BILLINGS, Mont. – Continuing Great Northwest Athletic Conference play this weekend on the road, the Montana State University Billings baseball team is set for a four-game series at Central Washington University.
 
The Yellowjackets (4-16, 4-8 GNAC) will reach the midway point of their conference schedule this weekend, facing the only GNAC team they haven't played yet this season in the Wildcats (5-7, 3-5). "We have to be engaged on every pitch," MSUB head coach Derek Waddoups commented on this weekend's series. "Their offense is scrappy and tries to put the ball in play, and their pitching staff is going to throw a lot of strikes. It's going to be a fun weekend to hit, but it's going to be the defensive engagement that determines how we come out at the end of the weekend."
 
"As a team we have constantly been getting better, and I'm excited to see where we are at and hopefully get some wins this weekend," said junior catcher Justin Lutz. "I love my teammates. They are great guys and I'm continuing to learn, especially with the pitchers, what they do well and learn how to catch them."
 
 
Weekend Schedule
Location: Ellensburg, Washington – CWU Baseball Field
Friday, April 2, 2021 – 12 PM Doubleheader
Saturday, April 3, 2021 – 11 AM Doubleheader
Live Video – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2RYbqOms5VEBhuLWwcKbuA
Live Statistics – https://wildcatsports.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary
 *Per GNAC mandate, no fans allowed at baseball games during the spring 2021 season.
 
"We have been on the road a lot, but I like how our guys are starting to play," Waddoups said. "We are coming around, and our pitching staff has really been improving each weekend. I'm excited to go out and compete."
 
MSUB is coming off a 3-1 series defeat at Western Oregon University last weekend in Monmouth, Oregon. The Yellowjackets are off next weekend, before kicking off the second half of conference play by hosting No. 15 Northwest Nazarene University in a four-game series at Dehler Park on April 16-17. "The goal is to get wins any way we can," Lutz said. "We are still learning as a team, and hopefully this weekend can be a stepping stone to a good little home stand we have."
 
BREAKOUT START FOR BARKLEY: Left-hander Dylan Barkley turned in his best outing of the season last week, logging seven stellar innings to help the 'Jackets to their lone win in the series against WOU. Barkley gave up two unearned runs while scattering five hits, and coming within one of his career high in strikeouts as he punched out nine Wolves. Barkley's seven innings pitched and 119 pitches thrown were both career highs, and he earned his first victory of the season. Barkley also moved into the top-10 in MSUB history in strikeouts with the performance, as he enters the week tied with Kody Kennedy for No. 9 with 113 strikeouts in his career. "He is an anchor to our staff," Waddoups commented on the left-hander. "He's a guy that we count on to pitch a lot of innings, and he was dominant. He controlled the run game, really pounded the strike zone, and that was the first time he found all four pitches in a day. Hopefully he can keep that momentum and keep rolling."
 
CIPRIANO RAISES OBP: While the Wolves kept the conference's leading power hitter in the park last week, Daniel Cipriano got on base in 10 of 16 plate appearances to raise his season on-base percentage to .528 which ranks fifth in the conference. Cipriano continues to lead the GNAC in slugging percentage at .986, home runs with 11, and he ranks second in RBIs with 32.
 
GREEN LEAVES YARD FOR 2ND STRAIGHT WEEK: Carson Green homered for the second straight series, while also adding a double and a triple and driving in four runs in the series against the Wolves. Green raised his batting average to .293 on the season, with nine of his 17 hits on the year going for extra bases for a .552 slugging percentage.
 
RILEY NOTCHES 4-HIT GAME: Will Riley had a season-high four hits in MSUB's win last week, helping keep his batting average at a team-leading .418 on the season. That figure ranks Riley fifth in the GNAC in hitting, and he also ranks fifth in the league in slugging at .734 and seventh in on-base percentage at .495. Riley's 33 hits are most in the conference, and he is tied for the GNAC lead in doubles with eight.
 
LUTZ MAKING IMPACT: In his first year with the 'Jackets, Lutz has contributed a .560 slugging percentage with three doubles, three home runs, and 15 RBIs through his first 16 games. The junior has split time with Andrew Schleusner behind the plate, while also seeing action in left field to stay in the lineup. "I always like to think hitting is contagious, and watching all the guys in our lineup hit for power and doubles gives me a spark of energy," said Lutz. "It helps me stay up in the game and continue to hit."
 
"His bat has been really key to us in the middle of the order," Waddoups commented on Lutz. "He had some really clutch two-out, two-strike RBIs last weekend, and behind the plate both he and Slice have been doing a fantastic job. When they're blocking our team pitches better and plays better, and I love what Lutz brings to the table as far as leadership and character."
 
Central Washington University Wildcats
2021 Record: 5-7, 3-5 GNAC
All-Time Series: MSUB 55, CWU 49
Series at Ellensburg, WA: MSUB 28, CWU 25
Last Meeting: MSUB 7, CWU 1 (2019 season)
 
The Yellowjackets and Wildcats have not met since the 2019 season, when MSUB took 7 of 8 games in the series. CWU was off last weekend, and most recently dropped 3 of 4 games at Northwest Nazarene.
 
Zach Berryman is the GNAC's leading hitter entering the week, with a .500 batting average through his first 12 games of the year. Justin Hampson and Michael Peter are each hitting .400 for the Wildcats, while Mitch Lesmeister leads the team in RBIs with 11. CWU has relied on putting the ball in play with a team batting average of .295, as the Wildcats have hit just two home runs in their first 12 games of the year.
 
On the mound, Reid Rasmussen, Brayde Hirai, and Dillon Larsen have each made three starts. Rasmussen has the top ERA among starters at 4.26, while Larsen leads the team with 26 strikeouts in just 13 2/3 innings pitched. Overall as a staff CWU carries a 5.26 ERA and an opponents batting average of .262.