ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Rallying to split a doubleheader on Friday at the CWU Baseball Field, the Montana State University Billings baseball team overcame a lopsided loss in Game 1 and won the nightcap of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference series.
 
Central Washington (11-20, 5-9 GNAC) pounced on the 'Jackets for a 28-3 win in Game 1, before MSUB utilized a quality pitching performance from Matthew Houlihan and Tyler Elliot to win 9-3 in Game 2.
 
"I was really proud of how the guys responded and bounced back after Game 1," said MSUB head coach Derek Waddoups. "We had a really balanced attack at the plate. Houlihan and Elliott combined to keep them off-balance throughout the game. I was really pleased with how they controlled the tempo of the game."

Game 1 – Central Washington 28, MSU Billings 3
 
Charlie Larson, the fourth batter of the game, launched a three-run homer to foreshadow what was to come in MSUB's most lopsided loss of the season. The Wildcats plated eight runs in the first and the Yellowjackets never threatened to catch up in the series-opening defeat.
 
Dominick Buso plated Cooper Dulich with a single in the top of the second inning, but it was the only run MSUB managed until the ninth. CWU starter Ryan Arredondo worked around six walks, as he limited the 'Jackets to one run on three hits with four strikeouts in his six innings to earn the win. Jonathan Garza II struck out two and walked two, while giving up two runs on two hits to finish the game.
 
MSUB ace Dylan Barkley's day came to an end with one out in the third inning, as he exited allowing 10 runs on 11 hits in 2 1/3 innings. The 'Jackets used four pitchers to get through the game, with freshman Logan Fragomeni allowing just one hit while striking out four in two shutout frames to end it.
 
The Wildcats tacked on with eight more runs in the fourth, four in the fifth, and six in the sixth as they flirted with the GNAC record of 32 runs scored (Western Oregon, March 11, 2019 vs. CWU).
 
Ninth-hole hitter Trevor Tripoli was 4-for-5 with six RBIs and five runs scored, Tyler McClain was 5-for-6 with five runs scored, and Zach Berryman was 3-for-7 with five RBIs to highlight a CWU lineup that produced 25 hits and walked eight times.
 
Buso and Dulich each had two of MSUB's five hits, as the 'Jackets failed to get any momentum going offensively. Buso plated a run with an RBI-double in the ninth, and Cory Brownson followed with a sacrifice fly for MSUB's final run. MSUB committed a season-high five errors in the loss.
 
Game 2 – MSU Billings 9, Central Washington 3 (7 Innings)
 
Houlihan delivered a strong outing to earn the victory on the mound, striking out six and walking two while allowing three runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings of work. Tyler Elliott retired four of the final five batters he faced, earning his second save of the season.
 
The Yellowjackets had an early opportunity in the first, putting runners on first and second before CWU starter Josh Touhey got out of the jam with a ground out.
 
The Wildcats struck first, when Tripoli led off the third with a double and Adam Fahsel and Austin Ohland followed with RBI-knocks to make the score 2-0.
 
Justin Lutz led off the fourth with a triple, but Touhey retired the next three hitters to prevent the 'Jackets from getting on the board.
 
MSUB capitalized in the top of the fifth inning, when the first five hitters reached base to drive Touhey from the game. An error allowed the Wildcats to score a two-out run in the bottom of the fifth to tie the score at 3-3, but the 'Jackets made their move in the sixth to take command late.
 
PJ Ausmus started the sixth with a one-out double, before Carson Green followed with an RBI-knock and Hayden Foltz drove in two runs with a double. Dulich capped the four-run frame with an RBI-single, as the 'Jackets pulled ahead 7-3 with six defensive outs left to get.
 
AJ Wagenmann led off the top of the seventh with a double, before Green and James Anderson followed with RBI-singles to bolster MSUB's advantage to 9-3. Elliott wrapped up the outing by retiring the side without issue in the seventh.
 
THE BUZZ: Houlihan was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…the 28 runs allowed tied for the second-most runs MSUB has allowed in program history…the most runs MSUB allowed in a game was 31, on March 27, 2010 against Central Washington…MSUB is now 59-55 all-time against MSUB and is 27-25 in road contests against the Wildcats.
 
NEXT UP: The series wraps up on Saturday, with an 11 a.m. (Pacific) first pitch. Live video will be available online here and live statistics will be available online here.