Thursday, May 10, 2018
ELLENSBURG, Wash. – A six-run second inning was the difference maker as No. 1 seed Montana State Billings bounced back to earn a 10-6 win over No. 3 seed Central Washington to avoid elimination at the 2018 GNAC Baseball Championships.
With the win, the Yellowjackets (32-17) advance to tomorrow’s title game at noon, where they will take on No. 2 seed Western Oregon. Central Washington sees its season end with an overall record of 27-26. Prior to the contest, Western Oregon took a 14-8 win over MSUB to advance to the championship game. The Wildcats finish the tournament 1-2 after defeating No. 4 seed Concordia this morning.
Montana State Billings put up six runs, all unearned, in the second inning to jump out to an early 7-1 advantage. Ryan Myers drilled his 14th home run of the season after his three-run shot sailed over the right-field fence. The Wildcats committed three errors in the frame.
Central Washington’s James Smith III notched his second home run of the tournament after lining a solo homer past right center. The Wildcats trailed 7-4 after the third inning. The Yellowjackets pulled back a pair of runs in the top of the fourth after both Colton Cosner and Connor Linebarger recorded a pair of RBI singles to extend MSUB’s advantage 9-4.
With two outs and bases loaded for Central Washington in the bottom of the seventh inning, Montana State Billings turned to right-handed reliever Talon Derrick to shut the door. On a first-pitch fastball, Derrick was able to force a ground ball off the bat of Central Washington's Tristin Parton to preserve MSUB’s 10-6 advantage.
Smith III finished 3 for 4 and ended a single shy of the cycle. He led the team with three runs batted in. In a pinch-hit appearance, Vinny Guinasso notched an RBI single in the seventh inning while Yi-An Pan went 1 for 2 with an RBI and a run scored.
As for the Yellowjackets, Linebarger and Andrew Schleusner led the team with three hits each while Linebarger managed a game-high three RBIs. In 2.1 innings, Derrick allowed just one hit en route to his first save of the season. Montana State Billings’ starter Jared Winslow went 6.2 innings and allowed four earned runs to go along with six strikeouts.
On the other side of the mound, Central Washington’s JJ Asinas provided 3.1 innings of relief and gave up three runs while Dom Baker recorded four strikeouts in 2.1 innings of work.
Western Oregon can clinch its second-consecutive GNAC title with a win over MSUB tomorrow. In order for the Yellowjackets to claim the their first-ever championship, they must earn two-straight wins against the Wolves.