Saturday, March 11, 2023
'Jacket baseball splits on final day at NNU
NAMPA, Idaho – Finishing a season-opening 18-game road trip on Saturday afternoon at Vail Field, the Montana State University Billings baseball team split a doubleheader with host Northwest Nazarene University in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action.
The Yellowjackets picked up a 7-4 triumph in Game 1 on Saturday, before falling 2-1 in the series finale. MSUB moved its record to 7-11 on the season and is now 1-3 in conference play.
Carson Green was 3-for-7 in the doubleheader with a pair of doubles, while
Payton Flynn was 4-for-9 with two RBIs to lead the team offensively.
Northwest Nazarene moved to 11-14 on the season, and is 5-3 in conference play after Saturday's doubleheader split.
Game 1 – MSU Billings 7, Northwest Nazarene 4
The 'Jackets struck in the top of the first and never trailed, on the way to their lone win in the series.
Kaden Kirshenbaum plated MSUB's first run with an RBI-double, and the 'Jackets added two more in the fourth on an RBI-single by Flynn and a wild pitch.
MSUB starter
Ty Wilson earned his first win of the year, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out one and walking none in 6 2/3 innings of work.
Trevor Cassell tossed the final 2 1/3 innings, limiting the Nighthawks to just a pair of hits.
The 'Jackets provided all the offense they needed with a three-run sixth inning, executing a double steal with
Jack Nehler crossing home plate and Foltz swiping second.
AJ Wagenmann followed with a big two-out, two-run single to make the score 6-0.
MSUB added one more run on a sacrifice fly by Flynn in the top of the seventh, before the Nighthawks got started with a comeback effort. Cassell inherited a four-run lead with a runner on base, and helped keep the NNU offense at bay despite the hosts plating three runs in the seventh. The Yellowjacket veteran posted zeroes after that however, ensuring the victory.
Game 2 – Northwest Nazarene 2, MSU Billings 1 (7 Innings)
MSUB starter
Andy Evans and NNU starter Nathan Galusha locked into a pitcher's duel from the start, with each giving their team a chance at the victory. Galusha allowed just one run on seven hits, while striking out three and walking none in his 4 1/3 innings of work. Ty Pohlmann and Joseph Ihli combined to throw the final 2 2/3 innings, limiting the Yellowjackets to just one hit the rest of the way.
Evans kept MSUB in it, allowing two runs on five hits with five strikeouts and four walks in his four innings of work.
Jake Finkelstein threw the final two frames, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out four.
NNU's Kaleb Karpstein had an RBI-double in the first and Tyler Best hit a solo home run in the second, and that proved to be enough offense to win the game for the hosts.
MSUB's only run came in the top of the fifth, when
Bodee Wright delivered an RBI-single that scored Green. MSUB stranded 10 runners in a game of missed opportunities, as the Yellowjackets struck out nine times. NNU meanwhile stranded nine runners and also struck out nine times, but held on for the tightly-contested victory.
THE BUZZ: Flynn was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…MSUB is now 58-68 all-time against NNU and is 30-35 in road games against the Nighthawks.
LOOKING AHEAD: The 'Jackets have their 2023 home debut next weekend, hosting Saint Martin's in a four-game series at Dehler Park. It is the beginning of an eight-game home stand that covers the next two weeks of play.
