Thursday, May 12, 2016

NAMPA, Idaho – A standout performance on the mound from right hander Cody Cooper and a perfect day at the plate for designated hitter Adam Cox led Montana State Billings to a 10-2 victory over Western Oregon in the opening game of the GNAC Baseball Championships.

Cooper continued his stellar season for the Yellowjackets, pitching 8.1 innings with seven strikeouts, allowing two runs and six hits. The junior won his seventh game of the season while also being the first GNAC pitcher this season to record 100 strikeouts. Cooper’s total reached 106, ranking him second on the GNAC single-season strikeout list.

Cox drove in the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning to score center fielder Luke Reinschmidt. Then in the fifth inning, Cox drove a ball over the right-center field fence for a two-run home run, extending the Yellowjackets’ lead to 7-0. The sophomore finished 3 for 3 at the place with three RBI and two runs scored.

The Yellowjackets had a big second inning, thanks in part to two Western Oregon errors, scoring four runs on four hits. Peterson drove in a run with a groundball to third base, but advanced all the way to third base on an error, scoring another run. Peterson later scored on another error and third baseman Kyle Durbin drove in Reinschmidt to extend the lead to 5-0.

Reinschmidt went 3 for 5 at the plate with three runs scored as the leadoff man. Second baseman Colter Sternhagen went 2 for 4 with two RBI.

Western Oregon starting pitcher Darrien Moran threw 6.1 innings, allowing seven earned runs. Outfielder Forest Garcia finished 2 for 4 and drove in the Wolves’ first run in the seventh inning. Outfielder Joey Crunkilton went 1 for 4 with a run and RBI.

The Wolves play in game two of the tripleheader against Northwest Nazarene at 3:30 p.m. Mountain time. Montana State Billings will face Northwest Nazarene in game three at 7 p.m. MT.