FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Saturday, April 30, 2016 MSUB splits with Western Oregon on road Saturday
MSUB defeats WOU 4-3 for the second straight game in Game 1 Saturday, but drops the nightcap 6-1 to split with the Wolves. MONMOUTH, Ore. – Tanner Watson had RBIs on three different hits Saturday, including his first career home run, as he paced the Montana State University Billings baseball team offensively in a doubleheader split with Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent Western Oregon University at the WOU baseball field. Watson had a two-out, RBI-double in the top of the first inning in Game 1, and followed with a one-out, RBI-single into the left-center gap to make the score 3-0 in the third inning. The big hits were crucial in a narrow 4-3 win for MSUB in Game 1. Watson’s solo home run in the top of the seventh inning in Game 2 was the lone run MSUB scored in a 6-1 loss. With the split MSUB is now 23-18 overall and 17-15 in league play, while Western Oregon is 26-18 overall and 21-13 in the GNAC. The Wolves reclaimed the top spot in the conference, by virtue of Central Washington sweeping Northwest Nazarene and moving into second place at 21-14 in the GNAC. MSUB now trails the Crusaders by just two games in the win column, with the third and final berth into the GNAC Championships hanging in the balance.
“Our guys fought hard against two really good pitchers today,” said MSUB head coach Rob Bishop. “I thought we did a better job in Game 1 of taking advantage of some early opportunities. Tanner and Adam were both terrific on the mound in Game 1.” Senior shortstop Corey Morris went 4-for-7 with an RBI and a run scored, and got one of just three hits for MSUB against WOU starter Garrett Alvarez who threw a complete game in the Wolves’ win. Game 1 – MSU Billings 4, Western Oregon 3 After pushing ahead 4-0 through the top of the fifth inning, MSUB had to fight off Western Oregon down the stretch and hold on for a big win. Starter Tanner Johnson had nine strikeouts and zero walks, scattering three runs on six hits through seven innings to earn his third win of the year. For the second game in-a-row, sophomore Adam Cox took the mound in a lengthy save situation and delivered. The right-hander had a strikeout and allowed just one baserunner – a hit – in two solid innings to earn his fifth save of the season. Cox also went 2-for-4 with a double, and scored a run offensively. The ‘Jackets totaled 11 hits in Game 1, 10 of which were allowed by WOU starter Brady Miller. The sophomore righty took the loss, but had 11 strikeouts through six innings for the Wolves. Watson’s first-inning RBI came after Morris plated Kyle Durbin with a sacrifice fly. Johnson posted a shutdown inning by striking out the side in the bottom of the second, and was rewarded with another run on Watson’s single in the third.
Senior Tanner Johnson had nine strikeouts and earned the win in MSUB’s 4-3 victory in Game 1.
Johnson struck out four of the next six hitters he faced, as he put up zeroes through four innings. Freshman Alec Leighton came through with an RBI-single in the top of the fifth, as he brought home Morris from second base.
Johnson’s command temporarily evaded him in the bottom of the inning, as a leadoff hit batter led to the first run for WOU. Jay Leverett brought home Joey Crunkilton with a one-out ground ball, and the Wolves rallied for runs in each of the next two innings. Brock Pradere had the big hit in the bottom of the seventh, lacing a double into right field and putting runners on second and third with two outs. Johnson buckled down and got Erik Long to ground out to his counterpart Morris, avoiding further damage and keeping the lead intact for Cox. A leadoff single by Brandon Oliver was turned into a double play two pitches later, as Cox fielded a comebacker, and threw to Morris at second to start the twin killing. Cox started the ninth with a strikeout, and retired the next two batters to finish off the win for the ‘Jackets.
Kyle Vanderkin was 3-for-4 with a run scored for the Wolves, who totaled seven hits in the first ballgame. Game 2 – Western Oregon 6, MSU Billings 1 (7 Innings) MSUB didn’t have an answer for Alvarez, save for Watson’s late home run that prevented a shutout. Alvarez had seven strikeouts and two walks, giving up just three hits and using 102 pitches to improve to 6-0 on the season. Pradere scored on a throwing error to make it 1-0 in the first, and Trevor Podratz finished a two-run rally in the third with a single to score Oliver. The Wolves made it 6-0 with three runs in the sixth, as Leverett and Pradere each came through with RBIs. MSUB starter Jared Winslow had three strikeouts and no walks, allowing five runs on 11 hits in five innings. Lee Busto threw the final inning, allowing one run on two hits with a strikeout. Four different Wolves had multiple hits in the game, and they took advantage of wild pitches to score twice. Zach Robinson joined Morris and Watson as the only players to have a hit in the game for MSUB. Watson turned around on a 1-2 pitch from Alvarez, breaking up the shutout with one out in the seventh inning. THE BUZZ: Watson was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…he is now batting .350 on the season in 40 at-bats…Colter Sternhagen snapped a streak of more than 150 plays without an error at second base, as his throwing error allowed the run in the first inning of Game 2…MSUB continues to lead the season series 4-2 with two games left to play Sunday. NEXT UP: The series concludes Sunday with a 9-inning/7-inning doubleheader starting at noon Mountain time. Live video with play-by-play and live statistics will be available through MSUB’s Stretch Internet portal here.
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