Baseball Heads to the Valley of the Sun for Eight Games in Four Days

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings baseball team is heading to Phoenix, Ariz., for eight games in four days beginning Friday with a doubleheader at Grand Canyon.  The Yellowjackets play GCU Friday and Saturday with doubleheaders and then play two neutral site doubleheaders against the University of Mary, Sunday and Monday at the Gene Autry Complex in Mesa, Ariz. 

The Yellowjackets head to Arizona with a 1-7 record looking to snap a seven-game skid.  Most recently, MSUB was swept last weekend at Division I Northern Colorado in four games, but had leads in three of the four games.  The Jackets haven’t won since the season opener, an 8-4 victory at Metro State, Feb. 13.

Leading the way for the Yellowjackets this season is Nick Harris who has a .444 average with eight hits, two doubles and three RBI in five games.  Stefan Malkuch is right behind at a .409 clip with nine hits (team leader), one triple and four RBI.  MSUB head coach, Chris Brown, has been platooning players thus far to find the right mix.  Patch Wirtzberger is the only Yellowjacket to have played in all eight games, while Joe Via has played in seven.

As a team, MSUB has been able to build leads in games this season, but the bullpen has struggled to keep the lead.  MSUB has had leads in six of the games thus far.  The Yellowjackets have a team ERA of 7.58 in 59.1 innings of work and have 35 strikeouts on the year compared to 21 walks. 

On the mound, Steve Scott leads the way with a 3.55 ERA in two starts and 12.2 innings of work.  He has not recorded a decision and has six strikeouts.  Andy Vennum boasts a 3.86 ERA in one relief appearance.  Scott led the team in strikeouts last season.  The Yellowjackets have tallied 13 errors leading to 11 unearned runs this season.

As a team, the Yellowjackets are hitting .265 on the year with 11 extra-base hits and 67 total hits.  MSUB has eight doubles, one triple and two home runs with 37 driven in.  The Yellowjackets have struck out 65 times and have drawn 39 walks.

Grand Canyon enters the week with a 4-6 record after splitting four home games with Cal State Los Angeles last weekend.  The ‘Lopes are led by Austin Stockfisch who leads the team hitting .375 with 12 hits, four doubles, three home runs and 12 RBI.  Tyler Bair is at a .345 clip with 10 hits as well.  Mat Fox also has three home runs to tie for the team lead.

As a team, GCU is hitting .305 on the year with 30 extra-base hits, including 20 doubles, two triples and eight home runs.  The team is slugging .460 and has an on-base percentage of .377. 

On the mound, the ‘Lopes also have a high ERA at a 7.54 clip.  Casey Collins leads the way with a 2-1 record and a team-best 1.86 ERA in three starts.  He has pitched a team-high 19.1 innings, allowing six runs and has fanned 15.  As a team, the 20 errors by GCU have led to 21 unearned runs.

The Yellowjackets and the ‘Lopes have not played since baseball was reinstated at MSUB four years ago. 

The University of Mary heads to Arizona with a 1-6 record after going 1-3 at Colorado State Pueblo last weekend.  The Marauders are off until they play MSUB Mar. 1.  CSUP outscored Mary 39-16 in the four game series, including a 20-4 score in the opener.

The Marauders are led by Casey Gray who is hitting a team-high .500 in seven games.  He has 10 hits and two doubles as well.  Ben Herauf is hitting at a .318 clip with a team-high four RBI.   The bats haven’t gotten going for the Marauders thus far as the team is hitting just .222 on the year with just nine extra-base hits.  UM has struck out 71 times in seven games as well.

Mary carries a 10.12 team ERA into the MSUB contests.  The Marauders have allowed 58 runs and 54 earned runs with 34 strikeouts and 30 walks, while teams are hitting .369 against Mary.  Nate Watson and Tyler Porter have each pitched 10 innings to lead the team.

The Yellowjackets and Marauders each won two games in the series in four meetings last season.  The teams split two games in Arizona last year and split a doubleheader in Billings as well.  Scott set the school record with 15 strikeouts against the Marauders in a victory in Arizona last season.

After the eight games against Grand Canyon and Mary, the Yellowjackets complete the spring break trip as they open GNAC play at Northwest Nazarene, Mar. 6-7 in Nampa, Idaho.  MSUB’s home opener in Dehler Park is scheduled for Mar. 31 against Colorado Christian.