April 25, 2008
Late-Inning Runs Doom Yellowjackets Again
Game One
Game
Two
BILLINGS, Mont. – A 5-0 lead heading into the top of the seventh was not enough as the Montana State Billings Yellowjackets dropped a 9-7 decision in 12 innings to open a conference doubleheader with Northwest Nazarene Friday afternoon at Pirtz Field. NNU won the nightcap as well, breaking a 4-4 tie in the seventh, plating two runs.
MSUB (11-31, 2-18 GNAC) scored two runs in the second inning of the opener on a sacrifice fly and a RBI triple by Nick Harris. The Jackets plated another run in the fourth on a RBI single up the middle by Cole Pryor for a 3-0 lead.
The Jackets took a 5-0 lead in the sixth with a Matt Schoonover two-run home run to center.
After NNU (26-19 11-15 GNAC) head coach Tim Onofrei was ejected from the game for arguing a call, the Crusaders woke up and started swinging the bats. NNU scored two runs in the seventh on a two RBI single.
In what’s becoming a trend, the Yellowjackets gave up three runs in the top of the ninth on two RBI singles and a wild pitch for a 5-5 score. NNU took the lead in the 11th with a home run, but the Jackets, who were down to their last strike in the bottom of the inning, were saved – at least for the moment by Schoonover’s second home run of the day tying the game at six.
The Crusaders scored three runs in the top of the 12th on a double and a single up the middle for a 9-6 lead. MSUB came back in the bottom of the inning, plating one run but that would be it.
NNU jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the nightcap, before the Yellowjackets came storming back with three unearned runs the in the fifth inning to tie the game.
Once again, the Crusaders scored in their final at bat, plating two runs in the seventh for a 6-4 lead on a two out, two-run home run.
The Jackets went down in order in the bottom of the inning.
The teams will be back in action tomorrow for Alumni Day at Pirtz Field at 1 p.m. with the final two games of the series.
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