Yellowjackets and Wolves Split Twinbill

Game One

Game Two

MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Montana State Billings baseball team battled back after a tough 10-0 loss in the opener for a 4-3 victory and a split in the first of two doubleheaders at Western Oregon Saturday afternoon.  With the split, the Yellowjackets now stand at 4-11 on the year and 3-3 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  Preseason GNAC favorite, Western Oregon, stands at 9-10 on the year and 4-2 in conference play.

“We had a lot better at bats in the second game,” head coach Chris Brown said.  “We took advantage of their mistakes and scored runs when we needed.  (Kody) Kennedy really pitched well today and got himself out of a couple of jams and I’m really proud of the way our guys responded and showed a lot of guts today.”

The Wolves opened the first game with four runs in the first and four more in the third for an 8-0 lead and went on for a 10-0 victory.  The Jackets had hits from Brian Dukart, Jaret Chatwood and Patch Wirtzberger in the losing effort. 

After Ryan Pollock struggled in the opening two innings, reliever Jacob Vulk came in and pitched the rest of the way, allowing six hits, three runs – two earned, two strikeouts and two walks.  Pollock surrendered seven runs on five hits to fall to 0-2 on the year.

The nightcap, however, was a different story as the Yellowjackets jumped on board first with three runs in the third.  Jonathon Crews got things started with a single to center, followed by a Jeff Ridgeway walk and Dukart hit a bunt single to load the bases.  Senior Matt Schoonover reached on an error by the shortstop, followed by Ridgeway scoring on a passed ball.  Chatwood singled home Dukart for the third run of the inning.

The Wolves responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth courtesy of a Yellowjacket miscue for the first two runs and a RBI single for the third and a 3-3 score.

As the momentum was beginning to swing towards WOU, Ridgeway opened the Yellowjacket fifth with a double followed by a great sacrifice bunt from Dukart and Schoonover hit a sacrifice fly scoring Ridgeway for the go ahead run. 

Kennedy got himself out of a jam in the fifth as the Wolves had runners at second and third with one out.  Kennedy got a pop up to second and a strikeout to end the threat and preserve the lead.
WOU had one last chance in the seventh as it got the tying run on base courtesy of a Yellowjacket error to begin the inning.  Kennedy again got himself out with a fly out, lineout and a groundout to end the game.

Dukart went 3 for 3 with a run scored to lead the nightcap for MSUB.  Ridgeway was 1 for 2 with two runs scored, while Schoonover was 0 for 3 but did have two RBI.  Kennedy went the distance allowing six hits, three earned runs, four walks and two strikeouts to improve to 2-0 on the year.

The two teams will be back in action tomorrow with the final doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. Pacific time.  WOU hurler, Blake Keitzman (2-2) took the loss as he also went the distance allowing six hits, four runs – two earned one walk and he struck out six.