PORTLAND, Ore. – Kade Hall fired a strike to home plate from left field on Saturday afternoon at Porter Park, ending a four-game Great Northwest Athletic Conference series in dramatic fashion as he nailed the would-be tying run at the plate and helped Montana State University Billings to a split with Western Oregon University.
 
The Yellowjackets (10-8, 5-3 GNAC) overcame a 5-3 loss in Game 1 Saturday, and held on for a narrow 2-1 defeat thanks in large part to Hall's key play. It was the second straight doubleheader split between the teams, after each team won once on Friday in Newberg, Ore. Saturday's games were played on the campus of Concordia University, due to unplayable conditions at Western Oregon's home field in Monmouth, Ore.
 
The Wolves moved to 6-9 with the split, and remain a half game ahead of MSUB at the top of the GNAC standings at 6-2 in league play. "The series was fought toughly on both sides, and was what we expected from a quality Western Oregon team," commented MSUB head coach Aaron Sutton. "The pitching all weekend was solid on our end, and I thought our guys executed the game plan extremely well. They continued to make pitches in pressure moments."
 
Hall finished 4-for-7 at the plate and scored in each game, and was one of few offensive standouts on a day where the 'Jackets plated just five total runs. "It was a tough weekend for us offensively, but our guys found a way to grind out some at-bats to push a few runs across," Sutton said. "We now turn our attention to the next opponent in Saint Martin's, and we are looking forward to finishing this road trip on a high note."
 
Game 1 – Western Oregon 5, MSU Billings 3
 
The Yellowjackets struck first and had a 3-0 lead after the top of the third, but WOU scored five unanswered runs and MSUB's bats went silent over the final six innings of play.
 
WOU pitched by committee in the game, using five different arms who were each effective against the 'Jackets. Jake Simmons, Kolby Bales, and Jacob Fricke each tossed two scoreless innings to finish the game, combining to strike out six while walking just one and giving up four hits in the fourth-through-ninth innings.
 
MSUB starter Tristan Shockley had four strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings, while surrendering three runs on a pair of hits. Sam Muskat finished the game by allowing two runs on five hits with one strikeout and no walks in 4 1/3 innings on the mound.
 
Kaleo Johnson kept his strong performance at the plate going in the top of the first, as he drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in the first run of the game. MSUB's scoring in the third inning all came with two outs, as Hall started the rally with a single. Matt Dillon and Ryan Hansen drew walks with the bases full to make the score 3-0, but it was the last time MSUB produced a run in the game.
 
Connor McCord provided a two-out RBI-single to get one back in the bottom of the third inning, before Simmons notched a 1-2-3 top of the fourth with two strikeouts for a shutdown inning. It was shortstop Justin Spinner's turn to come up with a clutch hit in the bottom of the frame, as he punched a two-out, two-run base hit to left to even the score at 3-3.
 
MSUB's best chance to regain the lead came in the top of the fifth, but the 'Jackets couldn't capitalize with runners on second and third and only one out.
 
Spinner was productive again in the sixth, reaching on a bunt single before RBIs by Cody Dykstra and Jacob Martinez made the score 5-3. Not only did Martinez have what wound up being the final RBI of the game, but he saved a run in the top of the seventh but gunning down MSUB's Andrew Schleusner at the plate from right field as he tried to score from second on a base hit by Johnson.
 
Fricke allowed only an infield single in the final two innings, locking down his first save of the season. Hall finished 3-for-5 and Hayden Humphrey had a pair of hits for MSUB, but the 'Jackets stranded 11 baserunners in the two-run loss.
 
Game 2 – MSU Billings 2, Western Oregon 1 (7 Innings)
 
Hall's huge play came after the Wolves loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh. Jake Whisler grounded a base hit into left field, and Hall's perfect throw resulted in a bang-bang play at the plate that beat the runner by a hair.
 
Two runs were enough to back one of the best career outings by junior Jared Winslow, who gave up just one hit in six shutout innings to earn his first win of the year. Winslow had one strikeout, and needed just 63 pitches to efficiently cruise through the Wolves' order twice.
 
Travis Edgar picked up his first save as a 'Jacket, as he battled through the heavy pressure in the seventh inning to complete the game.
 
Craig Grubbe was pinned with the loss for the Wolves, despite striking out five and giving up just two runs on five hits in the seven-inning complete game on the mound.
 
Wyatt Setian hit his first career home run in the third inning, a solo shot down the left-field line that gave the 'Jackets a 1-0 advantage.
 
Winslow allowed a double in the second and a walk in the sixth, but those were the only two Wolves to reach base against the right-hander all game.
 
Though Grubbe was nearly as effective, MSUB managed to break through for an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning. Hall drew a leadoff walk, and Ryan Myers ripped an RBI-double to center after a productive groundout by Conner Linebarger pushed Hall into scoring position.
 
THE BUZZ: Winslow was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…MSUB is now 22-68 all-time against WOU and is 11-30 in away games against the Wolves.
 
COMING UP: MSUB faces its third straight conference road trip next week, as it takes on Saint Martin's University. Action is scheduled for March 16-17 in Lacey, Wash., and live coverage will be available online through MSUB's Stretch Internet portal here.