BILLINGS, Mont. – A commanding start by senior Connor Redmond helped the Montana State University Billings baseball team close the 2022 regular season by splitting a Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Dehler Park.
 
The Wildcats scored 12 runs over the final two innings to rally for a 17-12 win in Game 1, before MSUB held on to take the series finale 9-8 in Friday's nightcap. "I am proud of the grit and resilience that our team has shown this year," said MSUB head coach Derek Waddoups. "It was great to bounce back and win the series to send the seniors off with a win at home."
 
In his final career game at Dehler Park, PJ Ausmus hit his first collegiate home run in the opener, while Hayden Foltz hit a two-run home run in the nightcap. Dominick Buso was 3-for-7 with two triples in the doubleheader, while Cooper Dulich went 4-for-6 with five RBIs. MSUB finished the regular season at 25-25 overall and 18-18 in conference play to solidify the third and final spot in next week's GNAC Championships. "Our seniors really stepped up this weekend, and it was awesome to see PJ hit his first home run on Senior Day," Waddoups said. "We are excited to go compete at the conference tournament. I am proud of our guys for continuing to grind and work, and it will be a fun weekend."
 
Zach Berryman put a stranglehold on the 2022 GNAC batting title on Friday, going 9-for-10 in the doubleheader including a 6-for-6 mark in the opening game. Berryman ended the season hitting a conference-best .379 thanks in large part to his huge performance on Friday. Michael Copeland homered in each game on Friday, recording his first two long balls of the year. CWU finished the season with a record of 14-35 overall and took fifth place in the GNAC standings at 8-24 in conference play.
 
Game 1 – Central Washington 17, MSU Billings 12
 
Imploding late for the second day in-a-row, MSUB squandered an 11-5 lead by allowing a nine-run eighth inning as the Wildcats secured a victory in the series. The game-changing inning featured 15 hitters, with five walks, seven hits, and five wild pitches. CWU, which led 14-11 after the eighth, left no doubt by adding three more runs in the ninth to seal its final win of the season.
 
The late bullpen blunder spoiled a quality effort by Trevor Cassell, who tossed three shutout innings allowing just three hits and striking out two in a stellar relief appearance. The Yellowjackets used six total pitchers in the game, with starter Ty Wilson allowing four runs on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks in three innings of work.
 
The Wildcats meanwhile leaned on an outstanding performance by Zach Conners, who threw the final 6 1/3 innings while striking out eight, walking none, and limiting MSUB to three runs on five hits to earn his first collegiate win.
 
The high-scoring affair featured early fireworks, with CWU striking for three runs in the top of the first before the 'Jackets answered with four runs on RBIs by four different players in the bottom of the loud first inning. The 'Jackets scored two more in the second, before Ausmus brought the third-base dugout to its feet by leading off the third inning with his first home run deep over the fence in left field. The 'Jackets scored two more runs in the frame, and led 9-4 going into the fourth.
 
One of CWU's four errors in the game allowed two more runs to score in the fifth, as the 'Jackets appeared to be in the driver's seat late in the game.
 
Carson Green came within one of the school and GNAC record for steals in a game, as he swiped three bags while also scoring three runs. Ausmus finished the opener 3-for-5 at the plate, and James Anderson drew two walks to up his season total to 38 – two shy of the MSUB single-season record.
 
Berryman got on base in all seven plate appearances, as he was also hit by a pitch while falling one hit shy of the GNAC single-game record of seven. Berryman scored four times in the game, while Trenton Love was 4-for-6 and Tyler McClain walked four times. CWU starter Brayde Hirai surrendered seven runs on eight hits with one strikeout and three walks in two innings of work.
 
Game 2 – MSU Billings 9, Central Washington 8 (7 Innings)
 
Copeland hit a three-run home run with two outs and two strikes in the top of the seventh inning, which sucked the energy out of the MSUB dugout and got the Wildcats within a single run. MSUB reliever Nolan Thebiay earned his first collegiate save, coming into the game and stranding the tying run in scoring position by getting pinch hitter Trenton Love to fly out to end it.
 
The Yellowjackets led from the get-go behind one of Redmond's best starts in an MSUB uniform, and the righty solidified his fourth win of the season. Redmond struck out six and walked just one, while giving up three runs – one earned – on seven hits in six strong innings of work.
 
The 'Jackets jumped out to an early lead on Foltz's third home run of the year, a two-run shot to highlight a three-run first inning. Dulich added an RBI-single to cap the frame, before coming through with a two-run double in the fourth that made the score 6-0.
 
MSUB wrapped up its scoring in the fifth inning, with RBIs coming from Buso, Kevin Blair, and Tyler Godfrey to up the spread to 9-0.
 
Just as it had done all weekend long however, CWU put together a late rally to get back into the game and give the 'Jackets a scare. Copeland had a two-run single in the sixth, helping CWU take advantage of two errors and score three times. Adam Fahsel had an RBI-double and Charlie Larson a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh, which preceded Copeland's dramatic home run which landed near the scoreboard in right field.
 
Copeland finished 2-for-4 with five RBIs to lead the Wildcats, who stranded six runners on base in the defeat. Berryman got hits in his first three at-bats, before finally striking out to snap his 9-for-9 hitting line in the doubleheader.
 
Mason Powell, Dulich, and Godfrey each had a pair of hits for the 'Jackets, who totaled nine knocks in Game 2 and left seven runners on base.
 
THE BUZZ: Redmond was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day.
 
NEXT WEEK: The Yellowjackets await their Game 1 opponent at the GNAC Championships, which kick off on Thursday morning with a 10 a.m. (Pacific)/11 a.m. (Mountain) first pitch at Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Ore. MSUB will face both WOU and Northwest Nazarene on Day 1 of the tournament, with the seeding still to be determined based on WOU's doubleheader against Saint Martin's on Saturday. Live coverage for the conference tournament will be available online here.