Jackets Baseball Takes Two at Lincoln (3/25/07)
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
 

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – The Montana State-Billings baseball team wrapped up its final road-trip of the season on a high note winning both games against Heartland Conference opponent Lincoln University.  The Yellowjackets surpassed the .500 mark for the first time in school history to improve to 16-14 overall and 9-11 in conference play.  The Lincoln Blue Tigers continue to struggle dropping to 7-23 and 4-16 in the league.

The Yellowjackets pounded out runs in the first through sixth innings and were started off with a walk and a steal by Kyle Pryor (Billings, MT).  Nick Hoskyn (Oelwein, IA) doubled to plate Pryor for the RBI.

The Tigers’ lone run of the game came from Mike Hall in the second inning and was unearned.

Seth Moir (Cody, WY) put the icing on the Yellowjackets’ cake in the third inning on a two-run home run to right field to lock up the game for MSUB.  Not wanting to be left out, Josh Wiley (Belgrade, MT) knocked a home run out of the park, his second of the season, in the fourth inning.

Seven different Yellowjackets recorded hits with five drilling doubles in the game.  The Jackets were led by Pryor who went 2-for-3 with two runs.  Jake Samuelson (Helena, MT) and Hoskyn each went 2-for-4 scoring one run and one RBI.  Jordan Shine (Great Falls, MT) and Moir each had two RBI in the game. 

Ben Lewerke (Mason City, IA) continued his dominance on the mound allowing just one run and four hits in six innings of work to improve to 5-1 overall.  Lewerke struck out five in the effort.  Chris Martin (Billings, MT) came in to relieve Lewerke for the final inning and allowed just one hit.

Matt Rose took the loss for the Tigers allowing six runs off eight hits in five innings.  Rose struck out four and walked two.  Hall went 1-for-3 for Lincoln and scored one run.

The Yellowjackets were out-hit 9-6 in game two but went on to earn the win in eight innings.  The Blue Tigers scored in the first inning on a Troy Malesky double down the right field line.  Malesky advanced to third on the next out and was plated by Ryan Becker’s double to center field.

The Jackets were kept scoreless until the sixth inning.  Shine was walked to start off the inning and advanced to second on Wiley’s ground out.  Pryor singled to left field, advanced to second on the throw and picked up the RBI, scoring Shine.  Doug Longfellow (Lewistown, MT) hit a single to plate Pryor for the 2-1 lead.

The Tigers answered back with one run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at two apiece.  Scoreless in the seventh inning the game was forced into extra innings. 

With two outs on the board, Wiley single through the left side and moved to second on Pryor’s single.  With runners on first and second bases, the Blue Tigers unraveled on the next play that turned out to be their demise.  Longfellow knocked a single and moved clear to third base on Tiger errors that scored unearned runs for Pryor and Wiley.

Holding their breath, the Jackets allowed the Tigers to score one unearned run in the eighth before Pryor made an incredible play.  Mike Rodgers came in to pinch run at second base for the Tigers and a Yellowjacket error with two outs set Rodgers on a course for home plate and the tying run.  The Jackets’ Pryor was waiting at the plate to make the tag and take the win for MSUB.

Pryor went 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI with Longfellow going 2-for-4 with one RBI.  Mike Cease (Deer Lodge, MT) picked up the win allowing one run off four hits in 2 2/3 innings.

Malesky had a solid game going 2-for-4 with two runs while his teammate Ryan Becker went 1-for-3 with two RBI.  Mat Bolzenius (0-4) took the loss for the Tigers allowing two runs off three hits in two innings on the mound.

The Yellowjackets play host to Heartland Conference foe Oklahoma Panhandle (5-19, 2-18) to open a 24-game home stand at Cobb Field March 30 and 31.  First pitch of Friday’s doubleheader is slated for 2:00 p.m.  The Yellowjackets swept the Aggies March 9 and 10 in Goodwell, Oklahoma.