Yellowjackets Host League-Leading Western Oregon This Weekend

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings baseball team continues its 16-game home stand Friday with a four-game series versus Western Oregon at Dehler Park.  First pitch of the first doubleheader is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the second doubleheader is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Yellowjackets enter the series looking to snap a seven-game skid and have dropped nine of 11.  MSUB stands at 8-24 on the year and 7-13 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  Western Oregon enters with a 22-11 record overall and a 17-3 mark in the GNAC.  Since splitting a four-game conference series with MSUB in Monmouth, Ore., Mar. 13-14, the Wolves have won 12 straight. 

Leading the way for MSUB this season is Brian Dukart who leads the team with a .365 average.  He is second on the team in hits (35), fourth in RBIs (15) and third in total bases with 44.  Second on the team in average is Matt Schoonover at a .339 clip.  Schoonover is the only Yellowjacket to play and start all 32 games.  He leads the team with 39 hits, second in doubles (10) and third in RBIs with 16.  He is second in total bases with 53 and is third in slugging percentage among everyday starters at a .485 clip.

Jaret Chatwood leads the team with 11 doubles and three home runs on the year.  He also leads the team in slugging percentage at a .538 clip.  Chatwood is tied for second in hits (35) and leads the team with 25 RBI.

As a team the Yellowjackets are hitting .305 on the year with 307 hits.  The Jackets have 85 extra-base hits, including 66 doubles, seven triples and 12 home runs.  MSUB is slugging .420 and has an on-base percentage of .368. The Jackets have committed 59 errors leading to 59 unearned runs for a .942 fielding percentage.

On the mound, the Jackets are led by Kody Kennedy who leads the team with a 3-2 record in seven starts.  He has two complete games and has combined for a shutout.  Kennedy is second on the team in innings pitched (35.2) and leads the team with 35 strikeouts as opponents are hitting just .235 against him.  Brian Howe leads the team in innings pitched (37.2) and ERA at a 6.21 clip.

As a staff, the Yellowjackets have struggled at time this season as they have a team ERA of 9.11 in 237 innings.  The Jackets have surrendered 353 hits, 103 extra-base hits and opponents are hitting .342.  The Jackets have 168 strikeouts to 163 walks and have allowed 59 unearned runs (299 runs – 240 earned). 

Western Oregon enters as one of the hottest teams in the league as it has won 12-straight.  The Wolves, who started the year 0-7, have gone 22-4 since.  Jason Moseby leads the team in average at a .378 clip.  He is fourth on the team in hits (34), third in doubles with nine and second in slugging percentage at a .578 clip.  Daniel Dillard leads the team with 12 home runs and 31 RBI.  He is slugging a team-best .691 and has a .325 average.  Garrett Breda and Cesar Lopez have double-digit doubles with 13 and 11, respectively. 

As a team, the Wolves are hitting .312 on the year and holding their opponents to a .285 average.  WOU has 325 hits with 109 extra-base hits, including 65 doubles, four triples and a league-best 40 home runs.  The team is slugging .497 on the year and has an on-base percentage of .408.  The Wolves are 36 of 46 in stolen bases and have committed 38 errors leading to 25 unearned runs and a .967 fielding percentage.

On the bump, the Wolves are led by Jacob Pettit who leads the team with a 2.20 ERA.  He is 4-1 on the year in seven starts and 45 innings.  Michael Ward leads the team in innings pitched with 57.1 and leads the team with 46 strikeouts as teams are hitting just .214 against him.  Blake Keitzman, who was the GNAC Pitcher of the Year last year, is 5-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 48 innings of work.

Earlier this season, MSUB split at WOU for the first time in school history.  The Wolves won games one and three, while the Jackets took the nightcaps.  Dukart hit .571 against WOU on 8 of 14, including a double and an RBI.  Cody Clark earned a victory in relief and Kennedy earned the other victory as he went the distance allowing six hits, three earned runs, four walks and two strikeouts.  WOU hit just .231 against Kennedy.

Western Oregon lead the all-time series 19-4, including 7-1 in Billings.  The lone Yellowjacket home victory came May, 8, 2009, in a 3-2 victory at Dehler Park in the final series of the season.  The Yellowjackets won 4-3 and 15-11 in Monmouth earlier this season.  It was the first time MSUB had won two games in a series versus WOU in school history.