Yellowjackets Split Twin Bill with Bemidji State

Game 1 Box

Game 2 Box

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BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings baseball team came back from a 9-5 loss to split a non-conference twin bill with visiting Bemidji State Saturday afternoon.  MSUB took the nightcap, 7-3.  The teams will conclude their series tomorrow with a doubleheader at noon.

It was the third annual Alumni Day as a number of former Yellowjacket baseball players were honored before the game and were escorted to their former positions by current MSUB players for the National Anthem. 

Bemidji State (16-35) came out swinging in the top of the first as Josh Silvernagel and Colton Smith both reached on singles.  A fielder’s choice moved Silvernagel to third, followed by a walk and a bases-loaded sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead.  A throwing error plated the second run, followed by a RBI single up the middle by Ryan Bohannan for a 3-0 lead.

The Yellowjackets (22-24) loaded the courtesy of a double from Ty Sobieraj, a single from Patch Wirtzberger and a walk.  Brian Dukart laced a two RBI single up the middle for a 3-2 score.  Matt Schoonover then doubled to left to tie the game at three.

A two out double by Andrew Hernandez plated Ryan Skillern who reached on an error by the BSU second baseman for a 4-3 lead.

The Beavers followed suit in the top of the sixth with a two out rally as Silvernagel singled home Alex Messick for a 4-4 score.  MSUB head coach Chris Brown went to the bullpen and brought in reliever Cody Clark.  Clark loaded the bases, but got pinch-hitter, Paul Newman, to strikeout to end the threat.

Sobieraj began the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run – his first as a Yellowjacket. Sobieraj belted the Brent Vollbrecht offering to left field giving the Yellowjackets a 5-4 lead.

Nick Jelacie answered Sobieraj’s home run in the top of the seventh with one of his own, tying the game at five.  It was Jelacie’s third round-tripper of the season.   Bohannan reached on an error and advanced to second putting the go ahead run in scoring position.  Bohannan advanced to third on a passed ball with one out.  Clark got out of the jam, getting a ground out and a strikeout to end the threat and keep the score tied.

P.J. McIntee began the Beaver’s eighth inning as he reached on the fourth error of the game by MSUB.  Silvernagle advanced McIntee to third on a sacrifice bunt.  Paul Newman lined a two RBI double to left center giving the lead back to Bemidji State for the first time since the first inning.  Justin Huether lined a single up the middle, plating the third run of the inning.  A dropped fly by plated the fourth run of the inning for the Beavers for a 9-5 score.

Hernandez and Sobieraj led game one with two hits each. Brian Dukart had two RBI to lead the way.  Brian Howe went 5.2 innings, allowing eight hits, four runs – three earned, two walks and three strikeouts.  He set the single season record for strikeouts with 51.  The previous record was 49 since baseball was reinstated at MSUB.  Jeff Bjorklund (2-4) earns the loss, going one inning, allowing four runs – two earned on two hits.
Bemidji State opened the nightcap scoring a run in the second as Nick Jelacie reached on an error, followed by back-to-back singles for a 1-0 lead.

The Yellowjackets had a good opportunity to tie the game in the bottom of the second with a two out rally.  An error and two singles gave the Jackets a chance in the inning, but a great throw by Bohannon on a Patch Wirtzberger single gunned down Ty Sobieraj at the plate for the third out.

The Yellowjackets tied the game in the bottom of the third using small-ball.  A lead-off single by Brian Dukart, followed by a nice sacrifice bunt from Bryce Thomas led to a RBI single from Matt Schoonover for a 1-1 score.

The Beavers regained the lead in the fourth as Huether reached on a Yellowjacket miscue, followed by a double from Nick Jelacie.  Bohannan grounded out to score the first of two runs.  Moments later, a sacrifice fly scored the second run of the inning and a 3-1 lead.

MSUB came right back in the bottom of the fifth as Dukart reached base for third time in the game, followed by another nice sacrifice bunt from Thomas.  Harris lined a singled to score Dukart for a 3-2 deficit.

With nobody out in the bottom of the sixth, MSUB got the first two batters on, courtesy of a hit batsman and a Mike Cease single to center.  Wirtzberger put down a sacrifice bunt, moving the runners to second and third.  Dukart then laced a single through the right side to tie the game at three.  Thomas then chopped a ball to third base as Colton Smith went home with the throw hitting Cease in the head with the ball as he scored the go ahead run. 

Schoonover then roped a single to center, scoring two runs for a 6-3 lead.  BSU head coach, Tim Bellew, made his second call to the bullpen as reliever Bryan Jamieson was tagged for four earned runs in just two thirds of an inning.  Ailes hit a RBI single as well for the fifth run in the inning and a 7-3 lead.

Dukart went 3 for 3 with a RBI and three runs scored to lead the team.  Schoonover was 2 for 3 with three RBI as well.  Archie Smith (4-4) went the distance, allowing eight hits, three runs – one earned and three strikeouts.  Anthony Turk was 2 for 2 with two RBI for BSU.

They Yellowjackets will honor nine seniors tomorrow on Senior Day prior to the 12 p.m. doubleheader with Bemidji State.