Kakalecik’s Home Run Earns MSUB Win (4/7/06)
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Game Photos

BILLINGS, MT – You wouldn’t believe that the Montana State-Billings baseball team struggled early in the season as they swept Heartland Conference opponent St. Edward’s University Friday at Cobb Field.  The Jackets took game one 6-5 and salted away the second game winning 5-0.  The Yellowjackets have now won nine of the last 14 games to improve to 9-21 overall and 7-15 in the conference.  The Hilltoppers fell to 21-16 and 14-8 in the league.

The Jackets' Cinderella story of game one was made on freshman Matt Kakalecik’s (Great Falls, MT) walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning with the score tied 5-5.  Kakalecik took the Hilltoppers' first pitch and put it over the fence to give the Jackets their third straight win at home.  To start the game the Jackets jumped out to the quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first.  Kyle Slater (Jr., Missoula, MT) drove in two RBI on a single down left field and Doug Longfellow (Jr., Lewistown, MT) scored. 

In the fifth inning Hilltopper Brian Thomas doubled to bring Bradley Goldsmith home.  Thomas stole third and a hit by Stephen Puhl and a sacrifice fly by Yannick Bergeron brought in two more runs giving the Hilltoppers the 5-3 advantage.  In the bottom of the fifth the Jackets rallied.  Kakalecik reached first base on a Hilltopper error, and Mike Wardell (So., Billings, MT) hit his first home run of the season to draw the teams to a 5-5 tie.  Neither team scored in the sixth inning and in the seventh, Jon Clark (Jr., Anaconda, MT) seated three Hilltoppers in order to allow the Jackets’ Kakalecik to ding his second home run of the season for the “W”.

“We had very timely hitting in game one,” said Yellowjacket head coach Chris Brown.  “Matt (Kakalecik) and Mike (Wardell) were our offensive hero’s of the game.  We made nice plays and were able to get the out when needed.  We were consistent at bat and made St. Edward’s work hard.  On the mound, Nate (Herbig) battled it out and Jon (Clark) closed the door for us.”

Game two proved to be one of consistency.  The Jackets got the scoring started in the second on a sacrifice bunt by Willie Crtalic (Jr., Billings, MT) that advanced Slater to second.  Luke Sansaver (Jr., Wolf Point, MT) singled up the middle for an RBI.  In the fourth, Jake Samuelson (Jr., Helena, MT) and Wardell each had an RBI with Crtalic bringing in two. 

In both games combined the Jackets left only five runners stranded.  On the day, Kyle Pryor (Jr., Billings, MT) was 3-for-5 with two runs.  Crtalic was 3-for-5 with one run, one RBI and one stolen base, his eighth of the season.  Both Kakalecik and Wardell combined for two home runs, four runs batted in and three runs.  Clark (1-0) earned the win in the first game, striking out two.  Kyle McBride (Jr., Billings, MT) threw the shutout in game two, scattering five hits over seven innings of work.  McBride is now 2-4 overall with both wins coming from complete games.

“Kyle (McBride) threw another complete game shutout for us,” added Brown.  “What more could you ask for?  We were able to capitalize on a couple of mistakes and that is what needs to be done if we are going to be successful.  We made good things happen, we were aggressive, and we stayed positive throughout the day.”

The Yellowjackets will meet St. Edward’s Saturday, April 8, to play a Heartland Conference doubleheader.  First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Cobb Field.  Following Saturday’s games, the Jackets will host Central Washington University (10-14) in non-conference play Tuesday, April 11.  The doubleheader will begin at 11:00 a.m.