Yellowjackets Swept at Northwest Nazarene in Twinbill

Game One

Game Two

NAMPA, Idaho – The Montana State Billings baseball team dropped the final doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Northwest Nazarene, 11-7 and 9-5 as it fell to 6-15 on the year and 5-7 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  NNU improved to 13-12 and 7-5 in league play and took sole possession of second place in the league standings.

The Jackets jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first two innings of the opener as Matt Schoonover doubled home two runs in the first inning and a Brian Dukart RBI triple and Jaret Chatwood reached base scoring a run on a Crusader error for two more in the second inning.

The Crusaders came right back in the middle frames, plating eight runs and added three more in the seventh and eighth innings for a 11-4 lead.  The Jackets continued to fight and plated three runs in the ninth on four hits leaving the bases loaded on a ground out to end the game.  Chatwood belted a two run home run and a Dusty Noraker RBI single highlighted the frame.

Schoonover went 3 for 5 with two RBI to lead the opener for the Yellowjackets.  Jeff Ridgeway went 2 for 5 with two runs scored and Jordan Kessler went 2 for 3 with two runs scored.  NNU’s Sean McDonald tied the NNU single game record with three doubles as he went 4 for 5 with four runs scored and an RBI. 

Brian Howe (1-4) took the loss in six innings as he allowed 12 hits on eight runs with six earned and one strikeout.  Charles Pollock (1-1) pitched seven innings allowing six hits, four earned runs, five walks and eight strikeouts.

In the nightcap, the Jackets jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBI single by Kessler.  NNU came back in the bottom of the inning with five runs on six hits with an error off Yellowjacket hurler Ryan Pollock.  

The Jackets came within one run in the third with an RBI fielder’s choice and an RBI double by Schoonover and Chatwood scored on a wild pitch for a 5-4 deficit.

The Crusaders added four more runs in the next two innings for a 9-4 lead and MSUB added one run in the seventh on a throwing error for a 9-5 loss.

Kessler lead the way for MSUB in the nightcap going 3 for 4 with two RBI and one run scored as he was the only Jacket to have multiple hits.  McDonald also came through offensively in the nightcap going 3 for 4 with one run scored and an RBI.

Pollock (0-3) lasted just 0.2 innings allowing six hits, five earned runs, two walks and one strikeout in just eight batters faced.  Kyle Gieselman and Andrew Sanchez combined the rest of the way allowing seven hits, four earned runs, two walks and three strikeouts.  McDonald earned the nightcap victory in four innings of relief allowing two hits, one run, none earned, one walk and he fanned five.

The Jackets open the home slate Friday, Mar. 26, at 3 p.m. versus Central Washington to begin a four game set at Dehler Park.