Jackets Split Pair with Aggies (3/25/06) 
Box Score 1
Box Score 2

GOODWELL, OK –   After a one day delay due to snow, the Montana State-Billings baseball team split wins with Oklahoma Panhandle State Saturday in Goodwell, Oklahoma.  The Jackets fell 5-3 in game one but schooled the Aggies in game two winning 12-0.  The Jackets are now 3-19 overall and 1-13 in the Heartland Conference standings.  The Aggies picked up their first win on the season and are 1-26 overall and 1-13 in league play.

In game one the Jackets found themselves in a 3-3 tie with the Aggies after seven regulation innings.  In the bottom of the ninth, the Aggies’ David Pierson hit a homerun with one on and two outs to give Oklahoma Panhandle the 5-3 win.

Nathan Herbig (Jr., Noxon, MT) took the loss for the Jackets.  Herbig pitched eight innings allowing eight hits.  Brandon Laffoon (So., Libby, MT) stepped in to relieve Herbig throwing to three batters in the ninth.  Laffoon threw for two outs and gave up the game winning homerun.

“We didn’t show up ready to play the first game and it showed,” said Yellowjacket head coach Chris Brown.  “We got ahead early and didn’t close the door or play to our capability.  Nate Herbig did a good job of battling and giving us a chance to win and we didn’t pick him up.”

Game two saw the Jackets come back with a vengeance putting away the easy win with 12 earned runs off 13 hits.  Chris Martin (Jr., Billings, MT) pitched a complete game allowing just three hits, and striking out six batters.  Luke Sansaver (Jr., Wolf Point, MT) went 4-for-4, scoring two runs and hitting two RBI.  Willie Crtalic (Jr., Billings, MT) and Kyle Slater (Jr., Missoula, MT) each hit a double, scored two runs and had an RBI.  Patrick Smith (So., Flagstaff, AZ) was 1-for-1 with two RBI.

“In game two, we were ready to play and were focused,” added Brown.  “Once we got ahead we never let up and kept winning every inning.  That’s a good formula for winning and that’s exactly what happened.  Chris (Martin) did a heck of a job on the hill today.  He got ahead in the count, worked down, and took control of the game.  A complete game shutout doesn’t happen very often and any time a pitcher does that, you have to pick him up and score some runs for him, which we did.  I’m very proud of the way the guys bounced back today and finished the day on a positive note.”

The Yellowjackets hit the dirt against the Aggies Sunday in a doubleheader to wrap up their games in Oklahoma.  Sunday’s doubleheader will start at 12:00 p.m. MST.  On Monday the Jackets head to Jefferson City, Missouri to play back to back doubleheaders against Lincoln University on March 29 and 30.