Yellowjackets Head to Division I Northern Colorado

BILLINGS, Mont. – Montana State Billings’ baseball team returns to action Friday as it travels to the University of Northern Colorado for a four-game series with the Division I program.  MSUB began the season last weekend in Colorado and went 1-3 against Metro State in an abbreviated Metro State Baseball Kick Off Classic. 

The series begins with a single nine-inning game beginning Friday at 2 p.m., followed by a doubleheader Saturday at 11 a.m. and a single nine-inning game Sunday at 12 p.m.  Yellowjacket fans can follow the games with live stats via www.uncbears.com.

The Yellowjackets are led by senior Joe Via who is batting .500 thus far.  He is tied for the team lead in hits with five with sophomore Jeff Ridgeway.  Via leads the team with a .700 slugging percentage as well, along with two doubles and two RBI.  Ridgeway is hitting .385 in three games as well with five hits, three runs, one home run and five RBI.  He is slugging .615 on the year.

As a team, the Yellowjackets are hitting .261 on the season with 31 hits, 15 runs, four doubles, one home run and 14 RBI.   MSUB has 15 walks and 34 strikeouts for an on-base percentage of .341. 

In contrast, opponents are hitting .331 against the Yellowjackets with 17 runs, 39 hits, seven doubles, two home runs and 14 RBI.  MSUB has walked just eight and struck out 19. 

On the mound, the ‘Jackets cart a 3.41 ERA in 29 innings of work, as well as eight walks and 19 strikeouts.  Jeff Bjorklund owns a 1-0 record, while Brian Strom (0-1) and Steve Scott (0-0) each have a 1.50 ERA to lead the team.  The opponents this season carry a 2.53 ERA in 32 innings of work with 15 walks and 34 strikeouts.

Northern Colorado opens the season this weekend with MSUB as mandated by Division I rules.  The Bears return nine letterwinners from last season’s squad that went 21-33 and were the co-champions at the Division I Independent Championship with a 3-1 record.

UNC is led by Kevin Sandberg who ranks sixth in school history in at bats with 544, ninth in RBI with 123, tied for second with 44 doubles and is just three shy of tying the school record.  He is 14th in the school annals with 23 home runs and 10th in total bases with 288. 

MSUB is no stranger to Northern Colorado as the two teams met last season, Apr. 12-13, with UNC winning all three contests in Greeley.  The Bears won the opener 19-8, followed by a 7-1 decision and came-from-behind to win the final game, 4-3.  MSUB had leads in two of the three games.

Following the series with UNC, the Yellowjackets have a quick turnaround as they head, Wed., Feb. 25, to Phoenix, Ariz., for two, four game series’ with Grand Canyon and Mary.  The Yellowjackets then conclude the road trip with the first conference series of the year at Northwest Nazarene, Mar. 6-7, in Nampa, Idaho.