By: Evan O'Kelly, Director of Communications
PORTLAND, Ore. – A pair of walk-off knocks that highlighted a productive overall series earned Montana State University Billings second baseman
Tyler Godfrey the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Baseball Player of the Week award announced by the conference office on Monday.
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Godfrey capped both ends of last Friday's doubleheader with two dramatic swings of the bat, propelling the Yellowjackets to a pair of important victories on their way to a series split. "Tyler shined bright this weekend in clutch spots," said MSUB head coach
Derek Waddoups. "He had the two walk-off hits along with outstanding defensive play and at-bats throughout the weekend. He really performed in the clutch on Friday at the plate."
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Godfrey's first walk-off wrapped up a four-run, ninth-inning rally during which MSUB overcame a 7-4 deficit to take the opening game of the series 8-7. With one out, the bases loaded, and the outfield drawn in, Godfrey punched a single over the head of WOU rightfielder Jackson Holstad to score
Hayden Foltz and prompt a celebratory mob behind second base.
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He delivered again in the nightcap, stepping to the plate with the bases empty and two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning with the score tied at 4-4. Working the count full, Godfrey sent the 3-2 pitch over the fence in right field for his second home run of the year and another dramatic celebration this time at home plate.
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Godfrey became the second player in MSUB history to record two walk-off hits in a doubleheader, with Brad Birch achieving the feat on May 3, 2014 in a doubleheader sweep of Northwest Nazarene. It was the third time in program history that MSUB won both ends of a doubleheader in walk-off fashion, with the 'Jackets taking both games against NNU on April 16, 2011 in the final at-bat as well.
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While the walk-off hits were Godfrey's most important of the weekend, he contributed heavily throughout the four-game series. He delivered a key two-run single in the sixth inning of MSUB's comeback win in the opener, before spotting his team an early lead with a two-run double in the first inning of Game 2.
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Overall Godfrey got on base in 9 of 17 plate appearances (.529), while collecting six hits and driving in seven runs. He also played perfect defense in five chances at second base on Day 2 of the series.
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Godfrey is the fourth different Yellowjacket this season to earn a GNAC Player of the Week award, with
Carson Green,
Connor Redmond, and
Dylan Barkley (three times) each also being honored. It is the first GNAC weekly award for the first-year Yellowjacket.
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MSUB (20-18, 11-9 GNAC) is off this weekend before hosting Saint Martin's University in a four-game conference series at Dehler Park on April 22-23. Live coverage for the series will be
available online here.