Schoonover Garners Heartland Award (4/18/07)

BILLINGS, MT – Montana State-Billings baseball player Matt Schoonover was named the Heartland Conference hitter of the week for the week of April 9-15.  The honor is Schoonover’s first and the Yellowjackets' fifth this season. 

Schoonover, a freshman second baseman from Great Falls, Montana, led the Yellowjackets to a 3-3 overall record for the weekend with games against conference opponent Lincoln University and non-conference opponent Jamestown College.  After sitting idle for three weeks due to snow-outs, Schoonover blasted away at the plate against the Blue Tigers’ defense.  In the first game of the four-game series against Lincoln, Schoonover went 2-for-3 scoring two runs and a career-high four RBIs.  He hit his first collegiate home run against the Tigers and went on to hit a home run in each of the four games against Lincoln University.  The third of his four homers was an almost unheard of infield home run.

Schoonover scored runs in all five games in which he played and had RBIs in four of the five games.  For the week, Schoonover batted .429 and went 6-for-14 at the plate.  Scoring eight runs and seven RBIs, he had one double, four home runs, two stolen bases, and was walked three times.

The Jackets continue their Heartland Conference schedule April 20 and 21 when they host St. Mary’s (27-14, 19-9) at Cobb Field.  Friday’s doubleheader is set to begin at 4:00 p.m. with Saturday’s first pitch slated for 3:00 p.m.