FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Wednesday, March 30, 2016 Yellowjackets return to road for 4 games at Saint Martin’s this weekend
Coming off of a 2-1 series win over Western Oregon at home last weekend, MSUB’s baseball team hits the road to challenge conference opponent Saint Martin’s in a four-game series in Lacey, Wash. BILLINGS, Mont. – After making its 2016 home debut over the last two weekends, the Montana State University Billings baseball team returns to the road to challenge Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, Wash. The four-game conference series will run Saturday and Sunday, with 9-inning/7-inning doubleheaders scheduled for both days. Saturday’s action will start at 2 p.m. Mountain time, while Sunday’s games start at 1 p.m. All four games will feature live statistics available through MSUB’s Stretch Internet portal here. The Yellowjackets (13-11, 7-8 GNAC) are coming off a series victory over Western Oregon University as MSUB took the final two games after dropping the first 10-0. Originally scheduled as a four-game series, the final game was rescheduled due to weather and will be made up when the ‘Jackets visit the Wolves in Monmouth, Ore., in late April.
MSUB is 6-5 in its last three conference series, after starting the year 1-3 at Central Washington. This weekend’s games against the Saints mark the halfway point in the 40-game conference schedule, as SMU is the lone team MSUB has not played yet. “We need to continue to put the pieces together to play more complete series,” said MSUB head coach Rob Bishop. “We have played some great games, but we haven’t played a lot of complete series. Saint Martin’s is a young team, but they’re athletic and they hit. They have been pitching well as of late, and at their place they will definitely be tough.” STANDINGS SNAPSHOT Nearing the midpoint in the season, Northwest Nazarene sits in first place in the conference standings at 11-5 in league play, while CWU is second at 9-5. The Yellowjackets are close behind the Wildcats in third place, while Saint Martin’s is in sixth at 5-9. 2016 GNAC Baseball Standings (March 30, 2016) Team Conf. Pct. Overall Pct. NNU 11-5 .688 16-10 .615 CWU 9-5 .643 13-10 .565 MSUB 7-8 .467 13-11 .542 CU 6-8 .429 8-16 .333 WOU 5-8 .385 10-13 .435 SMU 5-9 .357 8-16 .333 COOP AT HIS BEST: Junior right-hander Cody Cooper had his best start of the year on Easter Sunday, with a 142-pitch performance against the Wolves in which he allowed just one run in eight innings. He picked up GNAC Pitcher of the Week honors as well. Cooper had six strikeouts to push his GNAC-leading total to 48 on the season, and he earned his conference-best fifth win of the year and remained perfect at 5-0 in six starts. The ‘Jackets have won all six of his starts on the mound. He holds an earned run average of 2.56, has pitched into the seventh inning in all six of his starts, and has had at least six strikeouts in each one as well. “Cody has been solid all year, really pounding the zone,” commented sophomore catcher Landon Peterson. “As a lineup, we are confident that if we go get him a couple runs he is going to give us a chance to win.” Cooper earned GNAC Pitcher of the Week honors last season from March 16-22, when he tossed a three-hit shutout and had 10 strikeouts in a win over Northwest Nazarene University that capped off a four-game road sweep for MSUB. This is the third consecutive week a Yellowjacket has garnered honors from the conference, as Adam Cox was the GNAC Player of the Week last week and Reinschmidt earned his second honor of the year two weeks ago. Cooper is the second pitcher this year from the Yellowjackets to earn the award, after senior right-hander Tanner Johnson picked up Pitcher of the Week early on in the season.
DRAMATICS FOR DURBIN: Putting together one of his best offensive series of the season, senior third baseman Kyle Durbin came through under the lights on Saturday night as his bases-loaded walk won the game in an 8-7 triumph over the Wolves. Durbin finished the three-game series 5-for-10 with two doubles and a home run, and also drew three walks for an on-base percentage of .615. Durbin produced the game-winning run on Sunday as well, again drawing a walk with the bases loaded to make the score 2-1 in the sixth inning. He followed with his third home run of the season to add an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth in MSUB’s 6-1, series-clinching win. Moving up to the second spot in MSUB’s lineup, Durbin had three RBIs, two runs scored, and did not strike out in 13 plate appearances. He was just as good defensively at third base, making seven plays without an error. He had a big double play with runners on first and second with one out in Game 1, wrestling down a sharp ground ball, stepping on third, and throwing across to first. The senior led the team offensively and at the hot corner on the weekend, and he is now the team’s second-leading hitter at .329 on the year. Senior Kyle Durbin is mobbed by teammates between first and second base at Dehler Park after his game-winning walk with the bases loaded Saturday night against Western Oregon.
LUKE LOCKED IN: Senior center fielder Luke Reinschmidt matched Durbin’s numbers at the plate, as he also went 5-for-10 and had a couple of big hits for the ‘Jackets. Reinschmidt remains as the team’s leading hitter on the year with an average of .344.
