April 2, 2008          
                                                                  

Walk-Off Home Run Highlights Doubleheader Split with Dickinson State

     Game One
     Game Two 

BILLINGS, Mont. – Dickinson State and Montana State Billings split a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at Pirtz Field.  The Blue Hawks took the opener 11-5, while MSUB won the nightcap 10-7 with a walk-off, three run home run by Levi Johnson.

The Blue Hawks (10-17) opened the scoring in the first with a pair of singles and an error for a 1-0 lead. Dickinson State added to its lead in the top of the third as Tony Isbell singled in Dan Boundreau for a 2-0 lead.

DSU’s Tury Escobedo blasted a two run home run to right center in the top of the fourth putting the Blue Hawks up 4-0.  Moments later, Boundreau hit a three run shot to center, putting DSU up 7-0.  DSU added another run and batted around in the inning for an 8-0 lead.

The Yellowjackets (10-19) got on the board in the bottom of the fourth with a RBI triple from Stefan Malkuch scoring Tyler Nelson who doubled down the left field line for an 8-1 score. 

The Blue Hawks hit their third home run of the game as Isbell went yard pushing the lead to 11-1 with a two run blast.   

MSUB added a run in the fifth loading the bases for Steve Larson who was plunked by the pitch to score Nick Rupert for an 11-2 score.  Rupert led off the fifth with a single, marking the first time today that the Jackets put the first batter on base in an inning.  The Jackets added another run in the sixth for an 11-3 score.

The Jackets added two runs in the bottom of the seventh on an error, but could not muster anymore, falling 11-5 in the opener.

A two out rally in the bottom of the first gave the Yellowjackets a 2-0 lead in the nightcap as Joe Via and Jonathan Schlender hit back-to-back RBI doubles.

The lead didn’t last for long as Richard Gonzalez went deep in the top of the second inning to tie the game at two. 

Dickinson State took the lead as Boudreau doubled to right field for a RBI making the score 3-2.  A pair of errors on one play led to the second run of the inning for DSU as it increased the lead to 4-2. 

Cole Pryor led off the bottom of the third with his first home run of the season (off the scoreboard) as the Jackets cut the deficit to 4-3.  Pryor hit his second home run of the game in the bottom of the fourth, this time a three run shot to right field for a 6-4 lead.  Via hit his team-leading third home run of the season, a solo shot increasing the lead to 7-4. 

A pair of doubles to right field by DSU in the fifth made the score 7-6 as Stefan Malkuch relieved Brian Howe to begin the inning. Moments later, Escobedo hit a sacrifice fly to even the score at seven.     

Nick Harris led off the sixth with a double to right field, followed by an intentional walk for Pryor to put two men on with one out.  After a pitching change, the Blue Hawks got out of the jam unscathed. 

Schlender led off the bottom of the seventh with a double, followed by a Matt Kakalecik walk and Johnson blasted a walk-off three run home run to right center for a 10-7 victory.

Pryor led the way for the Jackets today going 4 for 8 with a double, two home runs, five RBIs and three runs scored.

The Yellowjackets return to conference play as Western Oregon visits Saturday and Sunday for a pair of doubleheaders.  Play begins at 1 p.m. on both days.