BILLINGS, Mont. – After a positive series against Point Loma Nazarene University and a weeklong break, the Montana State University Billings baseball team heads back on the road for four games, including two each against University of Sioux Falls and Colorado State University-Pueblo. The 'Jackets play a pair of games beginning at 11 a.m. Friday at Rawlings Field in Pueblo, Colorado, then single games Saturday and Sunday against the same opponents in reverse order. All four matchups will feature live streaming and statistics via links on the MSUB Baseball schedule page.
 
The Yellowjackets (2-1) took both games of their doubleheader Friday, January 31 against Point Loma Nazarene, but fell the following day in 10 innings for the 2-1 series win. Strong defense and key hitting from the bottom of the order helped MSUB take game one 9-5 and game two 1-0. 
 
"It was really good for the team and the coaching staff to get a couple wins right away," said MSUB head coach Derek Waddoups. "It gives you that little bit of swagger and confidence in what you are doing is helpful moving forward."
 
ON THE HILL: The Yellowjackets turned to 10 different pitchers through three games in San Diego. Right-hander Matthew Houlihan was most effective and earned GNAC pitcher of the week after helping the 'Jackets to a 1-0 win over the Sea Lions. He allowed just two hits and struck out six batters in four innings, earning his first collegiate win. The Great Falls native was a redshirt freshman last season.
 
Will Heward and Tevin Hall also made starts for MSUB. Heward worked 4.0 innings and allowed one earned run, walked three, and struck out three. The veteran right-hander appeared in six games out of the bullpen in his first year with the 'Jackets and brought collegiate experience with him from Washington State University and Salt Lake Community College. Hall managed 4.2 innings and allowed two earned runs, walked three, and struck out two in a solid outing.
 
Sam Muskat commanded his pitches well out of the bullpen in a pair of games. Combined, Muskat threw 2.1 innings and did not allow a run with one strikeout against eight hitters. Dylan Barkley also pitched well in relief with 3.0 innings, four strikeouts and zero runs allowed.
 
"I told the relievers that we aren't looking to have a closer early in the year because starters are not going as deep in games as they build up arm strength," said Waddoups. "All three of our starters last weekend were outstanding but most importantly, we have to win the middle innings. Game one was a prime example where we put up five runs in the middle innings and held them from scoring. It ended up to be the difference in the game."
 
'JACKETS ON PAPER: Coach Waddoups kept the lineup consistent over the three game series against PLNU. First baseman Tanner Cantwell led the 'Jackets at the plate with a .364 batting average, collecting four hits, including a home run in Saturday's extra-inning loss to the Sea Lions. Like Houlihan, Cantwell redshirted last season and made an immediate impact for MSUB. Tanner Parker debuted at second base after he appeared in 46 games at Middle Tennessee State with 36 starts.
 
"I've always said what makes a good batting lineup is hitters seven through nine and what makes a great team is hitters 10 through 12," quipped Waddoups. "Having guys like Sam Powers step up for us on Saturday and other guys throughout the lineup last weekend was really encouraging."
 
Seasoned junior Wyatt Setian at shortstop and senior Chris Arpan at third base rounded out the rest of the infield. Andrew Schleusner split time at catcher with Landon Peterson last season and remains poised to take a slightly bigger role as a returner this season with Thomas Rudinsky also available as a capable catcher.
 
Returners Tyler Detloff and Sam Powers roamed center field with Miles City Community College transfer Nathan Bloxham in right field and Oklahoma State newcomer Dayton Provost in left field. Both Provost and Bloxham were productive at the plate and in the field at holding runners. Bloxham knocked four hits and drove in a pair of runs and Provost hit .333. "I felt our outfield defense was outstanding last weekend, which is a great sign," said Waddoups. "We'll mix things up this week to give some guy opportunities to make a difference. Some of it depends on matchups and performance too. We have a good core nucleus of the guys who won the conference last year and the players who stood out in the fall. These non-conference games give us a limited opportunity to get ready because you never know what is going to happen with the health of the team down the road."
 
PRESEASON ACCOLADES: First baseman Daniel Cipriano led the GNAC's two selections and was one of five players to earn unanimous selection to the pre-season All-West Region team. He was also selected as a second team preseason all-American. Cipriano won the rare GNAC triple crown last season and began his 2020 campaign with one hit in 12 at bats as a designated hitter against Point Loma Nazarene University. The Yellowjackets were projected by the GNAC pre-season coaches' poll to repeat as conference champions, narrowly edging out Western Oregon University.
 
The Yellowjackets also received votes in the pre-season National Division II ranking poll. The next regional and National poll is set to come out next week.
 
Scouting University of Sioux Falls
Friday, February 14 – 11 a.m. – Pueblo, Colorado – Rawlings Field
Sunday, February 16 – 11 a.m. – Pueblo, Colorado – Rawlings Field
2019-20 Record: 0-0, 0-0 NSIC, 0-0 home, 0-0 away, 0-0 neutral
2018-19 Record: 13-37, 11-25 NSIC, 7-15 home, 4-17 away, 2-5 neutral
Head Coach: Grant Hieb (3^rd season)
 
The Cougars kick off the regular season this weekend after struggling in the Northern Sun Conference last season. The NSIC selected University of Sioux Falls to finish 14^th in the pre-season coaches poll. USF has a solid offense returning after scoring 212 runs a year ago and tied for fourth in the conference with 14 triples. USF was also a top-10 NSIC team in home runs after they sent 25 baseballs out of the park.
 
The pitching staff will lean on senior right-hander Keenahn Coyle, who amassed 46 strikeouts in 58.2 innings pitched last season. Junior shortstop Grant Lung returns after hitting .256 in 50 games with 34 runs batted in, good for second best on the squad. Lung marked a career best six RBI game in a 7-4 win over University of Minnesota Duluth on April 9, 2019. The Cougars ended last season by beating Concordia University St. Paul two out of three games at home.
 
The Yellowjackets and Cougars have never played one another.
 
Scouting Colorado State University-Pueblo
Friday, February 14 – 2:30 p.m. – Pueblo, Colorado – Rawlings Field
Saturday, February 15 – 2:30 p.m. – Pueblo, Colorado – Rawlings Field
2019-20 Record: 2-1, 0-0 RMAC, 2-1 home, 0-0 away, 0-0 neutral
2018-19 Record: 26-25, 21-15 RMAC, 16-13 home, 10-11 away, 0-1 neutral
Head Coach: Stan Sanchez (25^th season)
 
Colorado State University-Pueblo defeated Emporia State University in a doubleheader at Rawlings Field to kick off their season. The Pack fell behind in both games but rallied to win against the previously unbeaten Hornets. Pack relievers threw 12.2 innings and allowed one run. They also struck out 18 hitters through both games. Emporia State rebounded to beat CSU-Pueblo 7-3 in a single game Sunday, February 9.
 
The Thunderwolves have had 21 winning seasons in the past 25 years and finished fourth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference last season on record, sixth after taking a rules violation. CSUP returns five starters at the plate, including Easton Adler who led the team with a .390 batting average, which was fourth best in the RMAC. Adler earned preseason second team all-south central region honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
 
Aiden Welch drove in 40 runs last year which was second best on the Pack and the most of any returner. Welch hit .331 with 12 doubles and three home runs. Rion Santamaria batted .359 in 48 games last season and led CSUP with four triples in 2019. Both catchers are back for the Thunderwolves as seniors and Daniel Abiles hit .324 a year ago. CSUP will also have three senior outfielders to patrol and 22 newcomers looking to make an impact.