BILLINGS, Mont. – With four games remaining on the 2016 Montana State University Billings baseball schedule, the Yellowjackets are alive and well in the hunt not only for a Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships berth, but also to defend last year's regular-season title and repeat as hosts in 2016.
 
The Yellowjackets host Saint Martin's University this week, with 9-inning/7-inning doubleheaders scheduled for 1 p.m. on Thursday and Friday at Dehler Park. Friday will be Senior Day, as MSUB's 10 graduating seniors will be honored in a ceremony in between games at approximately 4 p.m.
 
Tickets for this weekend's games are $5 for the general public, $3 for seniors (65-plus), students in grades 7-12, and MSUB faculty and staff, and admission is free for MSUB students, and children in sixth grade or younger.
 
Entering the final weekend of play, MSUB is tied for third place in the GNAC standings at 25-18 overall and 19-15 in conference play. Central Washington leads the field at 26-20 overall and 22-14 in league play, Western Oregon is second at 26-20 and 21-15 in GNAC play, and Northwest Nazarene is 24-20 overall and tied with MSUB at 19-15 in conference games.
 
MSUB can guarantee a berth in the GNAC Championships, hosted by the regular-season champion, by winning 3 of 4 games against the Saints this weekend. The Yellowjackets would win the regular-season title and hosting rights by virtue of a four-game sweep of Saint Martin's, a series split or 3-1 win for Western Oregon against Central Washington, and Northwest Nazarene winning no more than three games against Concordia.
 
"We just really need to focus on Game 1 against Saint Martin's, and we are just going to try to stay focused on what we need to do," said MSUB head coach Rob Bishop on the various playoff scenarios over the final week of conference play. "There's nothing we can do to control what the other three teams who are competing for those spots do, so we just need to go out and continue to play good baseball."
 
The Yellowjackets have won seven of their last eight games and are coming off of a grueling, nine-game road trip to Oregon during which the team went 7-2 and solidified itself in the thick of the GNAC race.


COX HONORED AGAIN AFTER DOMINANCE ON MOUND, AT PLATE: Sophomore Adam Cox won his second GNAC Player of the Week honor by batting .474 with a home run, two doubles, six runs scored, and six RBIs, and two saves, a win, and six strikeouts in five innings on the mound to help the 'Jackets beat WOU in 4 of 5 games in Monmouth, Ore.
 
Cox broke the MSUB career saves record as he pushed his two-year total to nine, and achieved his heroics against the Wolves after having pitched 3 1/3 innings in relief in a big win over Concordia the previous Sunday. Cox is now batting .333 on the season with six home runs, 11 doubles, and 27 runs scored. He is third in the GNAC in RBIs with 34, fourth in slugging percentage at .569, fifth in on-base percentage at .417, and is tied for third in home runs.
 
On the mound, Cox holds a 3.51 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings pitched in relief. He is 5-1 in 15 appearances, and ranks third in the GNAC with five saves. His opponents' batting average of .209 ranks second in the conference as well.
 
COOPER MSUB'S Ks KING: Cody Cooper broke the MSUB single-season strikeouts record with 11 in his last start, and his total of 89 this season leads the GNAC and ranks No. 6 in the conference's single-season history. Cooper ended the first five of six innings against the Wolves with swinging strikeouts, and it was his fourth 10-strikeout game of the season and fifth overall of his career.
 
Cooper continues to lead the GNAC in innings pitched with 82 2/3, and ranks fourth in earned run average at 2.83. Cooper also broke into the top-20 in GNAC career history in strikeouts, as he is now tied for 19th with 147 in his two seasons with the 'Jackets.



