Jackets Host Lincoln in HLC Play (4/13/06)

BILLINGS, MT – After racking up 21 runs and back to back losses Tuesday against Central Washington University, the Jackets will be looking for redemption against Heartland Conference opponent Lincoln University April14 and 15.  The doubleheaders are scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. both Friday and Saturday and will be contested at Cobb Field.  The Blue Tigers are 13-23 overall with the Jackets at 9-25 on the season.  Both teams are tied in the conference at 7-17 and will be vying for sole possession of fourth place in the league following the four games this weekend.

The Blue Tigers are led offensively by Justin Ortmeyer.  Ortmeyer is batting a .325 and has driven in 23 RBI to go with 22 runs off 37 hits.  He has also had eight doubles and three home runs.  Tyrell Roseburrow (.289) is playing well at the plate but should be watched closely on base as he has stolen 14 bases on 16 attempts.  Teammate Derrek Nordquist (.261) has hit five doubles, four triples and has batted in 23 runs.  He also has a team leading five home runs to go with 26 runs.  Matt Rose leads the Tigers pitching staff with a 4-3 record and a 3.49 ERA.  Rose has allowed 24 runs off 31 hits in 38.2 innings of work.  He has walked 18 batters and struck out 24.

The Yellowjackets’ Kyle Pryor (Jr., Billings, MT) is batting .295 and has 17 runs off 31 hits.  Pryor has seven RBI and has stolen 11 of 15 bases.  Willie Crtalic (Jr., Billings, MT) has been a steady force at the plate with a .270 batting average and leads the team in stolen bases (11-12).  Crtalic has 20 runs off 27 hits and has had five doubles, one triple and one home run to go with 12 RBI.  Junior Nick Hoskyn (Oelwein, IA) leads the Jackets with 19 runs batted in and six doubles.  The Jackets have lowered their ERA substantially since the start of the season and are currently at 7.91 as a team.  Leading the Yellowjacket pitchers is Ben Lewerke (Jr., Mason City, IA) who is 1-1 on the season with a 2.16 earned run average.  Lewerke has pitched 25 innings allowing 11 runs off 22 hits, striking out 15.  As a team the Yellowjackets are batting a .245 with a combined 139 runs, 110 RBI’s and just five home runs. 

Following this weekends doubleheaders the Yellowjackets will host Miles City Community College in an exhibition game Tuesday April 18.  The nine inning game will begin at 4:00 p.m. at Cobb Field.