FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Friday, April 8, 2016 Yellowjackets split behind Hape’s second straight complete game
Matt Hape throws his second straight complete game to help MSUB’s baseball team split a GNAC doubleheader against Central Washington on Friday at Dehler Park. BILLINGS, Mont. – Junior Matt Hape turned in his second straight complete game, helping the Montana State University Billings baseball team to a split with Central Washington University in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader Friday afternoon at Dehler Park. The Yellowjackets (17-13, 11-10 GNAC) overcame two home runs and five RBIs by CWU’s Darren Honeysett in a 6-5 loss in Game 1, and rallied to take the second matchup 8-4 behind Hape’s stellar start. “The defense was making plays and we started to swing the bats pretty well, so I got comfortable out there,” Hape commented. “I figured if I could just do my job that we’d have a pretty good chance to win the game.” Sophomore Adam Cox went 4-for-5 with four runs scored on the day, and senior third baseman Kyle Durbin was 4-for-7 with an RBI and a run scored. Corey Morris went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, and Colter Sternhagen also had three hits including an RBI-triple in Game 1.
“Matt kept throwing strikes and kept mixing it up, and he got what he deserved out of his effort today,” Bishop commented on the win for Hape. “His team fought for him, and we made plays for him. I’m really happy with the way Matt competed, and the way that he goes about his business.” The ‘Jackets remained a half game ahead of CWU in the GNAC standings, as the ‘Cats moved to 14-15 overall and 10-10 in conference play. “This is a really good team we are playing, and we can’t look ahead,” Bishop commented on facing the Wildcats in another doubleheader on Saturday. “We just have to stay in the present and keep doing our job.” Game 1 – Central Washington 6, MSU Billings 5 Providing a 4-0 lead for their starter Tanner Johnson, the Yellowjackets had command of the game into the seventh inning. Honeysett shifted momentum with one swing of the bat however, driving MSUB’s senior right-hander from the game with a long home run to right field with two runners on to bring the ‘Cats within a run. Mitch Yada struck out the side for CWU in the bottom of the seventh, and a single by Benjamin Dunbar with two outs in the eighth evened the score at 4-4. Closer CJ Gettman struck out the first two Yellowjackets he faced in the bottom of the frame, but a single by Sternhagen and walk drawn by Morris put two runners on with two outs. Tanner Watson peppered Dehler Park with line drives during the Yellowjackets’ batting practice session Friday morning, and came through with a huge RBI-single in a pinch hitting role to make the score 5-4. Falling behind in the count 0-2, Watson fouled off a fastball in the low-90s from Gettman to stay alive before lining the next pitch into the gap in left center. The lead was short-lived for the ‘Jackets however, as Ryan Atkinson drew a one-out walk off of Cox to bring Honeysett to the plate in the Senior shortstop Corey Morris had three RBIs and made 12 ninth. The reigning first-team all-GNAC right fielder became the first plays defensively for the ‘Jackets on Friday. college player to take Cox deep, lifting what proved to be the gamewinning home run to the same spot over the fence in right field. Durbin gave MSUB a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, roping a base hit into right field and moving into scoring position on a wild pitch. Gettman buckled down and struck out Luke Reinschmidt and Kevin Toon however, solidifying the win for CWU and helping snap the team’s seven-game losing streak. Johnson was solid through 6 2/3 innings, as he put up zeroes the entire game leading up to Honeysett’s first home run. Johnson had two strikeouts and three walks, and gave up three runs on six hits in the no-decision. CWU starter Travis Cook surrendered four runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings, adding four strikeouts and a pair of walks. Gettman earned his first victory of the season, as he tossed the final two innings. Yada was perfect in 1 2/3 innings of relief, striking out three and not allowing a baserunner.
