FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Tuesday, April 5, 2016 Preview: ‘Jackets host Wildcats at Dehler Park to open 2nd half of GNAC play
MSUB’s baseball team returns home after a 3-1 series win over Saint Martin’s, to host Central Washington in a fourgame set at Dehler Park beginning Friday. BILLINGS, Mont. – Closing the first half of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference baseball season with wins in five of its last six games, the Montana State University Billings baseball team opens the second half of its league schedule this weekend at Dehler Park against Central Washington University. Doubleheaders are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, with the 9-inning/7-inning format set for both days. A 1 p.m. first pitch is scheduled each day, and live video with play-by-play commentary and live statistics will be available through MSUB’s Stretch Internet portal here. After winning 3 of 4 games at Saint Martin’s University last weekend, the Yellowjackets moved into a virtual tie for second place in the GNAC standings with Western Oregon. MSUB is 16-12 overall and 10-9 in conference play. The Wolves are just three percentage points ahead of MSUB with a league record of 9-8, while Northwest Nazarene is the conference leader at 13-7 in GNAC play.
Central Washington (13-14, 9-9 GNAC) comes to town having just been swept at home by Western Oregon, as the Wildcats are now half a game behind the ‘Jackets in fourth place. The league standings remain close at the midway point, as Concordia is in fifth place at 8-10 and SMU is in sixth at 6-12 in conference play. The top three teams in the regular-season standings advance to the 2016 GNAC Championships, which are hosted by the regular-season champion. “Year-in and year-out Central is one of the most talented teams,” said MSUB head coach Rob Bishop. “They can do just about everything well, and I believe that we can too. It’s going to be a big series, and each weekend you have to play like you’re competing for the conference championship.” This weekend’s series will be the second of the season between the two teams, as the Yellowjackets opened their conference year losing 3 of 4 games to the Wildcats in Ellensburg, Wash., on March 4-5. It was MSUB’s only losing series so far this conference season.
HAPE HIGHLIGHTS PITCHING DOMINANCE: In a series where the ‘Jackets allowed less than two runs per game to the Saints, the seven pitchers who threw last week allowed just 37 baserunners in 31 innings, while striking out 33 and giving up just seven earned runs total. Among the dominant performances on the mound was the best start of the year for junior right-hander Matt Hape, who had six strikeouts and no walks while scattering four hits in a 7-inning complete game for a 3-1 win last Saturday. After surrendering the lone run of the game in the fifth inning, Hape retired the final 10 batters of the game and only one runner total reached second base. “I had been struggling earlier this year, so I was working hard and ironing some things out,” Hape said. “I’ve been working on being more consistent around the strike zone and that’s what led to my success. I just let the defense make plays, and they made plays all weekend.” COOPER GOES THE DISTANCE, AGAIN: After giving up two runs in the bottom of the first inning in Game 3 of the series, junior righty Cody Cooper settled into a groove and put up zeroes for the rest of the game. In his second 9-inning complete game of the year, Cooper had nine strikeouts and did not walk a batter, scattering eight hits and setting MSUB up for the 4-2 victory. Cooper leads the GNAC in innings pitched (54 2/3), strikeouts (57), and wins (6), while his ERA of 2.47 is fourth-best and he remains perfect on the year at 6-0. His season strikeout total is fourth-best in MSUB history, as is his career total of 115 as he recently became the fifth player ever to surpass the 100-strikeout plateau. Cooper needs just one more win to tie the MSUB single-season record (Ben Lewerke, 7, 2007), and his current season ERA is the second-best in MSUB history.
MSUB Single Season Strikeout Leaders Rk. Name Ks Year 1. Brady Muller 79 2015 2. Brady Muller 64 2013 3. Kody Kennedy 59 2011 4. Cody Cooper 57 2016 5. Kody Kennedy 54 2010 Brian Howe 54 2009 Tanner Johnson 54 2015 Cody Cooper’s 57 strikeouts so far this year are fourth-most in MSUB single-season
CHRISTINA, COX COMBINE FOR SHUTOUT: Senior history. left-hander Drew Christina also had his best start of the year, and received a little help from Adam Cox to combine for a huge 1-0 shutout of Saint Martin’s that gave the ‘Jackets the series win in Game 4. Christina had three strikeouts and gave up three hits in 3 1/3 innings, while Cox finished the job with 3 2/3 scoreless innings of relief and one hit allowed. Though he had five strikeouts, Cox had to work out of multiple jams including getting out of the inning he took over in with runners on second and third and just one out. Saint Martin’s also put two runners on in the sixth, and loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh before Cox ended the game with a ground out. Also serving as the team’s designated hitter in all four games, Cox had two more doubles, and is now tied for the team lead in that category (8) and leads the entire GNAC in slugging percentage at .620. TANNER TOUGH IN GAME 1 SETBACK: In a tightly-contested series the whole way through, every game posed opportunities for both teams to win. The Saints capitalized on free passes from the ‘Jackets in Game 1, scoring three times on bases-loaded walks and scoring the game-winning run on a bases-loaded balk.