Reinschmidt leads the league in RBIs (29) and total bases (57), ranks second in hits (31), home runs (6), walks (16), and on-base percentage (.444), third in slugging percentage (.633), and fourth in runs scored (20), and stolen bases (6). Adding two more RBIs last week, Reinschmidt moved to No. 9 in GNAC history and No. 2 in MSUB history as he surpassed former Yellowjacket Colby Robison with the 112th of his career. GNAC Career Runs Batted In Leaders Rk. Name School 1. Greg McCarthy Western Oregon Jamie Nilsen Central Washington 3. Bryce Gardinier Western Oregon 4. Brody Miller MSU Billings 5. Chandler Tracy Saint Martin’s 6. Sean McDonald Northwest Nazarene 7. Matt Lowe Northwest Nazarene 8. Adam Siler Saint Martin’s 9. Luke Reinschmidt MSU Billings 10. Colby Robison MSU Billings
RBIs 183 183 165 158 138 125 124 118 112 111
Years 2002-05 2005-08 2000-03 2012-15 2012-15 2009-12 2000-03 2004-07 2014-16 2011-13 Senior Luke Reinschmidt leads the GNAC in RBIs (29) and total
bases (57). STERNHAGEN SHOWING POWER: Senior second baseman Colter Sternhagen homered in each of his last two games against the Wolves, both solo shots that contributed to the wins for MSUB. On Sunday with the ‘Jackets trailing 1-0, Sternhagen
delivered a long home run to left-center field in the bottom of the sixth inning to even the score and kick off a three-run rally. Sternhagen now ranks third on the team in RBIs with 16 on the year, and continues to lead the team in doubles with seven. Involved in 15 plays defensively, Sternhagen extended his errorless streak at second base to 20 games and 75 total chances as he is fielding .968 on the season so far. In the biggest defensive stands of the weekend, Sternhagen was part of two double plays that backed Game 2 starter Tanner Johnson and ended consecutive innings, and then turned another one in Game 3 to get Cooper out of a bases-loaded jam with one out. He became just the sixth player in MSUB history to surpass 400 career at bats, and he is currently in the program’s history books for home runs with nine, and is tied for seventh in hits with 105. MSUB Career Home Runs Leaders Rk. Name HRs 1. Brody Miller 25 2. Luke Reinschmidt 18 3. Colby Robison 13 4. Joe Via 11 5. Colter Sternhagen 9
Years 2012-15 2014-16 2011-13 2008-09 2013-16
COX COMES THROUGH: A defensive miscue The Yellowjackets greet Sternhagen (8) behind home plate after his second solo home signaled disaster for MSUB in Game 2 against the run of the series against the Wolves on Sunday. Wolves, as the ‘Jackets botched an infield popup with a 6-4 lead and one out in the final inning. The Wolves capitalized and scored three runs off of Adam Cox on the mound, but the sophomore made good leading off the bottom of the frame. After already producing a two-run double to tie the game in the fifth inning, Cox smashed another double into the right-field corner and tied the score on a sacrifice fly by Corey Morris. With his two doubles in the series, Cox held onto his title as GNAC leader in slugging percentage at .667 on the year, as 12 of his 21 hits have gone for extra bases. Cox is one of four Yellowjackets batting over .300 at .318, and is second on the team in home runs (5) and RBIs (20). Cox and Reinschmidt are the only two players in the GNAC averaging at least one RBI per game, as Cox is at 1.24 and Reinschmidt is at 1.21. With three saves this year, Cox is tied for the MSUB career mark in that category with seven. PETERSON PERFORMING: Sophomore catcher Landon Peterson had one of the biggest hits for the ‘Jackets on Sunday, punching a two-out, two-run single into right field to double MSUB’s lead from 3-1 to 5-1 in the seventh inning. The extra cushion allowed Cooper to finish the eighth inning with reduced stress, and helped lift MSUB to the series-clinching win. Peterson is batting .348 over his last 12 games (8-for-23), and his performance on Sunday was his first multi-hit and multi-RBI game of his career. Handling MSUB’s staff behind the plate all season long, Peterson has been outstanding as a pitch caller, and he helped Johnson get out of a jam with a strikeout-throw out double-play to end the fifth
Sophomore Landon Peterson has thrown out nine runners attempting to steal, second-most in the GNAC.
