NAMPA, Ida. — The Montana State University Billings baseball team saw its 2026 season come to a close Thursday at the GNAC Championships, falling 9-3 to Western Oregon before dropping a 10-5 decision to top-seeded Northwest Nazarene at Vail Field in Nampa, Idaho.
The Yellowjackets finished the season with a 26-23 overall record after being eliminated in the three-team round robin format. MSUB totaled 19 hits across the two contests and continued to show offensive firepower throughout the day, highlighted by strong performances from
Jack Nehler,
Jason Wright,
Adam Rowland and
Ryker Fortier.
Fortier also etched his name into the program record book during the opening game, stealing his 28th base of the season to set a new MSUB single season steals record. The senior shortstop's swipe also tied the program's all-time career stolen bases record with 46.
GAME ONE: MSUB 3; WOU 9
MSUB opened the tournament with an early advantage against Western Oregon, striking for three runs in the bottom of the third inning.
Espn Fisher led off the frame with a single before
Adam Rowland moved him into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.
Jason Wright followed with a single up the middle and
Ryker Fortier delivered a sacrifice fly to center field to plate the game's first run. Moments later, Nehler launched a two-run home run to left-center field to give the Yellowjackets a 3-0 lead.
Western Oregon answered immediately with a decisive five-run fourth inning, collecting six hits in the frame. The Wolves tied the game on RBI hits from Collin Irwin, Jayger Baldwin and Zane Garvey before Chris Arce ripped a two-run triple down the left field line to put Western Oregon ahead 5-3.
The Yellowjackets threatened several times throughout the middle innings but were unable to capitalize against Western Oregon starter Logan Larrance, who tossed a complete game. The Wolves added an insurance run in the eighth inning before Baldwin delivered a three-run homer in the ninth to extend the lead to 9-3.
Nehler paced the MSUB offense in the opener, finishing 1-for-5 with a home run and two RBI. Wright went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored while Fisher was 1-for-4 with a run scored. Fortier added an RBI and his record-setting stolen base, while
Kaden Bertram and
Nick Reed each collected hits.
Sam Coxen took the loss after allowing six runs on 11 hits across seven innings while striking out five.
Carson Waples pitched 1 1/3 innings in relief and
Owen Combs recorded the final two outs with one strikeout.
GAME TWO: MSUB 5; NNU 10
Needing a win in the nightcap to keep their tournament hopes alive, the Yellowjackets battled back repeatedly against top seeded Northwest Nazarene before falling 10-5.
The Nighthawks struck first in the second inning, but MSUB answered in the third when Rowland doubled into the gap and later scored on Wright's RBI single to tie the game at 1-1.
NNU responded with a three-run fourth inning to take a 4-1 lead, but the Yellowjackets clawed back in the fifth. Wright reached on a strikeout and advanced around the bases during a chaotic sequence before scoring on an outfield error. Fortier later singled and Nehler followed with an RBI base hit to cut the deficit to 4-3.
MSUB pulled even again in the sixth inning.
Landon Carter tripled to left-center field and Rowland drove him home with an RBI double before Wright delivered another run-scoring single to tie the game at 5-5.
The tie was short-lived, however, as the Nighthawks regained control in the bottom of the sixth inning on Gavin Brubaker's two-run home run. The Northwest Nazarene added three more runs in the eighth, highlighted by a Carter Walsh two-run homer, to secure the victory and the tournament title berth.
Wright led the Yellowjackets offensively in the finale, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and a walk. Nehler continued his strong postseason showing, finishing 3-for-5 with an RBI. Rowland was 2-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored while Carter went 2-for-4 with a triple and a run scored. Bertram added a 2-for-4 performance and Fortier chipped in a hit and sacrifice bunt.
Brennen Chappell suffered the loss after allowing seven runs, six earned, on nine hits over 5 1/3 innings while striking out three.
Scott Klinker tossed 1 2/3 innings with three strikeouts,
Hayden Mullins appeared in relief during the eighth inning and
Cody Snow recorded the final three outs for MSUB.
THE BUZZ: Ryker Fortier was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game for game one and
Adam Rowland was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game for game two.
