MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Montana State University Billings baseball team were defeated by Western Oregon University in both legs of a Saturday doubleheader, suffering a pair of walk-off defeats in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
The Yellowjackets (20-25, 11-16 GNAC) were defeated by identical scores of 9-8 in both games by the Wolves (25-12, 18-8). John Oleson sunk the Yellowjackets with a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth to sink the Yellowjackets in game one, while Justyn Herzog knocked an RBI single up the middle, sinking MSUB once more.
 
 
Game 1: MSUB 8, WOU 9
 
After four scoreless innings to begin the opening game of the day, the final five innings turned into a tense affair. The Yellowjackets got their first run in the top of the fifth when Hayden Foltz's single would plate AJ Wagenmann, giving MSUB a 1-0. The Wolves would get two runs in the bottom of the fifth, with a Derek Maiben RBI double, and his subsequent run on a wild pitch, but MSUB would respond with three runs in the sixth, and four in the seventh to take an 8-3 lead after seven innings. The run was highlighted for MSUB by a home run from Payton Flynn, the 12^th of the season for the Yellowjacket's left fielder.
 
But Western Oregon wouldn't back down, scoring three runs in each of the final two innings, with Oleson's two-run single giving the Wolves the victory in game one. In a game where both teams scored most of their runs late, WOU doubled MSUB in hits at 16-8, while both teams committed three errors in the game.
 
Flynn went 2-5 in the game with MSUB, with two runs and two RBIs. Foltz was 1-3 with two RBIs. Carson Green and Jack Nehler went 1-4 and 1-3 respectively, each collecting an RBI. Green and Nehler each also stole a base, two of the Yellowjacket's four steals in the game. The other steals came from Bodee Wright, who went 1-5 with a pair of runs, and AJ Wagenmann, who had a pair of walks in the game. Ty Wilson started the game for the 'Jackets, allowing two runs and seven hits, before he was replaced by Daniel Naughton, who allowed just one earned run over 3.1 innings.
 
Game 2: MSUB 8, WOU 9                     
 
The offenses stayed hot in the final game of the series, opening with a combined nine runs in the first two innings. The Yellowjackets batted around in the top of the first, taking advantage of three first inning errors by Western Oregon to score four runs, with Zack Blaszak and James Anderson picking up RBIs. But the Wolves would plate a pair of runs in the first inning, before scoring three more runs to take a 5-4 lead after two innings. MSUB would tie things up the next inning with a run by Blaszak on a double play, Before Flynn's second home run of the day and number 13 on the year would give the Yellowjackets the lead once more. The Wolves would snatch it right back however, scoring three runs in an inning for the second time in the game, and taking an 8-6 lead.
 
The Yellowjackets rallied back in the sixth, tying things after Bodee Wright reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Hayden Foltz to score. Flynn would hit a ball deep to right field the next at bat, which allowed Carson Green to come home on the sacrifice fly to tie things up. But following a leadoff double for Western Oregon by John Oleson, pinch runner Tyler Mohler would advance to third on a wild pitch. Then with one out in the inning, Herzog hit a ball up the middle, getting through the infield to give the Wolves their second win of the day, and the series sweep.
 
Flynn went 2-2 in the game, with a pair of runs and RBIs to go with a walk. Green was 2-4 with two runs and a steal, while Kaden Kirshenbaum also went 2-4 with a double. Zack Blaszak was 1-4 with a pair of runs and an RBI, and Jack Nehler was 1-3 with a walk and a run. James Anderson and Hayden Foltz each went 1-4 in the game, with Anderson driving in a run and Foltz being hit home once.
 
THE BUZZ: Flynn was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game, going 4-7 between the two games, collecting two home runs, four runs, and four RBIs… Flynn and Nehler picked up a hit against Western Oregon in all five games… Going into the final series of the regular season next week, the Yellowjackets sit at 11-15 in conference, behind Central Washington for the final spot in the GNAC Championships.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets face off next week against Central Washington in a battle for the final spot in the GNAC Championships, with the margin for error being slim to none. The first day of doubleheaders is Thursday, May 4, at Dehler Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1 PM, with live video available here and live statistics available here.