Jackets Pick Up Split Against Rattlers (4/21/07)
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
Game Photos

BILLINGS, MT – The Montana State-Billings baseball team earned a doubleheader split against powerhouse St. Mary’s University Saturday at Cobb Field to end a five-game losing streak.  The Yellowjackets kept the Rattlers on their heels to win 5-1 in the early game and pushed St. Mary’s to extra innings in the late game where they narrowly lost the sweep, falling 6-5.  The Jackets are 20-22 overall and 12-16 in conference play, while the Rattlers are 30-15 and 22-10.

Down one run entering the third inning, the Yellowjackets’ Kyle Pryor (Billings, MT) walked and then advanced to second on a Rattlers’ wild pitch.  Matt Schoonover’s (Great Falls, MT) base hit to left field plated Pryor.  Nick Hoskyn (Oelwein, IA) reached on a fielder’s choice and then stole second and third before scoring on a Rattlers’ error putting the Yellowjackets up 2-1.  Hoskyn’s run would turn out to be the game-winner.

The Jackets added icing to the cake scoring two runs in the fifth, and one in the sixth.  In the fifth, Seth Moir (Cody, WY) drove in both Schoonover and Pryor for two RBIs.  Pat Smith (Flagstaff, AZ) scored for the Jackets in the sixth after reaching on a fielder’s choice and advancing twice on Rattlers’ wild pitches.

The Rattlers’ Daniel Soto scored the lone run for St. Mary’s in the early game on a home run over the left field fence in the top of the second inning.  Other than Soto’s home run, the first of his season, only one other Rattler advanced to third base in the game. 

“I am proud of the guys,” said Yellowjacket head coach Chris Brown.  “They showed up after two tough losses on Friday.  They had guts and determination and came up big in game one.  Ben (Lewerke) forces ground balls and let’s his defense do the work.  He battled after being down in the count early and came up big when we needed it.”

Schoonover was a perfect 3-for-3 scoring one run and one RBI for the Yellowjackets.  Moir also went 3-for-3, driving in two RBIs.  Ben Lewerke (Mason City, IA) continued to show why he is ranked No. 11 in the nation improving to 7-1 with the win.  Lewerke pitched the complete seven inning game allowing just one run off six hits.  He struck out three in the effort.

Brandon Lippe took the loss for the Rattlers to fall to 3-2.  Lippe allowed five runs off seven hits while striking out four batters.

As stormy skies settled in over Billings, the Yellowjackets looked as though they would hold on for the doubleheader sweep over the Rattlers.  Up 3-1 through the fifth inning, two Rattler runs in the top of the sixth and a scoreless seventh inning pushed the game into extra innings.

In the top of the eighth, Jason Anderson opened with a triple to left field and was plated on Daniel Cantu’s single to right field.  A Yellowjacket pitching change saw Cody Clark (Billings, MT) shut out the inning needing just two Yellowjacket runs in the bottom of the eighth to clinch the win.

Hoskyn was walked and a sacrifice bunt by Moir moved Hoskyn to second.  Will Crtalic’s (Billings, MT) base hit placed Hoskyn in scoring position.  Crtalic stole second and a Rattler error advanced him to third and scored Hoskyn for the 4-4 tie.  With three runners on base, a fly out to right field sent the game into the ninth.

After battling through eight innings, the Rattlers prevailed scoring two runs off four hits, stranding three runners, but it proved to be the Jackets undoing as MSUB fell one run short as the inning ended.

Pryor went 2-for-3 for the Jackets scoring two runs and one RBI.  Hoskyn, Doug Longfellow (Lewistown, MT), and Jake Samuelson (Helena, MT) each scored a run in the game.  Clark took the loss for the Jackets in allowing two runs off three hits in 1 1/3 innings.

“We have a big weekend coming up against Incarnate Word,” added Brown.  “We want to carry over the positives from today into next weekend.  If we can play like we did today, I think we will be a dangerous team for the Cardinals.”

The Yellowjackets have a busy weekend April 27 and 28 as Friday’s doubleheader against Heartland Conference opponent Incarnate Word (28-19, 17-15) represents Senior Day.  Fourteen Yellowjackets will be honored at the game.  Saturday is Alumni Reunion Day where former Yellowjacket players will be in attendance.  Both Friday’s and Saturday’s games are slated for 2:00 p.m. at Cobb Field.