Jackets Sweep Bemidji State on Senior Day; End Skid

Game One

Game Two

Photo Gallery

BILLINGS, Mont. – For the first time in over a month, the Montana State Billings baseball team tasted victory.  The Yellowjackets, playing their final home doubleheader of the season, swept a twin bill from Bemidji State Saturday, 9-8 and 12-3.  With the wins, MSUB improved to 10-32 on the year, while Bemidji State ended its season at 16-37.

“Those were two great games to send our seniors out as it is a tough day and an emotional day as we got a grind-out win in the opener and put them away in the nightcap,” head coach Chris Brown said.  “I am proud of our seniors, for their dedication and hard work - it was a great way to send them out.”

MSUB came from behind in both games and spotted the Beavers three runs in the second inning of the opener.  The lead was short lived, however, as MSUB plated five runs in the bottom of the frame.  Jaret Chatwood got things started as he singled up the middle and Chris Round reached after being plunked.  Kevin Zukaitis scored the first run as he singled up the middle, plating Chatwood.  A nice sacrifice bunt from Blake Nelson put runners at second and third and Ty Sobieraj singled home two runs through the right side.  Later in the inning, Jonathon Crews scored on a wild pitch and Jordan Kessler singled home Ryan Dennehy for a 5-3 lead.

The Beavers evened the score in the top of the third on a pair of RBI singles.

In the fifth, MSUB regained the lead on a Zukaitis solo home run to right field for a 6-5 lead.  BSU again had the answer in the seventh on a sacrifice fly to tie the score.  The Jackets regained the lead once again in the eighth in the back-and-forth affair, on a Zukaitis RBI single and a Matt Schoonover sacrifice fly for an 8-6 lead. 

Bemidji State plated single runs in the eighth and ninth innings to tie the game at eight, setting MSUB up for the walk-off victory.  Round led the inning off with a walk and a Zukaitis sacrifice bunt put Round in scoring position.  Schoonover hit a ball to the shortstop as he missed handled it allowing pinch runner, Chris Stine to score the winning run. 

It was the first win for the Yellowjackets since Mar. 27, a span of 16-straight games.  It also marked the first doubleheader sweep for MSUB this season.

MSUB had three players with three hit games as Zukaitis led the way going 3 for 4 with three RBI and two runs scored, including his third home run of the season.  Kessler went 3 for 5, while Sobieraj went 3 for 3 with two RBI.

Brian Howe (2-9) earned the victory in relief going four innings allowing three runs – one earned, and one strikeout.  Bryan Jamieson (1-5) took the loss for the Beavers going 1.2 innings, surrendering one unearned run.  Yellowjacket starter, Jake Vulk, went five innings in a no decision, allowing seven hits, five runs – three earned, four walks and he fanned eight.

The Beavers took the lead in the nightcap in the second inning as Joe Chisim walked to begin the frame and came around to score on three wild pitches.  The lead again was short lived as MSUB got on the board in the bottom of the frame as Chatwood singled to short and stole second.  He came around to score on a Round single through the left side for a 1-1 score.

Bemidji State regained the lead in the fourth for a 3-1 score.

The Jackets broke the game open in the fifth inning, plating three runs with two outs.  Kessler hit a RBI single, Round got plunked with the bases loaded and Schoonover hit a RBI single up the middle for a 4-3 score.  Three more runs scored in the sixth as the Beavers committed two costly errors and the Jackets garnered just one hit in the frame for 7-3 advantage.

The rout was on in the seventh as MSUB plated five runs on four hits.  Zukaitis began the inning with a double and later scored.  Brian Dukart singled up the middle, scoring the second run of the frame an Chatwood later doubled to left for two scores and a 12-3 lead.

Round led the way in the nightcap as he was 1 for 2 with four RBIs.  Chatwood was 2 for 3 with three RBI and a run scored.  On the mound, Kody Kennedy (4-4) pitched seven innings, scattering four hits, three earned runs, he walked four and struck out six.  Cody Clark pitched the final two innings in relief as he walked one and struck out one.

The series was supposed to be a four-game set, but high winds, cold temperatures and unplayable field conditions cancelled the first two games of the series yesterday.

In between the games, the Yellowjackets honored six seniors who were playing their final home games in a Yellowjacke uniform including: Cody Clark; Brian Dukart; Chris Round; Matt Schoonover; Ty Sobieraj; and Patch Wirtzberger.  It also was Wirtzberger’s birthday.

The Yellowjackets conclude the regular season next weekend at Central Washington in a four-game series beginning Friday.