batting average and five of his 16 hits have been doubles. His stellar approach at the plate has led to a team-high 11 walks on the season, and he leads the squad in on-base percentage at .474.
 
STERNHAGEN STELLAR WITH THE GLOVE: Making 19 plays without an error at second base last week, senior Colter Sternhagen backed MSUB's pitching staff well defensively in each of the four games. Among his long list of plays was an over-the-shoulder grab on a dying pop-up in shallow right-center, and a tough, throw-on-the-run off of a backhanded pickup behind the bag at second base as he showed off his range.
 
"Stern was just great on defense," Bishop said. "He made two or three plays that you just don't see made at second base. On top of that, he had great at-bats offensively as well."
 
At the plate, Sternhagen had his second career game with three doubles in the series opener, and went 5-for-15 overall with a team-best four RBIs and a .533 slugging percentage.
 
WATSON SAVES THE DAY: With the Yellowjackets having just surrendered the lead the previous inning, junior Tanner Watson was called upon to pinch hit with two runners in scoring position and two outs in the top of the eighth in Game 3 of the series. The left-handed hitter looped a base hit into right center to score both runs, providing MSUB with enough of a cushion to solidify the victory.
 
Less than 45 minutes later, Watson took the mound and carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning in his best pitching appearance of the season. He struck out three and scattered four hits in 5 2/3 innings, taking the tough-luck loss in MSUB's 2-1 setback.
 
"That was a really tough assignment with two down, and he had a great at bat before hitting a two-strike slider," Bishop commented on Watson's at bat. "He found out he was starting (on the mound) in the meeting after that first game. Tanner surely deserved that opportunity, and he went out and was really good."
 
MERRITT TAKES 'CATS DEEP AGAIN: Hitting his first career home run against Central Washington last season at Dehler Park, Merritt showed off his power again last weekend as he connected for a two-run shot to the same part of the park as his drive a season ago. Leading the team in at bats with 54 as MSUB's leadoff hitter, Merritt has just five strikeouts on the year and is reaching base at a clip of .361. He has also played perfect defense in left field, with 18 catches and no errors.
 
"It was a first-pitch fastball, and I wasn't looking to do too much with it," Merritt commented on his home run. "I happened to keep my hands inside the ball, and I guess I just barreled it up well enough to get it to carry out."
 

COX STAYS HOT AT THE PLATE: In seven starts as MSUB's designated hitter this season, sophomore Adam Cox is batting .387 with two home runs and nine RBIs. His second round-tripper of the year came in Game 1 of last week's series, as he hit a two-run shot over the right-field fence in the eighth inning.
 
Cox went 4-for-12 on the weekend, and also earned his second save of the year in Game 3 by not allowing a hit and striking out two in two innings. Cox has not allowed an earned run in seven innings this season, and has given up just six baserunners for a microscopic WHIP of 0.86.
 
"Hitting is a part of the game I love, and it's been an honor to contribute both on the mound and in the box," Cox said on his dual role on the team. "It's definitely a little tough, but you just have to grind through it and do whatever you can to help the team out."
 
COOPER ANOTHER STRONG START: Junior Cody Cooper had another strong outing last weekend, pitching into the seventh inning and striking out six while walking just one. Though he exited with MSUB trailing 4-3 and could not earn his third win of the season, he pitched well enough for his team to rally to their lone victory in the series.

In three starts and 21 2/3 innings pitched, Cooper has 24 strikeouts against just three walks and the 'Jackets have won all of his games on the season.
 
DURBIN GETTING IT DONE A THIRD: Staying hot at the plate and on defense, senior third baseman Kyle Durbin went 5-for-13 last week and has gotten a hit in each of his last six games. He also made eight plays defensively at the hot corner, and has played perfect defense this season in 29 chances without an error.
 
REINSCHMIDT GRABS CAREER RBI NO. 100: Central Washington kept MSUB's best bat quiet all weekend, as senior center fielder Luke Reinschmidt went just 1-for-15 in the series against the 'Cats. Reinschmidt had one RBI, marking the 100th of his career as he became just the third Yellowjacket ever to reach the milestone.
 
Reinschmidt enters this weekend as the team's leader in RBIs (17), home runs (3), and hits (17). He also had his second assist of the season last week, cutting down a trail runner at home plate to end an inning. He has played perfect defense in 33 chances in center field so far.
 