The Yellowjackets broke through first, as Morris ripped a two-out, RBI-single into right field and Alec Leighton followed with a line drive base hit into the right-center gap to make the score 2-0 in the fourth. After Cook retired the side in order in the fifth, Toon led off the sixth with a base hit into left field. Standing in with four home runs in his last six games, Sternhagen lifted a deep drive towards the wall in left field. Caroming off the bricks 18 inches short of leaving the park, Sternhagen motored around to third as Toon scored in front of him to make the score 30. Morris delivered another RBI-single, and the ‘Jackets established command up 4-0. Honeysett was 3-for-5 with five RBIs in Game 1, while Atkinson and Tanner Romo each had a pair of hits in the opener. Game 2 – MSU Billings 8, Central Washington 4 (7 Innings) The Yellowjackets took the lead on three separate occasions in the nightcap, as the teams battled back-and-forth in the second game of the day. Hape got into trouble off the bat, as a single and a walk put two runners on in the top of the first. The junior got some help from his defense however, as Morris, Sternhagen, and Toon turned an inningending double play. Dylan Freyer led off the top of the second with a double, and a twoout base hit by Kyle Stahl put the ‘Cats in front 1-0. With runners on the corners and two outs, Randy Fuller took off for home on a pitch that squirted away from MSUB catcher Landon Peterson. The sophomore quickly pounced on the ball, tossed to Hape covering home, and the ‘Jackets got out of the second inning with a big play at the plate.
Kyle Durbin had four hits in seven at bats for the ‘Jackets against the Wildcats Friday.
Zach Robinson tied the score with an RBI-ground out in the bottom of the inning, but the Wildcats put together another rally with two runners on and two outs in the third. Hape got Romo to roll a ground ball to Durbin at third, but the senior’s throw to Toon was in the dirt and an inning-ending play turned into a two run swing to make the score 3-1.
Durbin made up for the mistake almost immediately, as he drilled the first pitch from CWU starter Justin Adams off the wall in right-center and kicked off a three-run rally for MSUB in the third. Toon and Cox had back-to-back, RBI-doubles, and a sacrifice fly by Morris capped off the scoring burst with a 4-3 lead for MSUB. “I was just frustrated, and we take so much pride in our defense,” Durbin said regarding his plate appearance directly after his defensive error. “It was a frustration swing. I was sitting fastball, and it just happened to be on the inner half so I went and got it. The guys behind me went and did their job, just like they’ve been doing all year.” CWU manufactured the tying run in the fifth, as Atkinson drew a one-out walk and stole second base in front of Honeysett. The senior punched a base hit into center field for his sixth RBI of the day, and evened the score at 4-4.
A walk and hit batter signaled the end of the day for Adams in the bottom of the fifth, and CWU again turned to Yada to come on in relief. This time, Robinson ripped an RBI-single to right field off the left-hander, starting a four-run rally that proved to be the difference in the game. Peterson laid down a bunt to score Morris on a safety squeeze play, and Myles Berkram and Durbin followed with two-out, RBI hits to push the score to 8-4. Hape cruised through the final six outs of the ballgame, working around a hit each in the sixth and seventh and closing the door on his second complete game in-a-row. Overall the right-hander had three strikeouts and four walks, giving up four runs – two earned – on seven hits and throwing 97 pitches in his seven innings. Kyle Blankenship took the loss for CWU as he surrendered the winning run, and Ryan Archibald tossed a scoreless frame in relief as well for the Wildcats. Durbin went 3-for-3 in the nightcap with an RBI and a run scored, and Robinson came through with two big RBIs for the ‘Jackets. THE BUZZ: Durbin was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…MSUB has now won six of its last eight games overall…Cox reached base in 6 of 8 plate appearances…the Wildcats lead the season series four games to two after taking 3 of 4 from MSUB in Ellensburg, Wash., in early March. NEXT UP: The series wraps up on Saturday, with another doubleheader on tap between CWU and MSUB. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m., with live video with play-by-play commentary and live statistics available through MSUB’s Stretch Internet portal here. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--