MSUB baseball wins series over SMU with split Sunday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Sunday, March 12, 2017 MSUB baseball wins series over SMU with split Sunday

Taking 3 of 4 from Saint Martin’s over the weekend, MSUB’s baseball team splits a doubleheader on Sunday and picks up its first conference series win of the year.

THE DALLES, Ore. – Clean defense, solid pitching, and timely hits helped the Montana State University Billings baseball team pick up its first Great Northwest Athletic Conference series win of the year, as the Yellowjackets split a doubleheader with Saint Martin’s University at Bob Williams Field on Sunday.

The Saints (6-10, 2-6 GNAC) rallied for an 8-4 win in Game 1 on Sunday, but MSUB responded with a 5-1 triumph in Game 2 thanks to a dominant complete-game effort from senior Bryon Baker on the mound.

The Yellowjackets are now 5-12 overall on the year, and are 3-4 in league play after Sunday’s split and Saturday’s doubleheader sweep of SMU.

“There was a lot of adversity we faced on this trip, being on the road for 10 games, but our guys finished the series strong,” said MSUB head coach Aaron Sutton. “To get a series win and get 3 of 4 is big for this club and it builds our momentum going forward.”

Casey Merritt was 3-for-3 with three RBIs in Game 2, and freshman Andrew Schleusner hit his first-career home run in Game 1 for MSUB. Adam Eskil led SMU by going 3-for-4 with three RBIs on the day for the home team.

Game 1 – Saint Martin’s 8, MSU Billings 4 Though the ‘Jackets took a 2-0 lead on Schleusner’s home run in the second inning, SMU scored in each of the next five innings to take command.

Eskil’s first big swing of the day was a two-run single with two outs in the third, as he gave SMU its first lead up 3-1. The Saints added a run in the fourth on an RBI-single by Micah McNicoll, and made the score 7-2 on a two-run single by Shaan Kothari in the fifth.

Adding a final run in the sixth inning, Eskil came around to score on a wild pitch after a two-out double to left center.

SMU starter Tanner Inouye shrugged off the home run by Schleusner, and didn’t allow another run through 5 1/3 innings as he earned the win.

Benjamin Wadowski took the ball and tossed the final 3 2/3 for SMU, giving up two runs on two hits with three strikeouts and a walk.

Right fielder Matt Dillon had one of the nicest defensive plays of the series, tracking a sharp line drive off the bat of McNicoll into the rightcenter gap and leaping to make a fully extended grab in the bottom of the seventh.

Senior Bryon Baker threw a three-hit complete game Sunday to help the ‘Jackets take 3 of 4 in the series against Saint Martin’s.

For the ‘Jackets, starter Matt Hape allowed six runs on five hits with three walks in four innings. Sam Muskat struck out three and walked none in 3 1/3 innings of relief, and Jalen Garcia made his pitching debut by striking out the only two hitters he faced in the eighth.

MSUB plated two more runs in the ninth inning on the third homer of the year by Caje Golden, but the rally fizzled as Wadowski got the final out of the game and gave the Saints their second GNAC win of the year.

Game 2 – MSU Billings 5, Saint Martin’s 1 (7 Innings) With the game knotted at 1-1 and the bases loaded with two outs in the fourth inning, Merritt emptied the bases with a game-winning triple into right field. The Saints never responded after the big swing of the bat by the senior, as the boost was enough to make Baker’s stellar start hold up.

“Casey was the spark for us, and he had a good series all weekend,” Sutton said. “He stuck with his approach, and broke it open in Game 4. He is a tough kid, and never doubts himself.”

Baker struck out the first two batters of the game, before giving up a single run in the second on a sacrifice fly by Zach Raczok. The senior displayed a short memory, striking out the side in the next inning and allowing just three baserunners the rest of the game.

The right-hander received plenty of help from his defense throughout the day, as the ‘Jackets played a tight game and prevented the Saints from scoring chances. In the fourth inning, Merritt quickly cut down a leadoff baserunner, as he threw out SMU’s Caleb Feist while going for second on a single.

Baker’s lone walk of the day came in the seventh inning, but again his defense picked him up as MSUB turned a gameending 6-4-3 double play to seal the series win. First basemen Ryan Myers and Jarod Paul had several scoops throughout the day to pick up their fellow infielders on throws across the diamond.

MSUB manufactured its first run of the game in the second inning, as Tanner Watson singled and advanced to second on a passed ball. Michael Gahan laid down a sacrifice bunt, and Garcia ripped an RBI-double down the line in left. Max Hartgraves provided an insurance run in the top of the fifth, scoring Kade Hall with an infield single to make the score 51.

Only three Saints managed a hit off Baker, whose seven strikeouts marked a new career high. “Our pitching staff did a much better job as a whole, and threw a lot of strikes for us,” Sutton commented on the collection of MSUB’s arms on the weekend. “We wanted to force contact and be around the zone more, and our guys did a great job of executing that game plan.”

THE BUZZ: Baker was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…Jake Tallman’s hit in Game 1 was the first of his career as a Yellowjacket…Garcia’s 2/3 of an inning pitched in Game 1 marked his college debut on the mound…MSUB is now 32-42 all-time against Saint Martin’s with the split, and is 3-1 in neutral site games.

COMING UP: After 18 straight games on the road to start the year, the ‘Jackets are Billings bound to open the gates at Dehler Park next weekend. A four-game series against Concordia University is on tap, with doubleheaders scheduled for 1 p.m. next Saturday and Sunday. Live video with play-by-play commentary and live statistics for all MSUB home games will be available online through MSUB’s Stretch Internet portal here.

--@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--