GNAC Career Runs Batted In Leaders

Rk.	Name	School	RBIs	Years Played
1.	Greg McCarthy	Western Oregon	183	2002-05
	Jamie Nilsen	Central Washington	183	2005-08
3.	Bryce Gardinier	Western Oregon	165	2000-03
4.	Brody Miller	MSU Billings	158	2012-15
5.	Chandler Tracy	Saint Martin's	138	2012-15
6.	Sean McDonald	Northwest Nazarene	125	2009-12
7.	Matt Lowe	Northwest Nazarene	124	2000-03
8.	Adam Siler	Saint Martin's	118	2004-07
9.	Colby Robison	MSU Billings	111	2011-13
10.	Shane Schoeneberg	Saint Martin's	110	2005, 2007-09
	Kasey Bielec	Central Washington	110	2012-15
12.	Daniel Dillard	Western Oregon	102	2010-11
	Chris Sepanski	Central Washington	102	2005-06
	Travis Jones	Saint Martin's	102	2009-12
15.	Luke Reinschmidt	MSU Billings	100	2014-16

BUSTO BREAKS INTO TOP-10 IN CAREER APPEARANCES: For the second straight weekend, senior reliever Lee Busto pitched in all four games for the 'Jackets, and has pitched in 12 of 13 games so far this season. Busto has a dozen strikeouts and has given up just four hits in 9 2/3 innings, holding an ERA of 2.79 in his role as a short-middle reliever.
 
Having already set MSUB's career appearances record, Busto continued his pursuit of the GNAC's alltime mark as he now has 63 which is tied for 10th most in conference history.
 
GNAC Career Pitching Appearance Leaders
 

Rk.	Name	School	App.	Years Played
1.	Kalen Hruza	Northwest Nazarene	85	2008-11
2.	Tip Wonhoff	Saint Martin's	80	2004-07
3.	Kaleb Wilson	Saint Martin's	77	2008-12
4.	Nick Patee	Northwest Nazarene	74	2003-06
5.	Chase Decoito	Saint Martin's	71	2012-15
6.	Anthony LaDue	Saint Martin's	69	2010, 2012-14
7.	Aaron Stuvland	Northwest Nazarene	67	2002-05
8.	Ryan Brown	Northwest Nazarene	66	2009-12
	Brad Banker	Saint Martin's	66	2012-15
10.	Zach Carter	Saint Martin's	63	2012-15
	Lindsay McCargar	Western Oregon	63	1999-2002
	Josh Moss	Saint Martin's	63	2012-15
	Lee Busto	MSU Billings	63	2013-16

Northwest Nazarene University Crusaders
Friday, March 11 – 3 PM – DOUBLEHEADER (9 Inn./7 Inn.)
Saturday, March 12 – 1 PM – DOUBLEHEADER (9 Inn./7 Inn.)
Vail Baseball Field, Nampa, ID
2016 Record: 8-6, 3-1 GNAC
Head Coach: Rocke Musgraves, 3rd season
2015 GNAC Finish: 29-28, 15-17 GNAC (3rd)
 
After dropping the opening game in their home series against Saint Martin's, the Crusaders won the next three to pick up the series victory over the Saints.
 
NNU's strength lies within its pitching staff, which is headed by senior right-hander Colton Loomis. Having already thrown a no-hitter this season, Loomis possesses a 0.70 ERA with 22 strikeouts and just six walks in 25 2/3 innings pitched. He has allowed just 19 baserunners for a WHIP of 0.74, and two of his four appearances have been shutouts.
 
Jaramy Jacobs has been the Crusaders' next best starter, striking out 21 in 23 innings and holding an ERA of 4.70. In relief, Ryan Nyborg has been stellar with a 2.84 ERA and eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings over five appearances. He leads the team with three saves on the year.
 
2015 first-team all-GNAC pick Tyler Davis is off to a hot start in the power department, with five home runs, four doubles, and a dozen RBIs through his first 14 games. Andrew Helmstadter is the team's leading hitter at .333 on the year, and is reaching base at a clip of .412 with just four strikeouts in 49 plate appearances on the season.
 
Jesse Hilyard has supplied pop at the plate as well, with three home runs and nine RBIs. Ryan Johnson is batting .326 and has stolen 7 of 8 bases on the year, and Josh Hatfield is also batting north of .300 at .308.
 
The Series: In an evenly-matched series, MSUB holds a narrow 37-36 edge over NNU. The teams have split 32 games in Nampa right down the middle, each winning 16. The 'Jackets have won nine of the last 11 meetings between the teams.
 
Last Time Out: MSUB swept NNU in four games last March in Nampa, kicking off a stretch where the 'Jackets won 20 of 25 games to finish the season and claim the GNAC title. NNU has won the last two meetings between the teams, including an 8-6 triumph in the GNAC Championships that helped eliminate the 'Jackets from the conference tournament last May.