Jackets Close Season Against League Leader (5/4/06)

BILLINGS, MT – The first baseball season of the modern era is coming to a close May 5 and 6 for the Montana State-Billings baseball team.  The Yellowjackets will play host to the University of the Incarnate Word Friday and Saturday at Cobb Field.  First pitch of each doubleheader is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

The Cardinals lead the Heartland Conference with a 33-18 overall record and are 27-9 against conference opponents.  The Cardinals swept the four-game series against the Jackets earlier in the season in San Antonio, Texas scoring 37 runs to the 14 runs put up by the Yellowjackets. 

The Cardinals are skilled both at the plate and on the mound.  Power hitter Dustin Walls (.347) has scored 46 runs off 61 hits for Incarnate Word.  Walls leads the Cardinals with 11 home runs and 57 RBI.  Teammate Chris Pacheco is batting .343 for the season and has crossed the plate 55 times for the Cardinals off 61 hits.  Pacheco has drilled eight triples and is 19-for-25 in stolen bases.  Jeff Jamnik leads the Cardinal pitching staff with a 4.43 earned run average and 56 strikeouts.  Jamnik is 10-2 and has given up 45 runs off 76 hits in 81.1 innings.  Blake Weston is 9-2 overall allowing 53 runs off 87 hits and has 50 strikeouts. 

The Yellowjackets (14-32, 12-24 HLC) have won seven of their last 13 games but struggled against St. Mary’s in last weekend’s contests.  The Jackets dropped 3-of-4 games against the Rattlers and will be looking for the upset win over Incarnate Word. 

Willie Crtalic (Jr., Billings, MT), and Nick Hoskyn (Jr., Oelwein, IA) are leading the offensive charge for the Jackets.  Crtalic (.273) has eight doubles, one triple and a solo home run to go with his team leading 27 runs and 22 RBI.  Hoskyn (.248) leads the Jackets with 26 runs batted in and has had 24 runs off 37 hits.  Both Crtalic and Hoskyn have 14 stolen bases apiece.  Hurler Kyle McBride (Jr., Billings, MT) has steadily proved himself throughout the season lowering his ERA (4.61) each game of the season.  McBride (5-4) has allowed 32 runs off 55 hits in his nine appearances and has struck out a team leading 43 batters.  David Ducharme (Sr., Hamilton, MT) will play his final game as a Yellowjacket Saturday.  The senior has pitched to a 3-7 record and has given up 53 runs off 54 hits in 41.1 innings of work.  Ducharme has struck out 22 batters.