‘Jackets grind out Game 2 win for DH split at NNU Friday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Friday, April 7, 2017 ‘Jackets grind out Game 2 win for DH split at NNU Friday

After dropping Game 1 by allowing a five-run eighth inning, MSUB gets to work in Game 2 and defeats NNU 11-6 for a doubleheader split on the road Friday.

NAMPA, Idaho – After allowing a big inning that cost it Game 1 on Friday, the Montana State University Billings baseball team posted a pair of big innings to win Game 2 over host Northwest Nazarene University as the teams split a Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader at Vail Baseball Field.

The Crusaders swiped Game 1 6-4, scoring five runs in the eighth inning to erase MSUB’s 4-1 lead. The Yellowjackets used a six-run third inning and five-run sixth inning to win Game 2 11-6 however, as the visiting team totaled 22 hits in the doubleheader.

“Our hitters had a very disciplined approach today, and with us seeing these guys for a second time they had a little bit of a comfort factor,” said MSUB head coach Aaron Sutton. “Both of their starters are very good arms, and our hitters handled them well.”

Jalen Garcia went 4-for-8 with three RBIs, and Ryan Myers went 3-for-5 with three walks and three RBIs in the doubleheader. Caje Golden hit his sixth home run of the year in Game 2, and also drove in three runs at the plate for MSUB. “Jalen had a big day even though he is a little under the weather, and he was playing as hard as anyone out there,” Sutton said. “He brought the energy level up all day long, which is impressive considering he’s not at 100 percent.”

The Yellowjackets moved to 12-19 overall and 10-11 in GNAC play with the split. NNU’s Billy King went 5-for-8 in the doubleheader, and the Crusaders are now 15-17 overall and 13-9 in league play.

Game 1 – Northwest Nazarene 6, MSU Billings 4 A five-run bottom of the eighth inning helped NNU erase a 4-1 deficit and snag its third straight win over the ‘Jackets this season. Four singles and four walks did the damage in the inning, with Johnathon Hallman and Casey Sheehan delivering back-to-back two-out, runscoring hits that gave the Crusaders their first lead of the game.

The Yellowjackets established a firm, three-run lead as they broke a 1-1 tie with three runs in the top of the seventh. Garcia and Conner Linebarger had RBIs in the frame, but it was the last of the scoring for MSUB in the opening game.

Starter Bryon Baker took the ‘Jackets into the eighth inning, allowing three runs on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks in seven-plus innings. “Bryon leaves his heart out there every time, and he threw well enough to get us a win today,” said Sutton.

The senior’s counterpart, Ross Clevenger, was similarly effective with four runs on 10 hits in seven innings on the mound for NNU. Bryan Black and Brady Baker each logged a scoreless inning in relief, closing the game by allowing just two hits and keeping the lead in the hands of the Crusaders.

Linebarger and Andrew Schleusner set up a scoring opportunity with consecutive singles in the second inning, and Max Hartgraves plated the first run of the ballgame with a sacrifice lineout to center field.

Baker responded with a shutdown inning in the bottom of the frame, and allowed just two singles over his first three innings of work. The ‘Saders got even in the top of the fourth, when Andrew Helmstadter walked, stole second, and moved to third on a wild pitch. Jarod Gonzales followed with an RBI-groundout to make the score 1-1, and neither team scored over the next two innings.

Garcia matched his season-high in hits, by going 3-for-5 with an RBI. Four other Yellowjackets had multiple hits, as MSUB out-hit NNU 12-7 in the game.

King was the lone Crusader with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 and scoring a run. NNU left eight runners on base, while the ‘Jackets stranded a dozen.

Game 2 – MSU Billings 11, Northwest Nazarene 6 (7 Innings) Two big innings lifted the ‘Jackets to victory, as a six-run third and five-run sixth were enough to overcome an early three-run first inning by NNU. Myers’ bases-clearing double came in the top of the third inning, a dramatic swing of the bat with two outs that evened the score at 3-3. After Garcia drew a walk, Golden moved into a tie with Myers for the team-high in home runs by blasting his sixth of the year over the fence to give the ‘Jackets a 6-3 advantage.

The six-run rally came after NNU plated three runs in the bottom of the first, thanks to a two-run double by Helmstadter and an error by the Yellowjackets.

MSUB starter Tanner Watson settled into a groove, posting a shutdown inning in the bottom of the third. The lefty had four strikeouts and three walks, allowing four runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings overall in the outing.

A pair of errors by the ‘Saders in the middle innings didn’t prove to be harmful, as starter Jaramy Jacobs fought through adversity and kept the lead in NNU’s hands. Facing trouble with the bases loaded and just one out in the top of the fifth, Jacobs buckled down and struck out the next two hitters to end the frame.

MSUB reliever Sam Muskat pitched himself into trouble to start the fifth, but was resilient and battled through adversity to put up a zero. The freshman lefty sandwiched a pair of singles with a walk to load the bases, but retired the next three hitters in order including a big strikeout of Tim Jones to prevent any damage. Casey Merritt helped the ‘Jackets out of the jam, racing into the gap and snagging a deep drive by Sheehan at the wall for the third out with the bases loaded.

MSUB’s game-changing rally came in the sixth inning, as a single, walk, and hit batter loaded the bases with one out.

Garcia drilled a two-run double into the left-field corner, and Michael Gahan followed with a two-run single three batters later to give MSUB a 10-4 advantage. A wild pitch plated the final run of the inning, and the Yellowjackets had distanced themselves enough to hold on through the final six outs.

The Crusaders rallied to plate two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but sophomore Brandon Maassen came on to get the final out and end the game. Muskat finished with two runs allowed on three hits, and four strikeouts and four walks in three innings. “Sam in Game 2 was huge,” Sutton said. “He extended innings, and gave us all he had left in the tank.

He really competed well.”

THE BUZZ: Garcia was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…Friday was Cox’s first-career start at second base…Muskat had his third long-relief outing of three or more innings this year…Jarod Paul made his debut as a pitcher, throwing four pitches and recording one out in the bottom of the eighth inning…with the split, the all-time series remains tied with each team having won 43 times. NNU is now 20-19 in games played in Nampa.

AHEAD: The series winds up on Saturday, with another doubleheader scheduled to start at 1 p.m. Live vide and live statistics will be available online through the MSUB Stretch Internet portal here.

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