Yellowjackets and Saints Split Twinbill

Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box
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BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings baseball team battled back in the nightcap of a Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader Friday afternoon for a 9-5 win and a split for the day as Saint Martin’s won the opener, 7-4.  MSUB improves to 14-12 overall and 8-2 in conference play, while SMU stands at 9-10-1 overall and 4-2-1 in the conference.

“It wasn’t bad for the home opener, we came out and we were a little flat in the first game and the nerves were going,” head coach Chris Brown said.  “I am proud of how we bounced back and hit the ball well and had only one strikeout.”

Nick Harris and Levi Johnson each had five hits on the day for the Yellowjackets and two RBIs a piece.  Chris Round hit two home runs – one in each game and had a team-high four RBI in the doubleheader.  Shane Schoeneberg led the way for SMU going 5 for seven with three RBI, a home run and three runs scored. 

In the opener, SMU jumped out early with a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on the Schoeneberg home run.  The Yellowjackets responded with two runs in the bottom of the second as Kyle Ailes reached on a bases loaded fielder’s choice for the first run.  Moments later, Round singled through the left side for the second run and a 2-1 lead.

The Saints plated three runs in the fourth, courtesy of a Michael McIver three run blast for a 4-2 lead.  SMU added another run in the fifth and one in the sixth for a 6-2 lead.

The Yellowjackets tallied a run in the sixth on Round’s first home run and second of the season for a 6-3 score.  A RBI single by the Saints in the seventh pushed the lead to 7-3, but the Yellowjackets continued to fight and scored a run in the seventh on a Harris RBI single for a 7-4 score.

James Douglas (1-3) picks up his first win of the season for the Saints in the opener as he went six innings, allowing 11 hits, four runs – three earned, one walk and one strikeout.  Jeff Brooks picks up the save in relief, going 2.2 innings and one strikeout.  Brian Howe (2-3) takes the loss for the Yellowjackets as he went 5.2 innings, allowing nine hits, six runs – five earned, three walks and five strikeouts.

A key factor in the game was MSUB had just two extra-base hits in the game (13 total hits) and hit into three critical double plays that stopped possible rallies that might have changed the outcome.

“We weren’t able to get the hits in the first game when we needed them and hit into three double plays that really hurt,” Brown added.  “I do like that we came back in the second game and got the hits when we needed them and had big innings in the second and the fourth.”

In the nightcap, SMU again took the early lead with runs in the first and second inning for a 2-0 lead.  All nine batters came to the plate in the second and fourth innings as the Yellowjackets plated the nine runs in those two innings. 

In the second, things got started with two singles, followed by a nice sacrifice bunt by Ty Sobieraj and a passed ball scored the first run.  Round hit his second home run of the game moments later for a 3-2 lead.  Harris singled to left and Matt Schoonover scored on a wild pitch for a 5-2 lead.

SMU cut the deficit to 5-3 in the third on an error by MSUB starter, Brian Strom with nobody out.  Strom and the Yellowjackets got out of the jam as Sobieraj made a great throw to second to cut down Ryan DiMascio who was attempting to steal.  Andrew Braegelmann grounded into an inning-ending double play to end the threat.

Four more runs scored for the Yellowjackets in the fourth as two errors by SMU proved costly and a Levi Johnson two run double helped the cause.  Sobieraj singled home a run as all four runs that scored were unearned. 

SMU added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, but it wasn’t enough as MSUB won the nightcap, 9-5.

Strom (3-2) earns the victory for the Yellowjackets as he went five innings, allowing five hits, four runs –two earned, four walks and four strikeouts.  Jeff Bjorklund went two innings in relief, allowing one hit and one unearned run with three strikeouts.

Matt Nelson (1-2) took the loss as he went just two innings, allowing five hits, five runs – four earned and three walks. 

MSUB outhit SMU 23-16 for the day and hit .348 for the day compared to just .246 for the Saints.  The Yellowjackets struck out just three times, compared to 15 times for SMU.  Both teams left 17 runners on base.

The series will conclude tomorrow with the final doubleheader scheduled for 6 p.m. at Pirtz Field.  MSUB will open at Dehler Park, Tues., Mar. 31, at 3 p.m. against Colorado Christian.