Yellowjackets Split with Wildcats (3/17/07)
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

ELLENSBURG, WA- The Montana State-Billings baseball team bounced back from a 11-1 loss in game one against Central Washington Saturday to win 3-2 in the late game.  The Yellowjackets remain .500 on the season at 12-12, while the Wildcats dropped to 11-5 overall.

Stellar pitching by the Wildcats’ Travis Bertholf kept the Yellowjackets’ offense from getting off the ground in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader.  The Jackets’ lone run of the game came in the eighth inning from Kyle Pryor (Billings, MT).  With two outs, Pryor reached on a Central Washington fielding error.  He then stole second base and reached third on a Wildcats’ throwing error.  Stealing his career-high third base of the game, Pryor crossed home plate, scoring for MSUB.

The Jackets managed just two hits in the game to Central Washington’s 16.  Kyle McBride (Billings, MT) took the loss for the Yellowjackets allowing seven runs off 11 hits.  McBride fell to 1-2 on the season.  Bobby Henderson (Frenchtown, MT) took over the mound in the sixth inning and allowed four runs off five hits in three innings of work. 

John Lobbestael led the Wildcats’ charge going 2-for-4 scoring one run and five RBIs.  Jamie Nilsen, CWU’s leading batter, went 3-for-5 scoring three runs and one RBI.  Bertholf earned the win for the Wildcats, to improve to 1-0.   He allowed just one run and one hit in eight innings of work.  He struck out 11 batters.

“Hats off to the Wildcats’ Bertholf,” said Yellowjacket head coach Chris Brown.  “He had a heck of a fast ball that was tough to get a hold of.  We knew we needed to shake things up in the second game.  We had a great approach and mindset and that was the difference.  Brian (Strom) threw a great ballgame and you can’t ask for anything more from a pitcher.”

It only took three runs in the late game for the Yellowjackets to earn the win.  Scoring his second run of the day, Pryor was walked to start the game.  Advancing to second and then third, a Willie Crtalic (Billings, MT) single through the left side plated Pryor.

Central Washington scored both runs in the second inning as Yellowjacket pitcher Brian Strom (Littleton, CO) hiccupped momentarily.  Strom hit a batter, coupled with a fielding error and a wild pitch, Nate Rylaarsdam and Tyler Scoggin scored for the Wildcats.

The Yellowjackets tied the game 2-2 in the fourth inning.  Crtalic doubled down the left line and a single by Jordan Shine (Great Falls, MT) brought Crtalic home.  MSUB’s Matt Schoonover (Great Falls, MT) scored the winning run in the sixth inning.  Schoonover singled and advanced to second on Nick Hoskyn’s (Oelwein, IA) sacrifice bunt.  Schoonover moved to third and scored on a muffed pitch by the Wildcats to keep the Jackets .500.

Crtalic went 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI, while Schoonover went 1-for-4 with a run.  The Jackets’ Strom improved to 3-2 on the season throwing the complete game.  Strom scattered three hits in seven innings and struck out four.

Jordan Moore took the loss for the Wildcats to drop to 0-2.  Moore allowed three runs and four hits, striking out five in five and two-thirds innings.

“Central Washington is a good team and we need to show up ready to play on Sunday,” added Brown.  “We will need to bring our ‘A’ game and have the mindset that we can win.”

The Yellowjackets and Wildcats will meet again for a doubleheader on Sunday in Ellensburg.  First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. MST.  Steve Scott (Billings, MT) will pitch in game one for the Yellowjackets and Ben Lewerke (Mason City, IA) will open game two.  Following tomorrow’s games, the Yellowjackets travel to Jefferson City, Missouri for four games against Heartland Conference opponent Lincoln University (4-18, 1-11).  The Yellowjackets’ home opener is slated for Friday, March 30 against Oklahoma Panhandle State (3-17, 0-16).  The doubleheader is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at Cobb Field.