FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Sunday, March 20, 2016 Cooper strong on mound in Game 1, ‘Jackets split with Concordia on Sunday
Cody Cooper strikes out eight batters in seven solid innings, and the ‘Jacket offense comes alive in a 10-3 Game 1 win, but Concordia responds to take Game 2 10-6 as the four-game series splits over the weekend. BILLINGS, Mont. – Cody Cooper earned his fourth victory of the season with eight strikeouts in seven strong innings to help the Montana State University Billings baseball team to a 10-3 win in Game 1 of a Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader against Concordia University at Dehler Park on Sunday. The Cavaliers responded however, scoring in five of the seven innings in Game 2 for a 10-6 victory as the teams split a four-game series over the weekend in Billings. Adam Cox had another big day at the plate, with a double and two home runs on Sunday to lead the Yellowjacket offense. A day after Concordia right-hander Austin Hadley silenced MSUB’s offense, Harrison McGhee kept the Yellowjackets’ bats at bay in the second game as he struck out eight and scattered three hits over six innings.
MSUB is now 11-10 overall on the season and is 5-7 in conference play. The Cavaliers moved to 6-14 on the year and are one game back of the ‘Jackets at 4-6 in conference games. “I was happy that we kept grinding offensively,” said MSUB head coach Rob Bishop. “We just have to keep a level head, and we know that Western Oregon is going to be a good baseball team like they always are. We are just going to take care of business and do our part to prepare this week.” Game 1 – MSU Billings 10, Concordia 3 A big five-run second inning by the ‘Jackets set the tone early, and wound up being all the offensive support Cooper would need to secure the victory. “Coop pitched great again, and he has been awesome for us all year,” Bishop said. “He has been getting deep into games, and has given our offense some time to relax.” Colter Sternhagen had a two-run single, and Kyle Durbin followed with his second home run of the year over the wall in straightaway right field. Myles Berkram had an RBI-triple that scored Landon Peterson, and Zach Robinson finished off the rally with an RBI-single to left field. Berkram was locked in at the plate, as he went 3-for-5 with three RBIs in Game 1. The only thing preventing a second triple on his batting ledger was an incredible, diving catch by CU right fielder Henry Rondeau, as he leapt onto the warning track deep in the right field corner to take away Berkram’s game-opening drive.
Myles Berkram went 3-for-5 with a triple and three RBIs in Game 1 Sunday for the ‘Jackets.
Cooper ran into his first jam in the top of the third, as a hit batter and a double by Cole Crosby put two runners in scoring position with one out. The righty began a streak of four straight strikeouts after that however, as he cruised into the fifth inning with zeroes on the scoreboard.
The Yellowjackets added on with a two-run single by Berkram in the third, extending their advantage to 7-0. The Cavaliers finally got to Cooper in the fifth, as catcher Elliot North fought off a 1-2 pitch into left field to drive in a pair of runs with two outs. MSUB responded in the bottom of the frame however, as Luke Reinschmidt blasted the first pitch from Alberto Bulcao into right-center for an RBI-single to make it 8-2. Cooper allowed just one more run on a solo homer by Trent Calmer in the seventh, but the junior ended his day with a three-pitch strikeout of Gerhett Moser. Cooper finished with eight strikeouts and three walks, allowing three runs on eight hits while throwing 114 pitches. “Big leads just help immensely, and as a pitcher it just gives you a whole new mindset,” Cooper commented on pitching with a solid lead in hand. “I didn’t really have (my curveball) for the first two innings, but then I found it when we got that solid lead. From there on it was a really good pitch for me and I threw it for strikes.”
Cox’s first home run of the day came in the seventh inning, as he rode a deep fly ball over the right-field fence and plated Reinschmidt to make the score 10-3. Lee Busto threw the final two innings in relief, striking out two batters and not allowing a run to help seal the victory. Rondeau finished the game 3-for-4 with a run scored for the Cavaliers, who used four pitchers to get through the first game on Sunday. Game 2 – Concordia 10, MSU Billings 6 Falling behind early on, the Cavaliers built their lead to 9-3 by the fourth inning and closed out the victory to earn the series split. Just as MSUB did against Hadley on Saturday, the ‘Jackets forced McGhee to work in the first inning as he threw 29 pitches. MSUB came away with two runs and led 2-1, but Rondeau had a sacrifice fly and the ‘Cavs scored another run on a ground out to retake the lead 3-2 in the second. With runners on the corners and two outs, Christian Heideger roped a sinking line drive towards the hole between Corey Morris at short and Durbin at third. The latter dove to his left at the last second, picking the ball cleanly out of the air and firing to first base well in time to complete a huge inning-ending double play. The ‘Jackets had a golden opportunity in the bottom of the frame, as McGhee lost his grip while fielding a sacrifice bunt by Berkram, and threw the ball down the right-field line to put runners on second and third with nobody out. Cox finishes his swing on a long home run over the fence in left center field on Sunday. The sophomore was 6-for-12 on the weekend, all of his hits going for extra bases.
Three batters later, Toon stood in with the bases loaded, and worked the count into his favor at 2-1. The senior squared up McGhee’s delivery, but his sharp ground ball that was bound for center field deflected off the Cavs’ pitcher, and rolled to Jordan Farhat at second where he ended the inning with a momentum-changing double play. Jarren Goddard plated a pair of runs with a two-run home run to left field in the third, and CU had five hits in a four-run fourth-inning rally that put the game out of reach. Leading off in the third inning, Cox lifted a towering fly ball that easily cleared the fence in left center, by far his longest home run of the season. Cox wound up going 3-for-6 with three extra base hits and a pair of walks overall on Sunday. “Adam was good all weekend offensively,” Bishop said. “He had a couple of home runs and a save, and he was terrific.” Fresh into the game in left field in the seventh inning, Matt Dillon raced after a deep fly ball onto the warning track and made a leaping grab in stride to rob Heideger of what would have been a double. The freshman rolled a base hit into center field in the bottom of the inning, and came around to score on a two-run base hit by Toon. “Matt played really well,” Bishop said. “He made a great play in left field and got a base hit.”
The ‘Jackets refused to go down quietly, rallying for three runs in the seventh inning and bringing the tying run to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. Moser ended the game with a strikeout however, as the ‘Jackets split their second straight conference series. Corbin Smith was effective in two relief innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits. Bryon Baker threw the final frame for the ‘Jackets, allowing just one baserunner. MSUB starter Drew Christina was lifted in the second inning, as he gave up three runs on three hits with a walk and two hit batters while throwing 29 pitches. THE BUZZ: Cox was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…he finished the weekend 6-for-12 with three doubles, a triple, two home runs, and six RBIs…he also drew three walks for an on-base percentage of .625 and scored five runs…Toon drew two more walks to push his GNAC-leading total on the season to 20…Reinschmidt stole his sixth base of the season…Yellowjacket women’s basketball head coach Kevin Woodin was honored before the game, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch as he was recognized for being the conference Coach of the Year and leading the ‘Jackets to their second NCAA Division II West Region tournament berth in the last three seasons. NEXT WEEK: The ‘Jackets are back in action on Friday with another four-game GNAC series beginning at Dehler Park against Western Oregon University Wolves. Doubleheaders are set for 1 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with live video and live statistics available through MSUB’s Stretch Internet portal here. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--