GNAC Single-Season Strikeouts Leaders

Rk.	Name	School	Ks	Season
1.	Roger Evenson	NNU	116	2005
2.	Nick Waechter	WOU	102	2005
3.	Gordon Chubb	CWU	99	2005
4.	Blake Keitzman	WOU	92	2009
5.	AJ Burke	WOU	91	2013
6.	Grady Wood	WOU	89	2012
	Brandon Williams	CWU	89	2014
	Cody Cooper	MSUB	89	2016
9.	Tyler Levin	CWU	88	2008
	Spenser Watkins	WOU	88	2013

GNAC Career Strikeouts Leaders

Rk.	Name	School	Ks	Seasons
1.	Nick Waechter	WOU	269	2004-06
2.	Roger Evenson	NNU	246	2003-05
3.	Brady Muller	MSUB	232	2012-15
4.	Steven Schutte	NNU	231	2002-04
5.	Mike Ward	WOU	223	2007-11
6.	Mike Eisenhauer	WOU	185	2007-09
7.	Kirk Lind	WOU	179	2009-12
8.	Neil Elder	NNU	175	2000-03
9.	Spenser Watkins	WOU	171	2013-14
10.	Josh Moss	SMU	169	2012-15
11.	Blake Keitzman	WOU	168	2009-10
12.	Aaron Vaughn	NNU	166	2011-14
	Grady Wood	WOU	166	2011-12
	Zeb Sneed	NNU	166	2010-12
15.	Charles Pollock	NNU	165	2009-12
16.	Tyler Levin	CWU	155	2007-08
17.	Alex VanOeveren	NNU	153	2005-08
18.	Zach Carter	SMU	148	2012-15
19.	Joe Silva	SMU	147	2001-04
	Cody Cooper	MSUB	147	2014-16

 
DURBIN REACHES 100 HIT MILESTONE: Kyle Durbin capped off a 5-for-16 series with his 100th career hit on Sunday, as he continues to lead MSUB with a .364 batting average in his senior campaign. Durbin is now fourth in the GNAC in hitting and second in on-base percentage at .463. Durbin is just the ninth player in MSUB modern day history to reach 100 career hits, a feat he achieved in just two years with the 'Jackets.
 
MSUB Career Hits Leaders

Rk.	Name	Hits	Year
1.	Brody Miller	249	2012-15
2.	Matt Schoonover	213	2007-10
3.	Luke Reinschmidt	181	2014-16
4.	Colby Robison	168	2011-13
5.	Jeff Ridgeway	131	2008-11
6.	Kevin Toon	128	2014-16
7.	Colter Sternhagen	123	2013-16
8.	Austin Rue	105	2011-13
9.	Kyle Durbin	100	2015-16
10.	Jordan Kessler	94	2010-11

 
REINSCHMIDT RUNNING UP CAREER CHARTS: Senior Luke Reinschmidt had six hits in the series against the Wolves, and added two RBIs to keep his top spot in the conference with 38 on the season. Three of Reinschmidt's hits went for doubles, and he also had an assist from center field to give him four on the season. He ranks fourth on the team with a .321 batting average, and leads the squad with 12 doubles, three triples, and seven home runs.

With 39 runs scored this season, Reinschmidt now has 118 in his career which is the 11th most in GNAC history. He continues to rank No. 8 in GNAC history in RBIs, now with 121 in his three seasons. Reinschmidt's 181 career hits are also 16th most in GNAC history, and third all-time at MSUB.

 
"Being able to see this program turn around has been pretty special," Reinschmidt commented on the 'Jackets posting their first-ever winning season and championship last year and being on pace to better the mark this season. "It's been a fun ride and I couldn't have asked for anything else. I'm just glad to be a Yellowjacket."
 
