Jacket Baseball Hosts Oklahoma Panhandle (4/19/06)

BILLINGS, MT – Following Tuesday’s cancellation, the Montana State-Billings baseball team is eager to return to action when they host Oklahoma Panhandle State University April 21 and 22 at Cobb Field.  Friday’s doubleheader is set to begin at noon while Saturday’s first game is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.  The Yellowjackets took three of four games against Oklahoma Panhandle on the road in Goodwell, Oklahoma earlier in the season and will be looking for a repeat performance.

Oklahoma Panhandle has had a rough go of their season thus far posting a 4-38 overall record and is just 3-25 against Heartland Conference opponents.  The Aggies’ David Pierson has a .313 batting average and a team leading 30 RBI to go with 11 runs, 10 doubles and three home runs.  He is also a perfect 5-5 in stolen bases.  Teammate JeCorey Matthews (.354) leads the team with 21 runs.  He has also batted in 12 runs and has hit twelve doubles and one home run.  The Aggies’ pitching staff has an earned run average of 8.76.  Ricky Reagan (6.11) is 0-10 and has pitched the most innings for the Aggies at 70.2 allowing 67 runs off 90 hits and has struck out 61 batters.

The Jackets hurler Kyle McBride (Jr., Billings, MT) leads the team with three shutouts and has a 5.18 earned run average.  McBride pitched for the Jackets only win against Lincoln University last week cruising to the 12-0 victory.  McBride has given up 27 runs off 47 hits and has seated 27 batters. He will start game two against the Aggies on Friday.  Nathan Herbig (Jr., Noxon, MT) will start game one against the Aggies and has posted an 8.94 ERA.  Herbig is 1-6 overall and has allowed 55 runs off 67 hits in 48.1 innings.  David Ducharme (Sr., Hamilton, MT) and Ben Lewerke (Jr., Mason City, IA) will be the starting pitchers for Saturday’s contest. 

The Yellowjackets’ Luke Sansaver (Jr., Wolf Point, MT) is batting .333 and has scored 16 runs off 30 hits. Sansaver has driven in 19 RBI, hit for four doubles, one triple and has a team leading .451 on base percentage.  Willie Crtalic (Jr., Billings, MT) has been steady at the plate and on base throughout the season with a .276 batting average.  Crtalic has scored a team leading 23 runs off 32 hits and has seven doubles, one triple and one home run to go with 18 RBI.  Crtalic has also stolen 11 bases off 12 attempts.  Kyle Slater (Jr., Missoula, MT) leads the Jackets with a .402 slugging percentage and has 13 runs, seven doubles, one home run and 12 RBI this season.

Following this weekend’s games, the Yellowjackets will host Heartland Conference opponents St. Mary’s (29-12, 21-7) and Incarnate Word (28-14, 22-6), currently ranked first in the league, April 28 and 29 and May 5 and 6 respectively.  Next Friday’s doubleheader against the Rattlers will also be Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day at Cobb Field.  Faculty and Staff members with a current MSU Billings ID will be admitted free along with their families.  A BBQ will also be available for a nominal fee.