Yellowjacket starter Tanner Johnson had to battle through control issues as he allowed seven walks, but he also had eight strikeouts and gave up just five singles in 5 2/3 innings. The Saints managed just one extra-base hit – a double – in the entire four-game series, but were able to take the first game from Johnson and the ‘Jackets without the aid of a hit with runners in scoring position. Johnson has 18 strikeouts in his last two appearances, and threw a season-high 131 pitches in his latest outing against the Saints. His 95 career strikeouts are now sixth-most in MSUB history, as he has a chance to break the mark of 100 in his next start for the ‘Jackets. MSUB Career Strikeout Leaders Rk. Name Ks 1. Brady Muller 232 2. Brian Howe 143 3. Brian Hutchings 120 4. Cody Cooper 115 5. Kody Kennedy 113 6. Samuel Paterson 98 7. Tanner Johnson 95
Years 2012-15 2008-11 2010-12 2014-16 2010-11 2012-13 2015-16
Senior Tanner Johnson needs five more strikeouts to become just the sixth player in MSUB history to break 100 in his career.
WINSLOW, BUSTO SCORELESS IN RELIEF: Freshman Jared Winslow had two strikeouts and did not allow a run in 2 1/3 strong innings of relief in Game 1, posting his second straight scoreless outing. Senior right-hander Lee Busto also made an appearance, pushing his career total to 67 which is tied for seventh-most in GNAC history. GNAC Career Pitching Appearance Leaders Rk. Name School 1. Kalen Hruza Northwest Nazarene 2. Tip Wonhoff Saint Martin’s 3. Kaleb Wilson Saint Martin’s 4. Nick Patee Northwest Nazarene 5. Chase Decoito Saint Martin’s 6. Anthony LaDue Saint Martin’s 7. Aaron Stuvland Northwest Nazarene Lee Busto MSU Billings 9. Ryan Brown Northwest Nazarene Brad Banker Saint Martin’s
Appearances 85 80 77 74 71 69 67 67 66 66
Years 2008-11 2004-07
2008-12 2003-06 2012-15 2010, 2012-14
2002-05 2013-16 2009-12 2012-15
Lee Busto is tied for seventh in GNAC career appearances with 67.
STERNHAGEN TIES HISTORIC GNAC MARK: While pitching lifted the ‘Jackets in a series in which they scored just 11 total runs, senior second baseman Colter Sternhagen achieved a feat only one other player in GNAC history has ever reached. Hitting a home run in each of his final two games the previous week against Western Oregon, Sternhagen cleared the fence in both games of Saturday’s doubleheader to push his streak to four straight games with a long ball. The only other player to homer in four straight games in the GNAC was Western Oregon’s Chris Ridnour, who hit five total home runs and at least one in each game of a four-game series against Central Washington on April 20-21, 2002. No other player has achieved a four-game home run streak since the conference’s inaugural season. GNAC Consecutive Games With A Home Run Streak Streak Name School Season 4 Chris Ridnour Western Oregon 2002 4 Colter Sternhagen MSU Billings 2016
Dates Apr. 20-21 Mar. 26-Apr. 2
Opponent Central Washington Western Oregon/Saint Martin’s
Senior Colter Sternhagen became just the second player in GNAC history to homer in four-straight games.
Three of Sternhagen’s four home runs were solo shots, and he now has four on the season and 11 in his career with MSUB. In addition to his success at the plate, Sternhagen has played the best defense of his career this year at second base. Last week he made 17 plays without an error, including a big double play with the tying run at the plate in the last inning of Game 3. He also secured the final out of the series finale, fielding a ground ball in a 1-0 game with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Sternhagen has not made an error since his fourth game of the season, a streak of 24 games and 93 fielding chances without a miscue. His 209 career assists are sixth-most in MSUB history. MORRIS, BERKRAM COME THROUGH WITH BIG HITS: After an 0-for-13 slump at the plate, senior shortstop Corey Morris has three hits in his last 10 at bats, two of which have been doubles. His biggest hit of the season so far came in Game 3 of the series against SMU, as he broke a 2-2 tie with a two-out, two-run double that proved to be the game-winning hit. “I got down in the count 0-2 early, and I was just trying to put the ball in play,” Morris commented on his big swing of the bat. “With Coop we know he is going to compete in every single game, and it’s nice for us defenders knowing he is going to put the ball in play.” Junior outfielder Myles Berkram had been in a similar slump, entering the second game of the series with a line of 0-for-14 in his previous five games, he picked up hits in each of the final three games against the Saints however, including one of the biggest hits of the series in Game 4. With one out and Landon Peterson on first base, Berkram drilled a double into left field and drove in what proved to be the winning run in the tight, 1-0 victory. Senior shortstop Corey Morris had two of his five doubles on the year last weekend, including a huge game-winning swing of the bat with two outs in Game 3.
Berkram also stole a base in the series, and threw out a runner from right field. He leads the team in outfield assists with six, and holds a .376 on-base percentage as the Yellowjackets’ leadoff hitter.