GNAC Career Runs Batted In Leaders

Rk.	Name	School	RBIs	Years
1.	Greg McCarthy	WOU	183	2002-05
	Jamie Nilsen	CWU	183	2005-08
3.	Bryce Gardinier	WOU	165	2000-03
4.	Brody Miller	MSUB	158	2012-15
5.	Chandler Tracy	SMU	138	2012-15
6.	Sean McDonald	NNU	125	2009-12
7.	Matt Lowe	NNU	124	2000-03
8.	Luke Reinschmidt	MSUB	121	2014-16
8.	Adam Siler	SMU	118	2004-07
10.	Colby Robison	MSUB	111	2011-13

 
MORRIS APPROACHING HITS LEADERS, TOO: Senior shortstop Corey Morris upped his career hits total to 90, and is also in his second season with the 'Jackets. Morris is 20-for-54 (.370) with 13 RBIs, 11 runs scored, eight walks, and five hit by pitches for an on-base percentage of .465 in the last month since April 3. He and Colter Sternhagen have turned 17 double plays this season.
 
STERNHAGEN TOPS 30 RBIs: Despite picking up just three hits in the series against the Wolves, Sternhagen had five RBIs and is now fifth in the GNAC with 31 on the season. His 90 career RBIs are fourth-most in school history, as are his 33 career doubles.
 
With a throwing error in the third game against the Wolves, Sternhagen snapped a streak of more than 150 chances without a fielding miscue. Overall he has made just four errors in 179 chances on the season, and has a stellar fielding percentage of .978.

MSUB Career Assists Leaders

 

Rk.	Name	Asts	Year
1.	Brody Miller	477	2012-15
2.	Matt Schoonover	377	2007-10
3.	Colby Robison	359	2011-13
4.	Kyle Pryor	296	2006-07
5.	Colter Sternhagen	244	2013-16
6.	Corey Morris	234	2015-16
7.	Cole Pryor	218	2008-09
8.	Kyle Durbin	129	2015-16

 
WATSON HOMERS, HOT AT PLATE: Junior first baseman Tanner Watson hit his first career home run in Game 3 against the Wolves, helping MSUB avoid being shut out in a 6-1 loss. Watson had five hits overall in the series and drove in four runs, and has elevated his batting average to .364 on the year in 44 at-bats. Watson is reaching base at a clip of .451, is slugging .500, and has not made an error in 46 chances defensively at first base.
 
CHRISTINA COMES UP BIG: In a victory that set the tone in the series against the Wolves, senior left-hander Drew Christina scattered three runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings last Wednesday. Before handing the ball off to Cox, Christina had the 'Jackets set up to win with a 4-3 lead, and he was rewarded with his first victory of the season.
 
Over his last three starts, Christina has allowed five runs on 11 hits in 11 2/3 innings pitched, the strongest string of outings so far in his senior season.
 
PETERSON HAS BIG GAME AT THE PLATE: Putting together his first career three-hit game, Landon Peterson picked up two doubles and had three RBIs in MSUB's blowout of the Wolves in the series finale. The boost at the plate helped Peterson break out of a 1-for-13 skid, and he also drew three walks and was hit by a pitch in the series against WOU.
 
Behind the plate, Peterson caught in four of the games against the Wolves, and threw out a baserunner to keep him tied for the GNAC lead with 18 caught stealing this season. In just his second season, Peterson is already No. 6 in MSUB with 335 career putouts, and is more than halfway to the record of 644 held by Kevin Toon.
 
JOHNSON ADDS MORE Ks: Senior Tanner Johnson was excellent against the Wolves in another 4-3 win for MSUB, striking out nine and walking none with three runs on six hits in seven innings pitched. Johnson has 17 strikeouts and just one walk in his last two outings, giving up five earned runs in 14 1/3 innings.
 
His big strikeout numbers have pushed him to fifth in MSUB history with 114, and fourth in single-season history with 60 as he surpassed his total of 54 from last season.
 
