BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings baseball team travels to face Central Washington University in a four-game Great Northwest Athletic Conference series beginning Friday.
 
This Week's Schedule
Friday, April 1 – Noon doubleheader – CWU Baseball Field
Saturday, April 2 – 11 a.m. doubleheader – CWU Baseball Field
 
The Yellowjackets (15-15, 6-6 GNAC) are set to play both days at CWU Baseball Field in Ellensburg, Wash. Live video of the game will be available online here and live statistics will be available online here.
 
"Our conference has shown how competitive it is from top to bottom," said Yellowjackets head coach Derek Waddoups. "We are excited to see CWU this weekend to finish out the first half of conference play. We know they will give us a good challenge and I am optimistic about where our group is right now as a team."


The 'Jackets are coming off their first series of the year at Dehler Park, where they split a four-game series 2-2 with defending GNAC champions Northwest Nazarene. "We are coming off one of our better offensive weekends against a tough NNU team," said Waddoups. "I like the confidence and energy that we are currently playing with."
 
It was a big weekend for the 'Jackets in every part of the lineup. Offensively, 14 different players reached base for the 'Jackets against Northwest Nazarene, as they scored a combined 28 runs in the series, the most in any conference series this season. Defensively, the Jackets were able to turn 11 double plays in the series, the most in GNAC history. And the pitching staff helped limit runs in important situations to make this the first GNAC series Northwest Nazarene did not win outright this season.
 
Nearing the hallway point in conference play, MSUB sits third in the GNAC standings, with a big opportunity to keep pace with the top teams in the race for the regular season title. Central Washington ranks behind the 'Jackets in fourth place. In their series last weekend, the Wildcats went 2-2 against Saint Martin's University. "We need to keep our composure and control the tempo of the games this weekend both offensively and defensively," said Waddoups.
 
DOUBLE PLAY RECORD: The Yellowjacket defense made a piece of GNAC history in the series against the Nighthawks, breaking the conference record for most double plays turned in a series. After turning three double plays in the final three innings in Game 1 against NNU, MSUB tied the school record twice on the second day of the series by turning four double plays in each game. All but one double play came on ground balls up the middle, and second baseman Tyler Godfrey was involved in all 11 double plays during the series.
 
MSUB Baseball Double Plays vs. Northwest Nazarene – March 25-26, 2022

Hitter Result	Player 1	Player 2	Player 3	Game/Inning
Ground ball to 2B	Tyler Godfrey	Cooper Dulich	James Anderson	Game 1, Top 7
Ground ball to 2B	Tyler Godfrey	Cooper Dulich	James Anderson	Game 1, Top 8
Ground ball to SS	Cooper Dulich	Tyler Godfrey	James Anderson	Game 1, Top 9
Ground ball to 2B	Tyler Godfrey	Cooper Dulich	James Anderson	Game 3, Top 1
Ground ball to SS	Cooper Dulich	Tyler Godfrey	James Anderson	Game 3, Top 2
Ground ball to 2B	Tyler Godfrey	Cooper Dulich	James Anderson	Game 3, Top 3
Ground ball to SS	Cooper Dulich	Tyler Godfrey	James Anderson	Game 3, Top 5
Ground ball to 2B	Tyler Godfrey	James Anderson	--	Game 4, Top 3
Ground ball to SS	Cooper Dulich	Tyler Godfrey	James Anderson	Game 4, Top 4
Line drive to 2B	Tyler Godfrey	Cooper Dulich	--	Game 4, Top 6
Ground ball to 3B	Mason Powell	Tyler Godfrey	James Anderson	Game 4, Top 7

Western Oregon University turned 10 double plays in a series against Central Washington on April 9-10, 2005, which had been the most by a GNAC team in a series until the Yellowjackets' 11 twin killings last weekend. A GNAC team has turned four double plays in a game 15 different times, with the record being five double plays set by Western Oregon at MSU Billings on May 12, 2012. The Yellowjackets have achieved the feat five times, with last Saturday's games being the first since MSUB had four double plays against Western Oregon on May 10, 2018.