inning of Game 2. Peterson has thrown out more runners this year than all but one player in the GNAC, as his mark of nine trails only SMU’s Zach Raczok’s 10. “Landon has been working hard on his approach and being more consistent with what his plan is at the plate,” said Bishop. “It is starting to pay off for him.” JOHNSON BACK ON TRACK: After a pair of shaky starts, senior right-hander Tanner Johnson found his stride on the mound last week as he struck out 10 Wolves and pitched well enough for the ‘Jackets to win on Durbin’s walkoff walk. The defensive miscue in the seventh cost Johnson a chance for the official victory, but he allowed just six hits in 6 1/3 innings. Baffling the Wolves with an active slider, Johnson had his second 10-strikeout game of the season and third of his career with the ‘Jackets. “Tanner has unbelievable stuff, and he can go out and get ahead (of hitters) early,” said Peterson. “He is someone we can rely on to give us a shot late into the game.” MSUB Career Strikeouts Leaders Rk. Name Ks 1. Brady Muller 232 2. Brian Howe 143 3. Brian Hutchings 120 4. Kody Kennedy 113 5. Samuel Paterson 98 6. Tanner Johnson 87
Years 2012-15 2008-11 2010-12 2010-11 2012-13 2015-16 In just one and a half seasons, Johnson ranks sixth in MSUB history in strikeouts with 87.
BERKRAM BATTLES FOR BBs: Facing WOU ace Brady Miller in Game 1 last week, MSUB’s game-plan of driving up the right-hander’s pitch count all started with leadoff man Myles Berkram. The junior right-fielder saw 22 pitches in three times up, a big reason why the ‘Jackets forced Miller out of the game with 140 pitches in 5 2/3 innings. Berkram drew five walks and was hit by a pitch overall in the series, elevating his on-base percentage to .408 on the year. “Ultimately my goal as a leadoff batter is to see a lot of pitches,” said Berkram. “I know if I can get on base right away, it puts us in a good spot to score a run. It’s great having confidence in all of the guys behind me.” WINSLOW SECURES WIN: Taking the ball on the mound from Cooper to finish the job on Sunday, freshman Jared Winslow made quick work of the Wolves with a 1-2-3 ninth inning. Winslow needed just 10 pitches to record a strikeout and set down WOU in order, clinching the series win for the ‘Jackets.
Junior right fielder Myles Berkram remains as a sparkplug atop MSUB’s lineup, after earning honorable mention all-GNAC in 2015.
MEMORABLE DEBUT FOR MAASSEN: Freshman right-hander Brandon Maassen retired the side in order in his Yellowjacket debut on Saturday, posting a strikeout against his very first batter faced. The Whitefish, Mont., native redshirted a season ago, and ended his perfect frame Saturday fielding a comebacker and tossing to Kevin Toon at first base for the out.
Saint Martin’s University Saints Saturday, April 2 – 2 PM MTN Time – DOUBLEHEADER (9-Inn./7-Inn.) Sunday, April 3 – 1 PM MTN Time – DOUBLEHEADER (9-Inn./7-Inn.) 2016 Record: 8-16, 5-9 GNAC Head Coach: Ken Garland, 8th season 2015 Record: 16-34, 8-24 GNAC, 5th The Saints are coming off of a series split at Concordia University last week, and will be playing their first home games since a pair of contests against Whitman College (Division III) to open the season on Feb. 13. SMU is off to a 5-9 start to conference play, and is coming off of a tough, 3-2, 10-inning win over the Cavaliers to salvage a split in a competitive series. No game between CU and SMU was decided by more than three runs, as the Cavs won by scores of 2-0 and 4-3, and SMU won Game 1 5-2 before the victory in the series finale. In other GNAC action this year, SMU lost 3 of 4 against both Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington, and split a doubleheader against Western Oregon before Day 2 was postponed due to rain. Putting up solid offensive numbers, SMU has four hitters batting above .300 and seven overall who are in double figures in RBIs. Leading the way is Shane Kurihara, who is batting .378 and slugging .568 with 13 RBIs despite being limited to just 14 games so far this year. Raczok, the team’s top power hitter, is batting .328 with three home runs and a team-best 15 RBIs, and Brandon Witherspoon also has three home runs and has driven in 10. Ben Warner holds a .333 batting average to go along with an on-base percentage of .480, having played a key role in 15 of 24 games this year. Austin Feist has also been productive at the plate, batting .295 with a team second-best 14 RBIs. The Saints have struggled on the mound, holding a team ERA of 7.64 and an opponents’ batting average of .349. Mickey Walker leads the staff, holding an ERA of 5.79 with 25 strikeouts and 21 walks in 37 1/3 innings. Walker has tossed a pair of complete games in six starts. Aaron Shoup leads the team with 27 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings, and holds a 6.23 ERA in four starts. The Series: The Saints hold a 40-22 record in the all-time series against the ‘Jackets, including a mark of 21-9 in games played in Lacey. The ‘Jackets won 7 of 8 contests between the teams last season. Last Time Out: MSUB claimed the GNAC title on the final day of the season, completing a four-game sweep of the Saints and dogpiling behind the pitcher’s mound at the SMU baseball field. Reinschmidt went 2-for-4 and Morris had three RBIs in the 5-0, title-clinching win last May.
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