Jackets Step Up to Sweep Crusaders (3/18/06)
Box Score 1
Box Score 2
Game Photos

BILLINGS, MT – It took just over thirty years, but the Montana State-Billings baseball team picked up its first win in the programs modern era.  In fact, they swept Northwest Nazarene University in Saturday’s doubleheader at Cobb Field.  The Jackets cruised to an 11-2 win in game one and rallied for a 5-2 win in game two.  The Yellowjackets are now 2-18 on the season.  The win dropped the Crusaders to 8-9 overall.

It isn’t often that a pitcher goes the distance in college baseball but that is exactly what senior pitcher David Ducharme (Hamilton, MT) accomplished in game one.  Ducharme gave up two runs off four hits, walked four batters and struck out seven.

The Jackets came into today’s game with a determined look on their faces.  In the Jackets’ first at bat a Crusader nearly went through the left field wall to make the catch and the Jackets first out.  Kyle Pryor (Jr., Billings, MT) and Nick Hoskyn (Jr., Oelwein, IA) were walked and on the next play both Hoskyn and Pryor stole bases on a Crusader error allowing Pryor to score.  Willie Crtalic (Jr., Billings, MT) was hit by a pitch and Mike Wardell (So., Billings, MT) was walked placing the Jackets at first and second base.  Jake Samuelson (Jr., Helena, MT) earned his first two of five RBI bringing home both Crtalic and Wardell.  The inning finally came to an end when Pryor flied out to center field.  At the end of the first inning the Jackets were up by five.

The second inning for the Crusaders was quick as a double play put Eric Duke and Harold Schulz out.  Levi Shumway walked and Trevor McKinney flied out to center field to end the inning.

Much like the first inning the Jackets rolled out four runs after two quick outs.  Determined to make something happen, Crtalic doubled down the right line.  Wardell singled on a bunt advancing Crtalic to third.  Wardell stole second and a Samuelson single brought in Wardell and Crtalic.  A Crusader wild pitch advanced Doug Longfellow (Jr., Lewistown, MT) and Chad Green (So., Billings, MT) to second and third.  Another wild pitch allowed Green to come home.  The inning ended with a Crusader pitching change and a Hoskyn pop fly to right field.

Not wanting the game to end in a meltdown like day one against the Crusaders, the Jackets played solid defense to earn the team’s first win for the season.  Samuelson led the Jackets going 2-for-3 with two runs and five RBI.  Josh Wiley (Jr., Belgrade, MT) was 2-for-5 with three RBI.

“I couldn’t count the quality at bats we had,” said Yellowjacket head coach Chris Brown.  “We had quality at bats up and down the lineup.  We only had two or three bad at bats all day, and you can’t ask for more than that.  The mistakes we made were physical and that’s part of the game.  We came up with some hustle plays that were momentum changers and changed the course of the game.”

The Crusaders were led by Dean Peters who was 1-for-2 with two runs.  Pitcher Tim Stuvland took the loss giving up five runs off two hits.

In game two the Crusaders jumped out to an early two run lead by the fourth inning.  In the bottom of the fifth Pryor scored on a fielder’s choice.  The Jackets kept the Crusaders scoreless in the sixth and in their turn at bat the Jackets rallied from behind to score four runs off five hits to take the lead.  Matt Kakalecik (Fr., Great Falls, MT), Wiley, and Pryor each singled loading the bases.  A costly Crusader error brought pinch runner Brady Slack (So., Riverton, WY) and Wiley in for the score.  Hoskyn doubled to left field to earn an RBI.  Slater singled for an RBI and Hoskyn scored.  The inning ended for the Jackets on a pop fly to center field.

All the Yellowjackets needed was three up and three down.  It wasn’t quite that easy but the Jackets got it done.  Jon Clark (Jr., Anaconda, MT) came in to relieve Mike Cease (Fr., Deer Lodge, MT) and in fine fashion Clark struck out C.J. Severin and McKinney for the sweep of the Crusaders.

“We made things happen today,” added Brown.  “We put the pressure on them and weren’t content when we got up early in the first game.  We kept plugging away and good things happend.  Dave Ducharme, what can I say?  That was the best outing we’ve had from a pitcher all year.  My hat’s off to him.  Anytime you have a guy give a performance like that, the rest of the guys want to work hard to get him the win.”

“In the second game Ben Lewerke did a good job of keeping us in the game,” said Brown.  “At the plate the guys stayed aggressive, and we were able to put some things together.  They made a few mistakes and we capitalized on them.  Mike Cease did a great job of coming in and giving us a shot to win.  And that was the Jon Clark we’ve been looking for.  He has that potential.”

The Jackets were led by Pryor who was 2-for-4 with two runs.  Cease earned his first collegiate win and is 1-0 on the season.

The Crusaders’ McKinney was 2-for-4 with two runs.  Peters had two RBI.  Nick Patee took the loss for the team allowing five funs off 10 hits.

“Getting that first one out of the way—getting that monkey off our back so to speak—was big,” said Brown.  “You saw the importance of that in the second game.  The guys believed they could win.  Winning is contagious.  Getting the first one out of the way sets the tone that if we play the way we’re capable, we can be a good ball club.  As far as getting the first victory for the program, that’s a victory for everybody who has a vested interest in the program, from the players to everyone who works hard for us at the school.  It’s a positive for everyone.  It was a great way to end the first home weekend.  Hopefully it will give us some momentum going into next Tuesday’s game and then into the next conference road trip.”

The Yellowjackets have a two-day break before hosting Colorado Christian on Tuesday March, 21 at Cobb Field.  This is the first meeting of these two teams after inclement weather forced the games to be cancelled in Colorado earlier in the season.  First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.