March 22, 2008          

Yellowjackets Drop Two at Central Washington, 4-1, 8-2

   Box Score Game One
   Box score Game Two 

ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Montana State Billings baseball dropped the first two games of a four-game series at Central Washington Saturday, 4-1 and 8-2. With the losses, the Yellowjackets fall to 4-14 overall and are still searching for their first Great Northwest Athletic conference victory at 0-6. CWU improves to 13-10 and 7-2 in conference play.

The Yellowjackets scored first in game one on a Matt Kakalecik RBI single for a 1-0 lead. The Wildcats evened the game at one in the third inning on a RBI single and took the lead in the fourth with a RBI hit by pitch with the bases loaded.

CWU added two insurance runs in the sixth on a RBI single and an unearned score on a wild pitch for a 4-1 lead.

Despite the loss, the Yellowjackets fought hard and snapped a four-game stretch where they allowed double-digit runs dating back to the Saint Martin’s last weekend. Jeremy Knowles (1-3) took the loss for MSUB, going six innings, allowing four runs – three earned, six hits, no walks and two strikeouts.

Offensively, MSUB was led by Kakalecik going 2 for 4 with one RBI. CWU’s Derek Shoemaker (4-2) went the distance on the mound for the Wildcats, allowing five hits, one earned run, two walks and 11 strikeouts. 

In the nightcap, MSUB again took the early lead, but could not hang on in the latter innings. The Yellowjackets jumped out to a 2-0 lead through 3 ½ innings, courtesy two errors by CWU.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Wildcats exploded for five runs on five hits and one error to take control of the game, highlighted by a pair of two RBI singles. CWU added three more runs for the 8-2 lead.

MSUB was led by Nick Rupert and Jeff Ridgeway who each had two hits. Brian Strom (0-3) took the loss in three innings of work, allowing four runs on four hits, two walks and three strikeouts.

For the second consecutive game, CWU’s pitcher went the distance as Michael McCanna went seven innings, allowing eight hits, two runs – one earned, five walks and two strikeouts improving to 4-0 on the year.

The teams will play another doubleheader tomorrow, beginning at 12 p.m. Pacific time.