Bats Come Alive in Wild Doubleheader Split Saturday

Game One

Game Two

Photo Gallery

BILLINGS, Mont. – On a crazy, record-setting afternoon, the Montana State Billings baseball team split a doubleheader with Central Washington.  The Wildcats won the opener 31-15 and MSUB used a walk-off RBI single from Jordan Kessler in the bottom of the seventh for a 13-12 win.  With the split of the four game series, MSUB stands at 8-17 overall and 7-9 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  The Wildcats are 6-18 and 4-8 in conference play.

"Quite a few guys had good days," head coach Chris Brown said. "I'm happpy we bounced back today. I have never seen anything like the first game, but hopefully we will bounce back and take what happened in this series into the second half of the season."

The Wildcats jumped out in front in the first inning as they loaded the bases courtesy of a double from lead-off hitter Ricky McKinney. A single and a walk followed but Yellowjacket hurler Brian Howe retired the next two batters and almost got out of the jam on a 3-2 pitch to Kevin Walkenhauer who hit a grounder to the right side of second base for an error, plating two runs.

The lead was short lived, however, as MSUB plated three runs in the bottom of the frame on four hits.  Patch Wirtzberger got things started with a lead-off single to left.  After a fielder’s choice, Jordan Kessler hit his first home run as a Yellowjacket – a two run shot to right center tying the game at two. Matt Schoonover singled home Kessler for the third run and a 3-2 score.

In the back-and-forth affair, McKinney belted a two run blast to right center for a 4-3 advantage for CWU in the top of the second.  Two costly errors prolonged the inning as Jake Hammons hit a two out RBI single for a 5-3 lead. The Wildcats added 11 more runs in the inning as all but one batter batted around twice.  In addition, 12 of the 14 runs in the inning scored with two outs for a 16-3 lead.

CWU plated five more runs in the third for a 21-3 score. A three run blast from Keola Rubin highlighted the frame and it was his third home run of the series as he had two yesterday.

The Yellowjackets stopped the 19-run spurt by CWU as Schoonover belted a double to right center and Blake Nelson singled him home for the fourth run of the game for MSUB and a 21-4 score.  CWU added seven more runs in the fifth for a 28-4 lead. 

A two out double by Nelson and a CWU miscue sparked the Yellowjackets to three runs courtesy of a three run home run by Chris Round to dead center field for a 28-7 score.  CWU added three more runs for a 31-7 lead.

The Yellowjackets began to climb back in the game in the ninth as they plated eight runs in the ninth on six hits.  The rally began as Jaret Chatwood doubled to right.  Sam Kinzeler hit an infield single to score the first run.  Ryan Dennehy, and Chatwood hit two and three RBI hits, respectively, to highlight the inning.

For the opener, Chatwood went 4 of 6 with three RBI and two runs scored.  Dukart went 3 for 6 with an RBI and two runs scored as MSUB belted a season-high 20 hits.  The Jackets also had seven batters with multiple hits.  Round led the way with four RBI.

The 31 runs by CWU was the most allowed by a Yellowjacket baseball team since the sport was reinstated. The 15 runs tied the most runs this season for MSUB.  The 46 combined runs came within one run of tying the GNAC record of 47 set between CWU and Western Oregon in a seven-inning game in 2002.

The offensive fireworks continued in the nightcap as the teams combined for 25 runs.  CWU jumped out to an early 4-0 lead through the first inning and a half, but the Yellowjackets came roaring back, scoring in every inning after the first.  A Dusty Noraker RBI single to left tied the game in the second inning.  MSUB plated five runs in the third on two costly CWU errors.  Chatwood belted a two RBI double to highlight the frame and a 6-4 lead.

The Wildcats wouldn’t go quietly as they came back with two runs in the top of the fourth, but MSUB continued the offensive onslaught with three more runs in the bottom of the inning as Dennehy led the inning off with a solo home run to deep right center and Chatwood belted a two run shot to right center for a 9-6 advantage.

The Jackets added a run in the sixth for a 10-6 lead heading into the final inning.

CWU battled all the way back in the seventh courtesy of a two run double from Jake Hammons and later a two run single from pinch-hitter Danny Myers for a 10-10 score.

Dennehy began the bottom of the frame with a lead-off triple to deep right and after a Dukart ground out, Jordan Kessler singled to right to score the game-winning run, 13-12.

Four different Yellowjackets each had three hits as Chatwood was 3 for 4 with three runs scored and four RBI to lead the way offensively.  Ryan Pollock got the no decision in five innings of work, allowing five hits, seven runs – five earned, two walks and two strikeouts.  Kyle Gieselman (2-0) earned the victory coming in relief in the seventh and allowing two hits – one earned run and he fanned two.

Ryan Tarver (0-2) earns the loss pitching just a third of an inning, allowing two hits and one earned run.

The Yellowjackets now head to Northern Colorado for a three-game set next Friday.  The Jackets return to Dehler Park, Apr. 10, versus Saint Martin’s at 3 p.m.