Samuelson’s Grand Slam Earns Split with Lincoln (3/24/07)
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

JEFFERSON CITY, MO-  After being rained out Friday, the Montana State-Billings baseball team split wins in a Heartland Conference doubleheader Saturday against Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri.  The Yellowjackets fell 7-2 in game one before coming back with a vengeance in game two to win 11-7.  The Jackets are an even 14-14 overall and 7-11 in conference play.  The Blue Tigers are 7-21 and 4-14 in the league.

The Blue Tigers used a five run inning to put a stop to the Yellowjackets’ offense in game one with Adam Patch picking up the win on the mound.

Kyle McBride (Billings, MT) took the loss for the Jackets allowing seven runs in 6 1/3 innings of work.  McBride struck out two and walked one.  Seth Moir (Cody, WY) and Pat Smith (Flagstaff, AZ) scored the Jackets’ two runs in the game with Moir going 2-for-3 and Smith going 1-for-2 with a home run.  Matt Schoonover (Great Falls, MT) also posted a good showing going 2-for-2 with one RBI.

“We were flat and didn’t make things happen,” said Yellowjacket head coach Chris Brown.  “Nothing seemed to go out way in the first game so we wanted to start fresh in the second game and we were able to do that.  I am happy with the way we responded.”

The Yellowjackets owned the field in game two with Brian Strom (Littleton, CO) picking up the win.  Strom (4-2) allowed seven runs off eight hits in six innings on the mound.  He struck out two and walked two in the effort.  James Lester (Missoula, MT) came in for the final inning to hold the Blue Tigers to zeros.

“James (Lester) threw strikes when we needed them,” added Brown.  “Both Brian (Strom) and James got the job done for us on the mound and allowed our offense to score the runs.”

Kyle Pryor (Billings, MT) went 3-for-5 with two runs and one RBI.  Jake Samuelson (Helena, MT) went 3-for-5 with two runs and four RBI.  Samuelson picked up the four RBI hitting a grand slam with two outs in the top of the seventh.  Nick Hoskyn (Oelwein, IA) went 3-for-4 with four RBI.  Hoskyn hit a three-run home run in the game.  Jordan Shine (Great Falls, MT) went 3-for-3 driving in two RBI.

In Sunday’s doubleheader against Lincoln University Yellowjacket south-paw Ben Lewerke (Mason City, IA) will open up game one and look to improve on his team-leading 4-1 record.  Jeremy Knowles (Three Forks, MT) will start game two.  First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. CST.  The Yellowjackets will open their 24-game home stand on Friday, March 30 when they host Oklahoma Panhandle State.  Start time for the doubleheader is 2:00 p.m. at Cobb Field.