FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Monday, May 9, 2016 Durbin, Johnson sweep GNAC Player of the Week honors
Kyle Durbin and Tanner Johnson sweep the final weekly honors of the season in the GNAC, after each contributing to the Yellowjackets’ sweep of Saint Martin’s and return to the conference tournament. PORTLAND, Ore. – Helping lead the Montana State University Billings baseball team to a sweep of Saint Martin’s University last week, seniors Kyle Durbin and Tanner Johnson have been named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, announced by the conference office Monday. “Both Kyle and Tanner were terrific this weekend and have been the last few weeks, and it is great to see them recognized for their good series against Saint Martin’s,” said MSUB head coach Rob Bishop. Durbin went 9-for-15 (.600) with 11 runs scored, two doubles, a home run, and five RBIs in MSUB’s four-game sweep of Saint Martin’s. Durbin slugged .933 on the weekend, and also drew four walks and was hit by a pitch for an on-base percentage of .700. Durbin also had 13 chances defensively at third base, and did not make an error on the weekend. Durbin had his second five-hit game of the year in Game 2, going 5-for-5 with five RBIs and three runs scored in a 15-2 victory. In the closest game of the series, a 6-5 extra-inning win, Durbin scored three runs including the game-winner on a walkoff walk.
With the big weekend, Durbin now leads the GNAC in batting at .387 and in on-base percentage at .487 this season. “Kyle was even better this weekend than he has been all year, and he had a bunch of big hits for us,” Bishop said. “He was on base seemingly every time, and we are happy that he is finishing his career on such a high note.” Johnson threw his first complete game of the season, posting 11 strikeouts and zero walks in a dominant Game 1 performance against the Saints. Johnson allowed just one run and eight hits in nine stellar innings, as he posted his fourth double-digit strikeout performance of the season. Johnson allowed just two runners past second base in the game, and retired the final 11 batters he faced as he did not allow a baserunner in the seventh-through-ninth innings. “Tanner was dominant throughout the entire game, and even when he was giving up some hits early on I thought he was making good pitches,” Bishop said. “He was as good as I have seen him all year, and it is a testament to him coming back on short rest. He stepped up to a challenge and pitched a great game.” Johnson has 71 strikeouts in 71 innings pitched on the year and holds a 4.31 earned run average. The senior ranks fourth in MSUB history with 125 strikeouts in just two seasons. MSUB is headed to Nampa, Idaho this week for the GNAC Championships, after earning the title of regular-season cochampion with a record of 29-18 overall and 23-15 in league play. The No. 2 seed ‘Jackets play No. 3 seed Western Oregon on Thursday at noon and No. 1 seed and host Northwest Nazarene on Thursday at 7 p.m. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--