BILLINGS, Mont. – The 2020 Montana State University Billings baseball team is in a much less precarious position heading into their first weekend of Great Northwest Athletic Conference games than last spring. Last year, the Yellowjackets came up short against two ranked non-conference teams. Last year, the 'Jackets suffered defeat in each of their first three conference matchups. Last year, the 'Jackets began with a record of 0-11. That was last year.
 
This time around, MSUB turned in an 8-2 non-conference record. They bludgeoned Colorado School of Mines with 42 runs scored in a three-game series last weekend. They also took two of three in San Diego from perennial west region contender Point Loma Nazarene. They mounted heroic comeback victories over Colorado State University Pueblo and University of Sioux Falls in back-to-back games.
 
One thing stayed the same between this spring and last. Both schedules feature back-to-back doubleheaders against rival Western Oregon University to kick off the conference campaign. The four-game set in Monmouth, Oregon commences Saturday, February 29 at 12 p.m. local time and will feature live statistics via WOU's stretch internet portal.
 
MSU Billings was selected as a narrow favorite to repeat as conference champions in the GNAC preseason coaches' poll, but the tenacious Wolves received just two fewer votes, finished second last season, and took three of four games from MSUB in Monmouth, which hurt the 'Jackets in the regional rankings polls later in the spring. After cancellations against Lewis-Clark State College, the Wolves split a four game series against Fresno Pacific University and expects to be reasonably fresh when they host MSUB at WOU Baseball Field.
 
The Yellowjackets received votes in this week's NCAA Division II national rankings poll and are hitting .330 overall, which ranks No. 22 in Division II. With 12 home runs against the Orediggers at Pirtz Field over the weekend, MSUB is 8^th nationally with 20 home runs. Oklahoma Baptist University leads the nation with 29.  
 
CIPRIANO STRIKES AGAIN: Cipriano repeated as the Player of the Week after batting .545 in a three-game home series with Colorado Mines, going 6 for 11 with eight runs, 10 RBI, a double and three home runs with a 1.455 slugging percentage. Cipriano opened by going 2 for 4 with a second-inning grand slam and a two-run double in Saturday's 21-11 first-game rout and then went 2 for 3 with three runs, a two-run homer and a solo homer in the 11-8 nightcap victory. Cipriano capped the weekend by going 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI single in Sunday's 10-3 win. Cipriano is tied for 13^th in Division II for total home runs (five) and tied for 11^th in home runs per game (.50). Cipriano leads the team with 17 runs batted in (T-22^nd DII).
 
 
FEEL THE POWERS: Sam Powers impressed in game one against Colorado School of Mines Saturday and finished with five hits in six trips to the plate with three runs batted in, one double, and two home runs. Powers leads the Yellowjackets with a .520 batting average over eight games and 25 at bats. Powers has 13 hits, seven runs scored, two doubles, three home runs, and eight runs batted in. Powers earned more playing time after he began the year coming off the bench for a double and a home run against Point Loma Nazarene.
 
 
WHAT CANTWELL DOES WELL: Among new starters this season, arguably no one has made a bigger impact than first baseman Tanner Cantwell. The Eugene, Oregon native has started all 10 games and racked up 14 hits with four doubles, two home runs, and seven runs batted in. Before joining the 'Jackets as a redshirt last season, he played two seasons at Treasure Valley Community College where he was a versatile player both at the plate and on the mound.
 
 
LAST TIME OUT: Scoring double-digit runs in every game, the Yellowjackets avoided the Billings snow and swept Colorado School of Mines three straight at Pirtz Field last weekend. Cipirano's grand slam jumped started the offense to 21 runs in game one Saturday. Tevin Hall threw six scoreless innings in a strong start on the mound. The Yellowjackets warded off a comeback effort in game two to win 11-8. Nathan Bloxham went 3 for 4 with a run batted in and two runs scored. Tanner Cantwell smashed a grand slam over centerfield in the sixth inning and Tyler Elliott collected the win in relief after tossing 3.0 innings and allowing three earned runs.
 
Sunday, the 'Jackets won 10-3 behind six scoreless inning of pitching by MSUB starter Dylan Barkley. Ryan Roche made a memorable dive up the line and throw across the diamond to get the 'Jackets off the field and MSUB strung solid at bats together with 12 hits.
 
Scouting Western Oregon University
Saturday, February 29 – 12 p.m. & 3 p.m. – Monmouth, Oregon – WOU Baseball Field
Sunday, March 1 – 12 p.m. & 3 p.m. – Monmouth, Oregon – WOU Baseball Field
2019-20 Record: 2-2, 0-0 GNAC, 0-0 home, 2-2 away, 0-0 neutral
2018-19 Record: 30-13, 26-11 GNAC, 15-3 home, 13-8 away, 2-2 neutral
Head Coach: Kellen Walker (8^th season)
 
The Wolves are coming off a season in which they went 30-13 overall and 26-11 in GNAC play. WOU dominated at home going 15-3, while holding a solid 13-8 record away from Monmouth in true road contests. It was a strong finish to the 2019 season for the Wolves as they went 11-1 to end the regular season that included sweeps of Central Washington and Saint Martin's. WOU then opened the GNAC Tournament strong with a resounding 10-2 win over Northwest Nazarene before falling to eventual champion Montana State Billings and Saint Martin's in the next two games.
 
Connor McCord was named an NCBWA Preseason All-West Region and All-American honoree after an outstanding junior campaign. McCord is hitting .571 with five doubles and three runs batted in through four games.
 
WOU lost two games to Fresno Pacific University to start the spring, then bounced back to win 4-1 and 9-3 to split the series in California. Junior Alan Vasquez debuted with the Wolves and last weekend against FPU and garnered Great Northwest Athletic Conference Pitcher of the week. Vasquez limited the Sunbirds to one run in five innings of work. Vasquez posted 11 strikeouts and allowed three hits and a walk in the victory.
 
Joshua McIntyre had six hits against Fresno Pacific with two runs batted in and hit .400. McIntyre is a senior outfielder from Huntington Beach, California.