Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore
NAMPA, Idaho – Northwest Nazarene's Jesse Gwaltney took a no-hitter into the ninth and the NNU offense provided ample support as the Crusaders defeated Montana State University Billings 13-3 in the opening game of a Great Northwest Athletic Conference twinbill on Friday evening at Vail Field.
The Yellowjackets (6-13, 5-5 GNAC) bounced back to win game two, 5-4, in extra innings.
In the opener Gwaltney (3-2) retired the first 14 MSUB hitters in order, allowing his first baserunner in the fifth when he hit Jaret Chatwood with a pitch. Gwaltney quickly returned to form and retired the next four straight.
Two walks and a hit batter in the seventh allowed MSUB to plate one run, but it was in the top of the ninth when the Yellowjackets collected their first hit of the game, a drag bunt by Chris Stine. Brian Dukart followed Stine with his first home run of the season. Gwaltney was then relieved by Zach Morse, with Gwaltney coming off to a standing ovation from the fans for his effort.
The Crusaders (11-12, 5-5 GNAC) scored 13 runs on 10 hits, led by Jon Keller who finished two-for-three with two doubles and four RBI, Ryan VanBeek (2-3, 3 RBI), and Connor Rankin (2-4, 3 RBI).
Kody Kennedy (2-1) took the game one loss for MSUB.
The nightcap featured late-game heroics by both teams as the Crusaders Oliver tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh, taking a two-out, 2-2 pitch off the centerfield wall to score Ty Nicholson from first. Oliver would remain stranded at second, sending the game to extra frames.
MSUB scored the game-winner in the top half of the eighth as Chris Round led-off with a double to left centerfield. Pinch-runner Ryan Dennehy came on for Round and advanced to third on a wild pitch from J.T. Brodrick, who had entered in long relief of NNU starter Jon Keller in the fourth. Dennehy then scored on Jonathon Crews sacrifice fly down the right field line, beating Nicholson's throw at the plate.
The Crusaders rallied with two baserunners in the bottom half of the inning, but MSUB's Brian Hutchings was able to close the door, getting Keller to fly-out to end the threat and earn his first save of the season.
Brodrick (1-3) took the loss for the Crusaders, while Kyle Gieselman (1-0) earned the win, pitching the one and two-thirds innings of relief for the 'Jackets.
MSUB was led by Dukart with three hits and Blake Nelson (2-4, 2 RBI), who hit his first two home runs of the season, solo shots in both the second and fifth innings. Jeff Ridgeway also had two hits.
Ty Windall paced NNU's offense, going two-for-four with two RBI, while eight other Crusaders had one hit.
The teams complete the four-game GNAC series tomorrow at Noon.
Game 1
Northwest Nazarene 13, MSU-Billings 3 (Mar 19, 2010 at Nampa,ID) (Game 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
MSU-Billings........ 000 000 102 - 3 3 4 (5-13, 4-5)
Northwest Nazarene.. 202 104 31X - 13 10 0 (11-11, 5-4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: MSU-Billings - Kennedy; Clark(6); Gregg(8). Northwest Nazarene - Gwaltney; Morse(9).
Win-Gwaltney(3-2) Loss-Kennedy(2-1) T-2:27 A-0
HR MSUB - Dukart (1).
Game: NNUBB22
Game 2
MSU-Billings 5, Northwest Nazarene 4 (Mar 19, 2010 at Nampa,ID) (Game 2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
MSU-Billings........ 111 010 01 - 5 12 2 (6-13, 5-5)
Northwest Nazarene.. 001 200 10 - 4 10 2 (11-12, 5-5)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: MSU-Billings - Vulk; Gieselman(6); Hutchings(8). Northwest Nazarene - Keller;
Hruza(4); Brodrick(5).
Win-Gieselman(1-0) Save-Hutchings(1) Loss-Brodrick(1-3) T-2:58 A-124
HR MSUB - Nelson 2 (2).
Game: NNUBB23
