BILLINGS, Mont. – Receiving votes nationally for the third straight week, the Montana State University Billings continues its eight game road trip this week in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with back-to-back doubleheaders against Saint Martin's University March 5-6. Both twin bills begin at 12 p.m. local time and feature live video and statistics through SMU's stretch internet portal.
 
The Yellowjackets (10-4, 2-2) are coming off a four-game split against Western Oregon University last weekend in the much-anticipated conference opening series. Matthew Houlihan marked his third strong start this spring and Sam Muskat improved to 3-0 as the 'Jackets top reliever. MSUB hitters produced 15 runs and Sam Powers continued to scorch with a .447 batting average and three home runs. Last week's West Region Player of the Week Daniel Cipriano leads the team with six home runs and 19 runs batted in.
 
 
"We are optimistic about our team as we head into the Saint Martin's series on the weekend," said MSUB head coach Derek Waddoups. "Our pitching staff was fabulous this past weekend and we look forward to building on that momentum. Offensively we have great senior leadership and they have stepped up in clutch situations. We look forward to continuing our strong early offensive output. Our lineup is talented and it was great to see such quality production from the bottom of the order this past weekend."
 
The Yellowjackets have four players hitting above .300 and a team .294 batting average. Nathan Bloxham compiled four hits including a double and a home run against Western Oregon. The junior also scored four runs and collected one RBI.
 
Leadoff hitter and starting shortstop Wyatt Setian is hitting .246 with five doubles, two home runs, and eight runs batted in. Dayton Provost began the season hitting .391 through his first seven games but left a game due to injury and no timetable has been set on his return.
 
THE STARTING STAFF: Houlihan, along with Will Heward, Tevin Hall, and Dylan Barkley make up the early starting rotation for MSUB. Houlihan had the strongest outing against the Wolves and tossed 6.0 innings Sunday in a 3-1 victory. He allowed one run (unearned) on three hits, walked two, and struck out seven while facing 22 hitters.
 
Heward struggled in sporadic relief appearances last year but completely turned his fortunes around as a senior leader this spring. Heward played under coach Waddoups at Salt Lake Community College and holds a 3.37 ERA and 1.86 WHIP which four appearances and two starts. In 10.2 innings of work, he has allowed 12 hits and walked seven with nine strikeouts. Barkley (1-1, 4.91 ERA) and Hall (1-1, 4.87 ERA) also gave the 'Jackets chances to win in outings last weekend.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE: After visiting Saint Martin's this week, the Yellowjackets return to Dehler Park for their Great Northwest Athletic Conference home opener against Central Washington University. The 4-game series begins March 13 featuring two doubleheaders. MSUB played three non-conference games and swept Colorado School of Mines at Pirtz Field Feb 22-23. It was the earliest baseball games played in Billings in school history, 44 days ahead of MSUB's home opener in 2018-19.
 
Scouting Saint Martin's University
Friday, March 6 – 12 p.m. & 3 p.m. –Lacey, Washington – SMU Baseball Field
Saturday, March 7 – 12 p.m. & 3 p.m. – Lacey, Washington – SMU Baseball Field
2019-20 Record: 6-6, 1-3 GNAC, 0-0 home, 6-6 away, 0-0 neutral
2018-19 Record: 21-32, 15-25 GNAC, 7-13 home, 11-13 away, 3-6 neutral
Head Coach: Kelly Gau (3^rd season, 5^th overall)
 
The Saint lost three of four games at Concordia University last weekend to open GNAC competition. The previous week, SMU picked up three wins in non-conference play against PacWest contender Academy of Art. Under third year head coach Kelly Gau, Saint Martin's returned a core of key players, including pitcher Tanner Inouye. Last season Inouye held a 4.58 earned run average and struck out 87 over 72.2 innings thrown. After notching a pair of complete games last season, Inouye holds a 5.40 ERA through three starts with ha team leading 19 strikeouts.
 
At the plate, all-conference first baseman Aaron Renaud is back after leading the team with a .319 batting average, one home run, and 26 runs batted in. Other all-conference honorees include shortstop Ryne Oshiro and third baseman Micah McNicoll. Oshiro is coming off a .283 season with three home runs and 22 RBIs. McNicoll developed into a .282 hitter with two home runs, and 16 RBIs.
 
Catcher Bryant Nakagawa is a junior who had 17 hits last season and a .227 batting average. In the off-season, Saint Martin's supplemented its roster with six position players and 14 pitchers. SMU is hitting .260 and Renaud leads the squad at .487 and five doubles. Finnley Butler and Zach Alcos are strong bullpen options and neither have surrendered a run in six combined appearances. SMU hold a 4.85 team ERA though its first 12 contests.
 
SMU was selected to finish fourth in the pre-season GNAC coaches' poll.