Walk-Off Home Run Sparks Yellowajackets to Split with Central Washington

Game One Box

Game Two Box

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BILLINGS, Mont. – A walk-off home run by Brian Dukart in the bottom of the seventh propelled the Montana State Billings baseball team to a split with Central Washington in a Monday afternoon doubleheader at Dehler Park.  The Wildcats won the opener, scoring 12 unanswered runs over the final five innings for a 15-8 come-from-behind victory, while MSUB responded with a thrilling 3-2 last at bat win in the second game.

“We got both ends of the spectrum today,” head coach Chris Brown said.  “In the first game, the wheels fell off midway through and they got the hits they needed to get the win.  “I am proud of the way we bounced back, Steve (Scott) pitched a great game and deserved the win.  Brian Dukart had one of the biggest hits of the season for us and it showed a lot of character on our part to battle through and win the nightcap.”

For the day, Cole Pryor led the way going 5 for 8 with two runs scored and a stolen base.  Jeff Ridgway continued his impressive series as he was 4 for 7 with two runs scored and a RBI.  Nick Harris went 3 for 7 with a home run and three RBI as the team hit .354 for the day.

MSUB built a 2-0 lead in the nightcap, only to see the Wildcats put on a rally in the sixth and seventh to tie the game.  Yellowjacket hurler, Steve Scott, had a no-hitter through three innings and in the fourth Frank Donangelo singled to right.  Scott had a one-hitter through five, but Rickey McKinney opened the sixth with single.  The Yellowjackets got the next two batters out, but a double and two walks scored the first run.

The inning ended as Yellowjacket catcher, Andrew Hernandez, gunned down Anthony Sanelli who was attempting to steal third.  The Wildcats (13-27, 9-15 GNAC) scored the equalizer in the seventh as the inning began with a Yellowjacket miscue, followed by a sacrifice bunt.  A wild pitch advanced the tying run to third, followed by a sacrifice fly for a 2-2 score.

In the bottom half, Dukart led the inning off and had 1-2 count when he blasted his first home run as a Yellowjacket over the right field fence for the game winner.

The opener was the complete opposite game from the nightcap as both teams combined for 23 runs and 34 hits, while the nightcap featured five runs and 11 hits total.

The Yellowjackets jumped out early with four runs in the bottom of the first courtesy of a RBI groundout, two RBI singles and an error.  MSUB added four more runs in the fourth, including a three run home run by Nick Harris for an 8-3 lead.
MSUB looked to be in control, but three runs in the fifth by CWU was a sign of things to come.  AJ Snowdon singled home the fourth run, followed by a two run triple from Kevin Schneider for an 8-6 score.  Donangelo homered in the seventh for an 8-7 ledger.

CWU put up eight runs in the final two innings helped out by two Yellowjacket miscues and the Wildcats put together 10 hits in those two frames alone.

MSUB now heads to Saint Martin’s, Friday and Saturday in a key GNAC battle.  The Yellowjackets return home, May 2-3 for Senior and Alumni Weekend versus Bemidji State.