Yellowjackets Close Out 2010 Home Season with Bemidji State Friday and Saturday

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings baseball team closes out the 2010 home slate this weekend with a four-game, non-conference series with Bemidji State at Dehler Park.  The first of two scheduled doubleheaders begins at 4 p.m., Friday at Dehler Park and the second is slated for Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Yellowjackets enter the series at 8-32 overall and are looking to snap a 16-game skid.  MSUB’s last win was Mar. 27 with a 13-12 home victory over Central Washington.  The Beavers enter with a 16-35 record after being swept Wednesday at the University of Mary.  Bemidji State has dropped four straight and has gone 7-28 in its last 35 games.

Saturday will be the final home series for six seniors as Brian Dukart, Ty Sobieraj, Matt Schoonover, Chris Round, Patch Wirtzberger and Cody Clark all will be playing their final home games in a Yellowjacket uniform.

Leading the way for the Yellowjackets this season is Dukart who leads the team with a .344 average in 38 games.  He is second on the team in hits (43) and is tied for third in RBIs with 18.  Schoonover is second among everyday starters in average at a .336 clip and he leads the team with 47 hits, second in doubles (11) and also is tied for third in RBIs.  Junior transfer Jaret Chatwood leads the team with 12 doubles, four home runs and 27 RBIs.  He is slugging a team-best .519 while hitting at a .323 clip.

As a team, the Jackets are hitting .293 on the year with 365 hits, including 97 extra-base hits on 75 doubles, eight triples and 14 home runs.  The team is slugging an even .400 and has an on-base percentage of .357.  MSUB is 10 of 19 in stolen bases and carries a .941 fielding percentage with 77 errors.

On the bump, the Jackets have struggled at times this season, but last week versus Northwest Nazarene was probably their best series pitching performance of the year.  Kody Kennedy leads the team in wins with a 3-4 mark in nine appearances.  He is second on the team in innings pitched at a 46.2 clip.  He leads the team with 44 strikeouts and opponents are hitting just .227 against him.

Brian Howe leads the team in innings pitched at 51.1 in 10 appearances and 10 starts.  He and Kennedy each have two complete games.  As a staff, the Jackets carry an 8.88 ERA into this weekends contest.  MSUB has 206 strikeouts on the year and as allowed 380 runs with 297 earned.  The 77 miscues have led to 83 unearned runs. 

The Beavers are led by Josh Silvernagel who leads the team with a .333 average in 38 games.  Dan Bauer (.325) leads the team with 55 hits, third in home runs with seven and second in RBIs with 35.  Colton Smith leads the team with 13 doubles, while Nick Jelacie has 12 doubles, three triples and a team-high nine round-trippers. 

As a team Bemidji State is hitting .280 on the year with 434 hits, including 81 doubles, eight triples and 39 home runs for a .418 slugging percentage.  BSU has an on-base percentage of .349 and has swiped 46 bags in 61 attempts.  In the field, the Beavers carry a .959 fielding percentage and have committed 68 errors.

From the mound, the Beavers also have struggled as they enter with an 8.48 ERA.  Ethan Branum leads the team with a 4-4 record mainly in relief, while Ryan Anderson leads in innings pitched at a 43.1 clip.  Dan Bauer leads the team with 41 strikeouts on the year and has a 3-3 record in 13 appearances with four starts and two complete games.

As a staff, the Beavers have allowed 426 runs and 353 earned runs this season, while scoring 263 runs.  BSC has allowed 73 unearned runs on 68 errors. 

This is the second meeting between the two schools as the teams split a four-game series last season at Dehler Park.  Bemidji State won the opener last season 9-5, while the Jackets won the middle two games, 7-3 and 3-2.  Bemidji State evened the series with a 7-5 victory in the fourth game.