‘Jackets Earn Split at Grand Canyon

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Montana State Billings baseball team earned a split at Grand Canyon Friday afternoon as GCU won the opener 7-2, while MSUB earned the split with a 2-1 victory in the nightcap.  With the split, MSUB improves to 2-8 on the year and snaps an eight-game losing skid dating back to the second game of the season.

In the opener, the ‘Lopes opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with a RBI single by Matt Fox, scoring an unearned run, and followed with two more runs in the second on a RBI double and a RBI groundout for a 3-0 lead.

MSUB got on the board in the third inning as Stefan Malkuch walked to lead off the inning and Chris Round was hit by the pitch two put two runners on.  Cole Pryor singled on a sacrifice to load the bases with nobody out.  Andrew Hernandez scored Malkuch on a fielder’s choice, but the Yellowjackets stranded two runners in the inning.

The Yellowjackets pulled to within 3-2 in the fourth on an error by the shortstop, scoring Joie Via who walked to lead off the inning. 

GCU blew the game open in the fifth, plating four runs on five hits and one costly Yellowjacket error, which scored two of the runs for a 7-2 lead.

Steve Scott (0-1) took the loss in the opener for the Yellowjackets as he went five innings, allowing 12 hits, seven runs – six earned, one walk and he fanned three.  Grand Canyon kept the Yellowjacket bats in check as they had just two hits for the game, one by Nick Harris and Pryor.

In the nightcap, Brian Howe (1-1) went the distance for MSUB allowing three hits, one earned run, one walk and four strikeouts.  Brian Dukart went 3 for 3 in the game with two runs scored as well. 

“Howe threw the best game that he has thrown here, he mixed it up and Brian Dukart had a great day and was the spark offensively for us in the second game,” head coach Chris Brown said.  “All is all it was a great team effort and I was pleased how the team bounced back and hopefully gives us some momentum going into tomorrow.” 

The Yellowjackets jumped on top early with one run in the first, courtesy of a Dukart triple followed by a RBI groundout by Levi Johnson for the early 1-0 lead.

GCU tied the game in the third on a RBI single, but the Yellowjackets didn’t panic as Dukart played the hero, leading off the sixth inning with a single and later scoring with two outs on a passed ball for a 2-1 lead.

MSUB had a chance to add to the lead in the seventh with a one out double by Kyle Ailes, but a fly out and ground out followed to end the threat.  The ‘Lopes went down in order in the bottom of the inning.

The teams will play the final two games of the series tomorrow at 1 p.m.  MSUB then plays four neutral site games against Mary beginning with a doubleheader Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at the Gene Autry Complex in Mesa, Ariz.