March 15, 2008          

Jackets Drop Conference Opener at Saint Martin’s

   Box Score Game One
   Box score Game Two 

LACEY, Wash. – Saint Martin’s posted a twinbill sweep of Montana State Billings Saturday afternoon, 12-6 and 10-4. With the losses, the Yellowjackets fall to 4-10 on the year and 0-2 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. SMU improve to 10-7 and 6-3 in conference play.

The Saints opened the first game with three runs in the first four innings. The Jackets got one back in the top of the fifth on a RBI double by Jeff Ridgeway, but SMU came back with three runs in the bottom of the inning and scored four in the seventh to go on for the 12-6 victory.

Jonathan Schlender and Matt Kakalecik each went 3 for 5 in the opener for MSUB. Kakalecik had two runs scored, two RBI and two doubles. Jeremy Knowles took the loss, going five innings allowing eight hits, six runs – five earned and two strikeouts.
SMU opened the nightcap batting around and scoring eight runs in the first inning and went on for a 10-4 victory. Brian Strom took the loss going two-thirds of an inning, allowing eight earned runs on five hits and had three walks.

Nick Rupert led the way for the Jackets with three hits and three RBI, including a three RBI double in a four-run sixth inning for MSUB.
The teams will play another doubleheader tomorrow, beginning at 12 p.m. Pacific time.