DURBIN STAYS HOT AT THE PLATE: Senior third baseman Kyle Durbin went 5-for-16 in the series with SMU, and is now leading the team with a batting average of .326 on the year. Durbin had three doubles and drove in a run, as he has increased his productivity at the plate since moving up in the order to the two spot. He also played clean defense at third base with six chances and no errors, and hasn’t had a miscue his last nine games and 19 total chances. PETERSON GUNS DOWN RUNNERS: Remaining among league leaders in runners thrown out behind the plate, Peterson caught another last week and remains in second with 10 behind SMU’s Zach Raczok’s 11. Peterson also reached base in 5 of 13 plate appearances, drawing three walks and being hit by two pitches. REINSCHMIDT WITH TIMELY HITS: Senior center fielder Luke Reinschmidt had a pair of hits in the first game of the series, and had a big, RBI-single to contribute to the win in Game 2. Reinschmidt also scored a pair of runs and stole his seventh base of the year for the ‘Jackets, and he continues to lead the GNAC in RBIs with 30 on the season. Reinschmidt’s 113 career RBIs are ninth-most in GNAC history, and he’s now second in MSUB history in runs scored (101), third in total bases (272), and fourth in hits (163) and stolen bases (27). 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 183 183 165 158 138 125 124 118 113 111
Years 2002-05 2005-08 2000-03 2012-15 2012-15 2009-12 2000-03 2004-07 2014-16 2011-13 Senior Luke Reinschmidt is No. 9 in GNAC history with 113 career RBIs.
TOON LEADS GNAC’S BEST TEAM IN WALKS: Adding two more walks last week, senior first baseman Kevin Toon continues to lead the conference in the category with 22 on the year. Sternhagen and Reinschmidt are tied for second in the league with 16 free passes apiece, Berkram ranks sixth (14), and Peterson ranks seventh (13). After MSUB broke a GNAC record for walks in a season last year (216), the team is on pace to break the mark again this year with a conference-leading 131 walks (4.67 walks per game, 21 games to play, projected total of 229 by season’s end).
Toon also had three hits including two doubles in the series, and drove in a pair of runs for the ‘Jackets. The senior first baseman has not made an error in 196 chances this year, and holds a career fielding percentage of .994. The GNAC record is .996, held by Western Oregon’s Taylor Mieras (471-473, 2008-2009). Playing into his third year with the ‘Jackets, Toon has 585 putouts, 77 assists, and four errors, giving him a line of 662 converted plays in 666 chances.
Toon needs 39 more putouts to break MSUB’s career record of 623, currently held by former first baseman and 2015 graduate Blake Loran. Central Washington University Wildcats Friday, April 8 – 1 PM DOUBLEHEADER (9-Inning/7-Inning) Saturday, April 9 – 1 PM DOUBLEHEADER (9-Inning/7-Inning) 2016 Record: 13-14, 9-9 GNAC Head Coach: Desi Storey, 25th season First Series: CWU 3, MSU Billings 1 (March 4-5, 2016, Ellensburg, WA) Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box | Game 3 Box | Game 4 Box Working through the toughest part of its schedule so far this year, CWU has lost seven games in-a-row and eight of its last nine overall. After defeating Northwest Nazarene in Game 1 of a series on March 25, the Wildcats lost the next three to the Crusaders, and were swept at home last weekend by Western Oregon in four games. The ‘Cats will look to replicate their performance against the ‘Jackets this weekend, as CWU won the first two games and final game in a four-game series in Ellensburg, Wash., earlier this year. CWU is being led by Reid Martinez, who is the only player in the GNAC batting above .400 with a mark of .403 on the year. Martinez has been a dynamic hitter, with seven doubles, two home runs, and a team-high 19 RBIs with a .611 slugging percentage. He is also reaching base at a clip of .423, and has scored 11 runs in 23 games. Tanner Romo, Justin Adams, and Jonathan Dailey are each hitting .375 or better, while Jake Levin has been the team’s top power hitter with three home runs and 17 RBIs. On the mound, CWU has utilized a variety of arms as six different pitchers have started two or more games. Mackenzie Gaul has been the most consistent of the starters, with 26 strikeouts and 14 walks and an ERA of 3.03 in 29 2/3 innings pitched. Levin has also doubled as a starter on the mound, leading the squad with 34 innings pitched and holding an ERA of 5.03. CJ Gettman has been one of the top closers in the league, using a mid-90s fastball to strike out 16 batters in 11 innings. He has an ERA of 2.45 and has earned four saves on the year for the ‘Cats. Mitch Yada, one of CWU’s top arms from a season ago, is also a major contributor with a 3.18 ERA in seven appearances. The Series: The Wildcats now hold a slight edge in the all-time series at 38-37 against the ‘Jackets. MSUB is 18-16 in games played at home against the Wildcats, and the teams have split the last dozen games with six wins apiece. Last Time Out: All three games were closely contested, with CWU winning by scores of 8-6, 8-7, and 2-1, and the ‘Jackets prevailing in Game 3 7-5. Sternhagen had four RBIs in the series, and Cox had the second of his five home runs on the season.
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