Game one boxscore
Game two boxscore

Press release courtesy of Kit Strief, MSUB Sports Information Director

BILLINGS, Mont. - Four runs in the final two innings propelled the Montana State Billings baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of visiting Northwest Nazarene Friday afternoon at Dehler Park.  A walk-off RBI single by Patch Wirtzberger in the bottom of the seventh gave the Yellowjackets a 6-5 win in the nightcap, after a 6-3 win in the opener. 

With the victories, MSUB snapped a six-game skid and improved to 16-18 on the year and 10-8 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

The Yellowjackets got things started in the second as they plated four runs.  Stefan Malkuch began the inning with a solo home run off the scoreboard for a 1-0 lead and his second home run of the year.  Singles by Matt Schoonover and Levi Johnson followed.  Chris Round reached on a fielder's choice bunt to load the bases.  Jeff Ridgway walked for a 2-0 lead.  Cole Pryor was plunked by the ball for a 3-0 lead.  Round tried to come home on a wild pitch, but was gunned down at the plate.  Ridgway later scored on a wild pitch for a 4-0 lead.

Nick Harris got into the home run act in the fifth as he belted his first of the season to left center for a 5-0 lead.

The Crusaders (10-19, 4-14) got back in the game in the sixth as Sean McDonald was hit by the pitch to begin the inning.  Two singles followed, scoring one run as Tyler Nicholson scored McDonald on a dribbler to third base for a 5-1 score.

Yellowjacket hurler, Archie Smith, settled down and struck out the next two batters.  Joel Oliver reached on a fielder's choice error.  Moments later, Niko Hawes scored on an error, followed by a RBI single from Cory Warburton for a 5-3 score.

MSUB added another run in the seventh Andrew Hernandez began the inning with a single, followed by a Joe Via RBI double for a 6-3 lead.

The Crusaders got the lead-off man on in the top of the eighth, but a nice fielding play by Harris led to a fielder's choice for the first out.  Smith recorded his third strikeout, but also got help from a great throw from Hernandez behind the dish gunning down Tyler Nicholson at second for a strike 'em out, throw 'em out to end the threat.

Reliever, Jeff Bjorklund, retired the first two batters in the ninth, but an error followed by a single gave NNU new life.  Jimmy VanBeek hit a slow roller up the middle and Pryor stepped on second for the force out to end the game.

For the opener, Schoonover and Hernandez led the way with two hits each and each scored a run.  Hawes and Nicholson each had two hits for NNU.

Smith (3-3) earns the victory, going eight strong innings, allowing six hits, three runs - one earned, no walks and three strikeouts.  Jon Keller (3-3) takes the loss for the Crusaders as he went 6.1 innings, allowing eight hits, six earned runs, one walk and a game-high seven strikeouts.

With the win, MSUB ensures itself of winning the season series with NNU, marking the first conference season series win for the Yellowjackets since they joined the GNAC last year.

The Crusaders began the nightcap with a three run home run by Oliver as he crushed the Brian Strom offering to left field.  The Crusaders got runners on second and third in the second before Nicholson lined a single to left field, plating two more runs for a 5-0 lead.

MSUB got two runs back in the bottom of the second as Malkuch singled up the middle, followed by a walk and a two run double by Levi Johnson for a 5-2 score.  The Crusaders threatened in the fourth as they had two hits, but MSUB reliever, Cody Clark, got out of the jam as he got two fly outs to end the threat.

Jeff Ridgeway led-off the bottom of the sixth with a double, followed later by a two run triple by Malkuch for a 5-4 score.  Schoonover grounded out to short scoring Malkuch to tie the game at five heading into the seventh inning.

Ty Sobieraj led-off the bottom of the seventh with a double to right field. Wirtzberger lined a single to left field, scoring Sobieraj for the game winner, 6-5.

For the game, Malkuch went 2 for 2 with two RBI and two runs scored to lead the way.  MSUB had just seven hits and only three before the sixth inning.  Johnson went 1 for 3 with two RBI.  NNU was led by Oliver who went 2 for 4 with three RB, while Nicholson went 2 for 4 with two RBI.

Clark (2-1) came in relief and went 5.1 innings, allowing five hits, no runs, one walk and two strikeouts.  Warburton (0-2) takes the loss pitching to two batters, surrendering two hits, one earned run.

The teams will conclude the series tomorrow, beginning at 1 p.m. with the second doubleheader.