Most Double Plays, Series – GNAC Baseball

Rank	Team	Double Plays	Opponent	Dates
1	MSU Billings	11	Northwest Nazarene	3/25-26/2022
2	Western Oregon	10	at Central Washington	4/9-10/2005
3	Western Oregon	9	at Saint Martin's	2/28-3/1/2015
	Northwest Nazarene	9	Western Oregon	4/22-23/2016
	Saint Martin's	9	at Western Oregon	3/30-31/2019
6	Central Washington	8	Northwest Nazarene	4/30-5/1/2004
	Saint Martin's	8	at Western Oregon	4/14-15/2007
	Northwest Nazarene	8	at MSU Billings	4/25-26/2008
	Central Washington	8	Northwest Nazarene	3/12-13/2010

GREEN'S STAND OUT PERFORMANCE: Leadoff hitter for the 'Jackets Carson Green hit .471 (8-for-17) against Northwest Nazarene, earning himself GNAC Player of the Week for the first time in his career. The junior centerfielder had five RBIs in game three of the series, setting himself a new career high for a game, and has now scored more runs than any 'Jacket this season with 25.
 
ANDERSON GETS ON BASE: First baseman James Anderson reached base eight times against Northwest Nazarene, raising his on-base percentage this season to .446, the second highest percentage in the entire GNAC, and first for MSUB. On top of a solid .274 batting average, Anderson has walked more than any other GNAC player this season with 24, eight higher than the next closest player.
 
FOLTZ'S FIRST HOMER: Hayden Foltz had five hits in the series against Northwest Nazarene, including his first home run of the season, and the third of his career. Foltz, a junior, leads the Jackets in RBIs with 24, continuing to be a force in the middle of the lineup.
 
GODFREY HITS WELL, GLOVES IT: Infielder Tyler Godfrey hit 8-for-14 (.571) against Northwest Nazarene, including five runs and two RBIs in the series. The freshman tied multiple career highs on the weekend, including hits in a game (3), collected the first triple of his career on a play where he would score on a throwing error, and was involved in every single double play the 'Jackets made in the series. Defensively, Godfrey made 25 plays on 26 chances at second base, including recording 18 outs on Day 2 of the series.
 
BARKLEY CONTINUES CLIMBING: Senior Dylan Barkley won the first game against Northwest Nazarene, allowing three hits and one unearned run while striking out six over six innings of work. Barkley won his 13th career game and is one win away from tying for third place in school history.
 
HOULIHAN THROWS WELL: Unlucky to take a loss in a game two defeat, Matthew Houlihan threw a complete game against Northwest Nazarene, allowing five hits and three runs. Houlihan was only hurt on two homers and managed to keep MSUB in the game despite being held hitless until the final inning.
 
RAINEY IN RELIEF: Freshman Blake Rainey threw two scoreless innings against Northwest Nazarene after picking up for Barkley in game one. In eight appearances, Rainey has only allowed multiple runs twice this season, becoming one of the most trusted arms in the 'Jacket bullpen.
 
ELLIOTT GOES LONG: Senior Tyler Elliott allowed two runs in 4 2/3 innings of work, earning a win in the third game against Northwest Nazarene. It was Elliott's third win this season in relief, and the second longest appearance of his career.
 
HERNANDEZ DOES BOTH: Sophomore Diego Hernandez featured as both a pitcher and batter in the series against Northwest Nazarene. It was the third series this season where Hernandez has appeared as both a hitter and pitcher.
 

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Central Washington University Wildcats
2022 Record: 10-19, 4-8 GNAC
Head Coach: Desi Storey, 31st season
2021 Record: 16-14, 14-10 GNAC
 
The Central Washington University Wildcats are coming off a series split against Saint Martin's and are currently tied with them for fourth place in the GNAC standings. The team has yet to win a series in conference play but did sweep Western Oregon in a non-conference doubleheader earlier in the season.
 
The offense has been the main power for the Wildcats, with their GNAC leading .296 team batting average, and they average more hits per game than any other team in the GNAC. Seven players come into the series against MSUB with an average over .300, and five of them have played almost every game for the Wildcats. Sophomore catcher Austin Ohland hits .321, with six home runs and 33 RBIs, and is the team's primary offensive threat, but Adam Fahsel (.351 average) and Zach Berryman (.345) stand out in a effective group of hitters.
 
Pitching wise Central Washington has struggled with giving up runs, with a 7.21 staff ERA. The team has given up double digit runs in 11 different games. The arms have proven to be more effective as the season has gone along however, performing much better in GNAC play. Ryan Arredondo has been the team's most successful starter and is currently on a streak of five games where he has allowed less than two runs.
 
The Series: The Yellowjackets own the series lead against Central Washington, with a 58-54 record. When facing the team on the road, the 'Jackets have a 29-28 all-time record.
 
Last Time Out: MSUB went 3-5 in games against CWU last year, with the first game of that season being a 21-15 barnburner loss for the 'Jackets.