Yellowjacket Baseball Earns Split Against CWU (3/18/07)
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

ELLENSBURG, WA-  For the second straight day, the Montana State-Billings baseball team picked up the split against Central Washington in non-conference action. The Yellowjackets dropped the first game 7-4 only to battle back for the 4-2 win in the late game.  The Jackets are holding steady at 13-13 overall and 6-10 in the conference, while the Wildcats are posting a 12-6 record.

Down 3-0 at the top of the fifth inning, the Yellowjackets needed a run to get back into the ball game.  Mike Cease (Deer Lodge, MT) got the offense rolling for the Jackets as he reached first base on a fielder’s choice.  Kyle Pryor (Billings, MT) singled to center field and both Pryor and Cease advanced one base on the throw.  Matt Schoonover’s (Great Falls, MT) single was enough to drive in Pryor and Cease before Jake Samuelson (Helena, MT) grounded out to end the inning.

The Jackets managed just two runs over the next four innings to the Wildcats four to drop the first game of the doubleheader.  Steve Scott (Billings, MT) took the loss for the Jackets allowing six runs off 10 hits in six and two thirds innings.  Scott struck out a career-high six batters.  Schoonover went 3-for-5 scoring one run and driving in two RBI.

Wildcats’ pitcher Tyler Levin improved to 6-0 on the season in picking up the win.  Levin allowed four runs and 12 hits in seven innings of work.  Hank Anderson went 3-for-4 scoring one run and one RBI.  Derek O’Konek went 3-for-4 plating three Wildcat runners.

“We just didn’t execute well in the first game,” said Yellowjacket head coach Chris Brown.  “We had a big error in the sixth inning with two outs and that changed the course of the game.  We had every opportunity to win the game; Steve pitched a good game, we just couldn’t close it.”

Just as in Saturday’s game, the Yellowjackets got on the scoreboard first scoring two runs to open the second game.  Pryor took advantage of a wild pitch by Central Washington to score followed by a Nick Hoskyn (Oelwein, IA) single to center field which plated Schoonover. 

The Wildcats picked up one run to open their turn at bat.  Justin Marshall was walked and a single by Anderson advanced Marshall to second.  Michael Johnson singled into left field to score Marshall.

The Yellowjackets used two runs in the fourth inning to ice the win.  Jordan Shine (Great Falls, MT) hit a single and a Pat Smith (Flagstaff, AZ) double advanced Shine to third base.  Josh Wiley (Belgrade, MT) could not have timed his single to left field better as he brought in Shine and Smith for two RBI.

A last ditch effort by Central Washington came in fine fashion as Tyler Scoggin drilled his first home run of the season for the final Wildcat run in the fifth inning.

Schoonover, Smith, and Shine all went 1-for-3 scoring a run for the Yellowjackets.  Josh Wiley also went 1-for-3 and drove in two RBI in the game.  Ben Lewerke (Mason City, IA) got the job done for the Yellowjackets once again on the mound.  Lewerke improved to 4-1 allowing just two runs off seven hits in six and one third innings.  Cease came in for the final two outs effectively shutting the Wildcats down allowing no runs and no hits.

“Ben pitched a great game and Mike came in to clean up for us,” added Brown.  “Both did a great job on the mound.  Offensively we did a better job of executing in the second game.  When we had runners in scoring position we were able to finish off the inning with runs on the board.”

Scoggin led the Wildcats going 2-for 3 with one run and one RBI.  Kevin Walkenhauer drew his first loss of the season allowing four runs off eight hits in three and two thirds innings of work.  David Jackson entered the game in the fourth and allowed no Yellowjacket runs or hits, while striking out two batters.

The Yellowjackets travel to Jefferson City, Missouri March 23 and 24 for a four-game Heartland Conference series against Lincoln University (4-18, 1-11).  Following the short road trip, the Jackets will begin their 24-game home stand opening against Oklahoma Panhandle March 30.  First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at Cobb Field.