Jackets Split the Twinbill with Lincoln (3/29/06)
Box Score 1
Box Score 2

JEFFERSON CITY, MO –  The Montana State-Billings baseball team wrapped up its conference road trip splitting wins with Lincoln University for the second day in a row. The Yellowjackets took game one winning 7-4.  Game two went to the Blue Tigers 9-4.  Overall the Jackets are now 7-21 and 5-15 in the Heartland Conference.  The Blue Tigers are 9-20 on the year and 6-14 in the league.

Nathan Herbig (Jr., Noxon, MT) earned the win in game one and consequently his first as a Yellowjacket.  Ben Lewerke (Jr., Mason City, IA) stepped in for the save after pitching a shutout against OPSU earlier in the week.  Will Crtalic (Jr., Billings, MT) was the Cinderella story of game one going 4-for-4 with a double.  Crtalic scored three runs, and had one RBI.  Freshman Matt Kakalecik (Great Falls, MT) stepped up to the plate knocking the ball out of the park on 2-of-4 hitting.  It was Kakalecik’s first homerun of the season.  He also had one run and one RBI.  Nick Hoskyn (Jr., Oelwein, IA), and Kyle Slater (Jr., Missoula) each scored a run with Luke Sansaver (Jr., Wolf Point, MT) hitting three RBI.

“In the first game today, we played really well,” said Yellowjacket head coach Chris Brown.  “We hit well and scored in five of the seven innings.  Will (Crtalic) had a huge day offensively and Matt (Kakalecik) stepped up with the big homerun.  On the mound, Nate (Herbig), Mike (Cease), and Ben (Lewerke) did a good job collectively.  All three battled and gave us a chance to win.”

In game two the Jackets played well, just not well enough to take the “W” away from the Blue Tigers.  Crtalic scored two runs and had one stolen base.  Craig Lundvall (So., Cody, WY), and Kakalecik had two RBI apiece with Sansaver scoring one run.  Chris Martin (Jr., Billings, MT) took the loss for the Jackets and is 1-6 on the year.  Martin allowed six runs off three hits.

“In the second game, we didn’t get the big hit when we needed it and we stranded runners in six of the seven innings,” added Brown.  “We did, however, keep plugging away and never gave in which is a tribute to our guys.  On the mound, we gave up on big inning and that was the difference.  All in all, I’m very proud of the guys and the way we played on this trip.  To win five of eight games on a conference road trip, and be in every game, is pretty good.  I think this road trip will provide us with some positive momentum coming into the home stretch of our season.”

The Yellowjackets host Heartland Conference opponent St. Edward’s University April 7 and 8 at Cobb Field.  First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.  The Jackets will also host Central Washington University in a non-conference match-up Tuesday, April 11.  That game is scheduled to start at 11:00 a.m.  Don’t miss faculty/staff appreciation day on April 28.  Faculty and staff with a current MSUB ID get in free.  A BBQ will be available for a nominal fee.