MSUB Single Season Strikeout Leaders

 

Rk.	Name	Ks	Year
1.	Cody Cooper	89	2016
2.	Brady Muller	79	2015
3.	Brady Muller	64	2013
4.	Tanner Johnson	60	2016
5.	Kody Kennedy	59	2011
6.	Kody Kennedy	54	2010
	Brian Howe	54	2009
	Tanner Johnson	54	2015

 
MSUB Career Strikeout Leaders

Rk.	Name	Ks	Years
1.	Brady Muller	232	2012-15
2.	Cody Cooper	147	2014-16
3.	Brian Howe	143	2008-11
4.	Brian Hutchings	120	2010-12
5.	Tanner Johnson	114	2015-16
6.	Kody Kennedy	113	2010-11
7.	Samuel Paterson	98	2012-13

 
BERKRAM PICKING UP BIG HITS: Junior right fielder Myles Berkram has gone 7-for-23 (.304) in his last seven games, but more importantly has driven in seven runs in that time span as well. He has also drawn four walks and stolen a pair of bases, providing valuable production lower down in MSUB's lineup.
 
ALEC ADJUSTING TO COLLEGE BALL: In his first collegiate season, freshman Alec Leighton continued his hot start last week with five RBIs in the series against WOU. Leighton's biggest swings of the weekend came in Game 4, when he went 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs off of the bench to help the 'Jackets hold onto a 10-6 win. He also snagged a line drive in left field with a diving catch to end the game and seal the win in the ninth. Leighton is now batting .267 on the year with nine RBIs, and four of his dozen his hits have been doubles.

Saint Martin's University Saints
Thursday, May 5 – 1 PM DOUBLEHEADER (9-Inn./7-Inn.)
Friday, May 6 – 1 PM DOUBLEHEADER (9-Inn./7-Inn.) – SENIOR DAY (12:45 PM)
2016 Record: 15-31, 12-24 GNAC
Head Coach: Ken Garland, 8th season
Last Series: MSUB 3, SMU 1 (April 2-3, 2016 at Lacey, Wash.)
Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box | Game 3 Box | Game 4 Box
 
The Saints are coming off series splits against each of their last two GNAC opponents, most recently winning two games against Concordia at home on April 29. SMU is still in search of its first conference series win of the season, and is in sixth place in the GNAC standings without a chance to make the postseason tournament.
 
Alec Hagerman has entered the lineup as SMU's most productive player, batting .364 with a dozen RBIs in 23 games played on the season. Shayne Kurihara also put together a solid April, and is second on the team with an overall batting average of .325 with 15 RBIs.
 
Adam Eskil leads the team with 24 RBIs and Austin Feist is close behind with 23, while Brandon Witherspoon and Zach Raczok are tied for the team lead in home runs with three apiece. SMU has a .263 team batting average and scores 4.57 runs per game.
 
On the mound, reliever Nick Mailhot holds the top ERA on the squad at 4.50 and has 22 strikeouts with 18 walks in 38 innings pitched. Seven different pitchers have earned starts this season, but Torin Dooley, Josh Sontag, and Mickey Walker have been the three most consistent starters for the Saints.
 
Walker is coming off a complete-game effort against the Cavaliers, in which he allowed one run on six hits with four strikeouts and four walks in a tight, 3-2 win for the Saints. Walker, a freshman, has been the best starter on the season with 51 strikeouts in 68 2/3 innings and a 4.72 ERA. Walker also leads the team in saves with three, one of which came against the 'Jackets earlier this year before he threw a complete game against MSUB the next day in a tough 1-0 loss for the Saints.
 
Sontag has 29 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings pitched, holding a 6.02 ERA and a .366 batting average against. Dooley has a 6.38 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings, as he is second behind Walker in total innings pitched on the year.
 
SMU's runs total in its 12-10 win over Concordia last week was the most runs the team has scored in a conference game this season, and just the second time the Saints have reached double digits in GNAC play.
 
The Series: MSUB is 25-41 all-time against Saint Martin's, and enters this weekend with a 9-21 record at home against the Saints. MSUB has won 10 of the last 11 games against SMU since the start of the 2015 season.
 
Last Time Out: Durbin led the offense by going 5-for-16 and Sternhagen had a team-best three RBIs in the four-game series in Lacey, Wash. Cooper had nine strikeouts in a complete-game effort, and the pitching staff allowed just seven runs in the series.