PORTLAND, Ore. – Porter Park played true to its prescription on Sunday afternoon, as only six runs crossed the plate in a doubleheader split between Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponents Concordia University and Montana State University Billings.
 
The Yellowjacket pitching staff combined for a three-hit shutout in Game 1, and used a four-run sixth inning to claim a 4-0 win and a series victory. The Cavaliers gave the ball to Trevor Huddleston in Game 2 however, and watched as he authored a two-hit shutout to salvage a 2-0 win for CU in the finale.
 
MSUB moved to 8-6 overall and 3-1 in league play with the split, while the Cavaliers are now 2-12 on the year and 1-3 in conference play.
 
Neither team could get anything going offensively, as the Cavaliers out-hit the 'Jackets 10-9 combined in the doubleheader.
 
Game 1 – MSU Billings 4, Concordia 0
 
Tristan Shockley earned his first win of the season, as he notched six strikeouts and gave up just two hits in 5 2/3 shutout innings. After 94 pitches, Shockley gave way to Dakota Weindel, who got the 'Jackets to the eighth inning with 1 1/3 scoreless frames.
 
From there, senior Travis Edgar extended his season-long streak of scoreless innings to seven, as he struck out four without allowing a hit to finish the game. "Tristan threw extremely well today, and pounded the strike zone," said MSUB head coach Aaron Sutton. "Having Travis come in and close the door was awesome to see, and he has been throwing great for us all season."
 
Concordia's Dylan Diaz took a tough loss, as he pitched well with six strikeouts and five hits allowed in 5 2/3 innings. The righty couldn't avoid a big inning in the sixth however, as the 'Jackets scored all of their runs in the pivotal frame.
 
Hayden Humphrey led off the sixth with an infield single, and an ensuing hit by Jalen Garcia and walk to Ryan Myers loaded the bases with one out. Kade Hall came through with a two-run base hit through the middle, and the rally continued with back-to-back walks issued to Andrew Schleusner and Tanner Cantwell. Wyatt Setian added a two-out RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and the brief scoring burst proved to be all the 'Jackets needed to claim the opener.
 
Concordia threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning, loading the bases with two outs. Weindel inherited the jam with poise however, and got pinch hitter Dominic Enbody to ground out harmlessly and strand three runners.
 
CU had a final chance in the bottom of the ninth, one again loading the bases and bringing the tying run to the plate with two outs. Edgar buckled down, and struck out Isaiah Hatch to end the threat and seal the series win for the 'Jackets.
 
Game 2 – Concordia 2, MSU Billings 0
 
A single by Schleusner in the first and a base knock by Chase Teter in the third were the only hits the 'Jackets could muster off of Huddleston, who pitched the first complete game of the year for CU. The junior lefty didn't allow a runner past first base in the game, as he shut down the GNAC's leading offense entering the series and gave up just two walks while striking out eight. "He located his fastball very well, and he had a plus changeup," Sutton commented on the Yellowjackets' foe in Game 2. "He kept our guys between pitches, and we weren't able to make an adjustment."
 
Making his first-ever collegiate start in his hometown, MSUB sophomore lefty Sam Muskat delivered five solid innings and suffered a tough loss. The Beaverton, Ore., native struck out six and walked none, while giving up just two runs on six hits on the day. Junior Jared Winslow finished the game for MSUB, striking out a pair in the bottom of the sixth inning. "Sam has been chomping to get a start and he delivered, but they put together a couple of runs and we couldn't get anything going to back him," Sutton said.
 
Setian had the defensive play of the series in the bottom of the second, making a diving snag on a sharp ground ball up the middle and starting an inning-ending double play. The slick glove work prevented a run from scoring, and kept the game tied at 0-0 for the time being. "I was really impressed with Wyatt all weekend, and we hope he can continue to grow," Sutton commented on the true freshman making all four starts at shortstop.
 
The Cavaliers struck shortly thereafter, taking a page out of the Yellowjackets' book and getting all of their scoring done in a single frame. Sam Gillenwater led off the bottom of the third with a base hit, and scored on a single by Andrew Barrera after a sacrifice bunt from Jordan Farhat. Hatch avenged his game-ending strikeout in the opener with a two-out, RBI-double to make the score 2-0, and CU had achieved all it needed to in order to back the stellar outing by its starter.
 
A walk by Myers in the fourth and a walk by Hall in the seventh were the only interruptions the rest of the game, as Huddleston retired 12 of the final 14 hitters he faced to complete his shutout.
 
THE BUZZ: Shockley was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…MSUB is now 15-8 all-time against Concordia, and is 10-4 in games played at Porter Park…MSUB's pitching staff has had seven or more strikeouts in its last six games, and is averaging 11.2 punch-outs during that time span…Sunday was the first time MSUB has been shut out in a game since a 10-0 loss to Western Oregon last spring on March 6.
 
NEXT UP: The road trip continues next weekend, as the 'Jackets remain in Oregon over the MSUB Spring Break to face Western Oregon University. Doubleheaders against the Wolves are scheduled for March 9-10, with a 2 p.m. Mountain time first pitch on Friday and a 1 p.m. Mountain time start on Saturday. Live video and live statistics will be available online through the MSUB Stretch Internet portal here.