BILLINGS, Mont. – After a hard-fought series loss last weekend, the Montana State University Billings baseball team returns to Colorado looking to rebound during a four-game series on the road against Colorado Christian University, which begins on Saturday.
 
This Week's Schedule
Saturday, February 26 – 11:30 a.m. Doubleheader – All Star Park – Lakewood, Colorado
Sunday, February 27 – 11:30 a.m. Doubleheader – Rawlings Field – Pueblo, Colorado
 
Saturday's games will be hosted at All Star Park in Lakewood, Colorado, with Sunday's doubleheader being moved to the campus of CSU-Pueblo and Rawlings Field. Live video for the series will be available online here, and live statistics will be available online here. The series between these two teams was originally scheduled to kick off on Thursday, but inclement weather forced the series start to be pushed back two days.
 
"After advancing to the RMAC tournament in 2021 you know that CCU will bring a competitive group to the yard for each game," said MSUB head coach Derek Waddoups. "We are excited to go compete against another quality program. They will challenge us in preparation for our GNAC schedule which starts next weekend."
 
The 'Jackets (5-7) play in Colorado for the second week in a row after their four-game series last weekend against No. 2 Colorado Mesa University. MSUB went 1-3 in that series, stealing a win in the second game against one of the best teams in the country. "We were competitive in each game this past weekend," Waddoups said. "It was fantastic to see some new pitchers step up and perform. Overall, we are playing good baseball. We just need to continue to control us and do what we do. Mesa is a national power and we showed we can compete on that stage last weekend."
 
This is the Yellowjackets' final series before they open conference play against Western Oregon next week. And with conference play quickly approaching, Waddoups' message to the team is to keep it simple: "I just want our guys to continue to play the game right and with confidence. We play in a strong conference, but I believe we can compete with every team we take the field with. We just need to continue to make it a simple game."
 
HOULIHAN HOPES TO STAY HOT: Sophomore pitcher Matthew Houlihan looks to build on his best start of the young season after picking up a gutsy win against Colorado Mesa. Houlihan managed to stifle some of the hottest bats in the country, only allowing four runs and striking out nine in a 115-pitch complete game against the team with the second-best batting average in all of Division II. The strikeout total, innings thrown, and pitch total were all career highs in Houlihan's first collegiate complete game.
 
OUWEHAND CONTINUES SCORELESS STREAK: Freshman southpaw Mike Ouwehand featured again in last week's series, retiring all three batters he faced one inning's work. It was his second consecutive scoreless appearance on the year.
 
WINTER SWINGS A HOT BAT: First baseman Mitch Winter had a breakout series against Colorado Mesa, going a combined 5-11 (.455) in three games with a home run and four RBIs. The long ball was the first of his career, and Winter now leads the squad with a .400 batting average to go along with eight RBIs this spring.
 
DULICH PROVES KEY: Freshman shortstop Cooper Dulich continues to be a force in both the middle of the lineup and the infield for the 'Jackets. Dulich leads the team in hits with 14, as well as 26 defensive assists, proving to be a key contributor with both the bat and the glove. Like Winter, Dulich also recorded his first collegiate home run with a long ball in the series opener against the Mavericks.
 
ANDERSON POWERS 'JACKETS LINEUP: Sophomore James Anderson smacked his team leading second home run in the series opener against Colorado Mesa. Anderson is also second on the team in RBIs with 10 and has reached base in over half of his plate appearances (.532) so far this season, thanks in part to the 15 walks he has drawn.
 
ZIMMER DEBUTS: Junior right-hander Brooks Zimmer made his first appearance for the Yellowjackets this season, striking out three in his first inning of work on the year. Overall it was the fourth-year Yellowjacket's 21st career appearance, and he upped his career strikeout total to 47.
 
GREEN SHOWS HIS SPEED: Junior Carson Green flashed some of his speed during the tail end of last week's series, collecting his first stolen base of the year, along with an RBI-triple. Including Green's two-year career at Walla Walla Community College, the triple was the sixth total for the fourth-year outfielder.
 
BARKLEY STAYS STEADY IN ROTATION: Although he endured his toughest start of the season thus far, senior left-hander Dylan Barkley contributed four innings in his turn against the powerful Mavericks. Barkley struck out a pair, pushing his career punch out total to 146 to remain fourth on the MSUB all-time list. Barkley also moved into a tie for seventh place in program history in innings pitched, matching Tanner Johnson (2015-16) with 142 2/3 innings thrown.
 
MSUB Baseball Career Strikeout Leaders (as of Feb. 24, 2022)

Rank	Player	Strikeouts	Career
1	Cody Cooper	237	2014-17
2	Brady Muller	232	2012-15
3	Steen Fredrickson	209	2016-19
4	Dylan Barkley	146	2019-22
5	Brian Howe	143	2008-11
6	Tanner Johnson	130	2015-16
7	Jared Winslow	121	2016-19
8	Brian Hutchings	120	2010-12
9	Steve Scott	114	2007-09
10	Kody Kennedy	113	2010-11

 
MSUB Baseball Career Innings Pitched Leaders (as of Feb. 24, 2022)

Rank	Player	Innings Pitched	Career
1	Brady Muller	269.2	2012-15
2	Cody Cooper	255.5	2014-17
3	Brian Howe	216.2	2008-11
4	Steen Fredrickson	212.1	2016-19
5	Steve Scott	184.2	2007-09
6	Brian Strom	149.1	2007-09
7	Dylan Barkley	142.2	2019-22
	Tanner Johnson	142.2	2015-16
9	Brian Hutchings	140.2	2010-12
10	Jared Winslow	138.0	2016-19

 

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Colorado Christian University Cougars
Saturday, February 26 – 11:30 a.m. (Doubleheader) – All Star Park – Lakewood, Colorado
Sunday, February 27 – 11:30 a.m. (Doubleheader) – Rawlings Field – Pueblo, Colorado
2022 Record: 1-7
Head Coach: Paul Koss, 2nd season
2021 Record: 13-28, 12-24 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
 
The Cougars are coming off a series against Rogers State in Oklahoma where they dropped four games in a row, and the team has dropped seven straight games since winning their season opener, being outscored 54-18 during that stretch. The games against MSUB will be their home opener this season. After hosting MSUB, Colorado Christian heads south to face New Mexico Highlands in its first taste of conference action.
 
The Colorado Christian lineup this season has been led by shortstop Eli Ludwig, who is tied for the team lead in average at .417, and outfielder Wyatt Crenshaw, with one homer and five RBIs. Through eight games this year, the Cougars have a team .225 average, with 28 runs scored and three home runs. 
 
On the mound, Tyler Fischer has been the premier starter for the Cougars through two starts. With 2 starts under his belt, the right hander has a 6.00 ERA, and was the starter for Colorado Christian's opening day win. On the year, CCU's pitching staff has accumulated a 9.79 ERA. They have also struggled with command, walking more batter than they've struck out this season with 29 free passes to 25 strikeouts.
 
The Series: MSUB holds the all-time series lead here, with a 3-0 lead. This will be the first time that the Yellowjackets have faced off against Colorado Christian since 2008, where the 'Jackets completed a 3-game home sweep.