Yellowjackets Salvage Split at Saint Martin’s

Game 1

Game 2

LACEY, Wash. – A 5 for 8 outing by Montana State Billings’ Brian Dukart helped propel the Yellowjackets to a split at Saint Martin’s in the final doubleheader of the season series.  The Saints won the opener, 3-2, and MSUB won the nightcap, 8-3.  With the split, the Yellowjackets improved to 21-23 record overall and 15-13 record in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  The Saints now are 20-24 overall and 13-14 in conference play.

SMU opened the scoring in with two runs in the third inning as Shane Schoeneberg walked after two quick outs.  He then stole second and advanced to third on a hit batsman.  Schoeneberg then stole home with the bases loaded for the first run.  Later in the inning, Travis Jones singled through the left side, driving in Zach Leonard for a 2-0 lead.

The Yellowjackets got on the board in the fourth as they played a bit of small ball after a lead-off single from Dukart.  A sacrifice bunt moved Dukart to second, followed by a fielder’s choice and a sacrifice fly by Matt Schoonover to score the first run.

Schoeneberg came up big again for the Saints in the bottom half of the fourth as he singled home the third run.  SMU could have had more in the inning, but a fielder’s choice and a nice throw by Schoonover gunned down Michael McIver at home earlier in the inning with the bases loaded. 

The ‘Jackets cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fifth as a Saint miscue proved costly.  Ryan Skillern walked to start a two out rally and advanced to second on a throwing error by the pitcher.  Cole Pryor singled home Skillern moments later for a 3-2 score.

MSUB looked to be in business in the seventh as Kyle Ailes began the inning with a double, but SMU reliever, Mat Nelson, got a strikeout, fly out and a groundout after Ailes’ double to end the threat.

An interference call happened in the first series between the two teams in Billings earlier in the year and it came up again Saturday as MSUB had one last chance in the top of the ninth.  Schoonover singled to center, followed by a fielder’s choice and the game ended as Ailes grounded out to the shortstop as Patch Wirtzberger was out at second for interference to end the game.

Dukart and Schoonover led the Yellowjackets with two hits each.  Yellowjacket hurler, Arichie Smith, went eight innings, allowing seven hits, three earned runs, one walk and three strikeouts in the losing effort.  Seven different Saints had one hit each in the opener.

The nightcap began as MSUB took an early 2-0 lead in the third as the Saints committed three errors in the inning – all with two outs.  Bryce Thomas reached on an error to get things started, followed by a Dukart single and Thomas scored on a throwing error by the Saints’ pitcher on a failed pickoff attempt.  Nick Harris singled up the middle for the second run as Dukart scored.  MSUB added another run in the fifth as Dukart singled up the middle scoring Wirtzberger for a 3-0 lead.

The lead was short lived, however, as SMU plated three runs in the bottom of the frame without getting a hit.  Two walks and a hit batsman led to a sacrifice fly for the first run.  A throwing error plated the second and third runs of the inning.

The Yellowjackets came right back in the sixth and took control of the game as they scored five runs on four hits, including three doubles scoring all five runs.  Mike Cease, playing his first game in left field this season, hit a two RBI double to left, followed by Thomas belting a two RBI double to left.  Not to be outdone, Dukart finished his day with a RBI double to right for an 8-3 lead.

SMU went down in order in the sixth and an interference call in the bottom of the seventh ended the game as well.  A single by Ryan DiMascio led to him being called out a second for interference to end the game.

Dukart led the way for MSUB with a 3 for 4 game with two RBI and one run scored.  Steve Scott went the distance, allowing three hits, three runs – one earned, three walks and four strikeouts. 

The Yellowjackets return home to host Bemidji State for Alumni Day and Senior Day next weekend.  The Yellowjackets will hold its Alumni Day Sat., May 2, at 1:30 p.m., at Dehler Park.  All MSUB baseball alumni in attendance will be introduced and have an opportunity return to their respective positions on the field for the National Anthem prior to the doubleheader.  Sunday, May 3, the Yellowjackets will honor nine seniors prior to a 12 p.m. start with the Bemidji State.