BILLINGS, Mont. – Western Oregon University's baseball team opened a five-game series against Montana State University Billings Friday beginning with a suspended game from mid-March before playing a nine-inning contest to begin the originally scheduled weekend series against the Yellowjackets at Dehlar Park.

Western Oregon (21-21, 16-9 GNAC) and Montana State Billings (19-18, 14-7 GNAC) resumed a suspended game from March 13 when the contest was called for rain in the top of the first inning with MSUB leading 1-0 with the bases loaded and no outs.

The seven-inning contest would end with MSUB earning the 8-5 victory before the two teams went toe-to-toe in the first of four games this weekend, as the host Yellowjackets earned a 5-4 victory with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday in Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) play.

In the two games, junior Cody Sullivan registered a combined three hits for Western Oregon with five other Wolves – senior Marcus Hinkle, senior Matt Taylor, junior Brandon Oliver, junior Cody Poznanski, and junior Brenden Shaffer – each recording two hits in the pair of games. Taylor led WOU with three runs batted in, while junior Nathan Etheridge scored a team-high two runs for the Wolves.

Freshman Brady Miller would take over for original starter junior Houston Samuel in the opener as Miller allowed five runs (one earned) on five hits in 5.0 innings of work. Samuel, who was the Game #2 starter during the original game in Monmouth, was tagged for three runs (two earned) on one hit. After Miller's five-inning performance, junior Tyler Bennett and senior Christian Morrison combined to allow just one hit over the final 2.0 innings.

Friday's second game would see junior Darrien Moran get the start for Western Oregon, as he allowed three earned runs on six hits in 3.2 innings of work before turning the ball over to the bullpen. WOU's relievers consisted of junior Shawn Domke, junior Gary Steindorf, Samuel, and junior Jacob Storedahl, as the bullpen combined to allow two runs (one earned) on six hits. Storedahl would suffer the loss, as he allowed the game-winning run in the ninth inning for the Wolves.

Montana State Billings was led offensively by Luke Reinschmidt and Corey Morris, as the pair registered a combined four hits on the afternoon with Reinschmidt and Casey Merritt driving in a team-high two runs each for the Yellowjackets.

Brady Muller would replace original starter Jake Campeau to start the suspended game, as Muller went the distance allowing five earned runs on eight hits to go along with a game-high seven strikeouts. Game #2 would see Campeau get the start for MSUB, as he allowed three earned runs on eight hits in 8.0 innings of work before Adam Cox came in for the final inning as he allowed the game-tying run on one hit but would get credit for the victory after the Yellowjackets' ninth-inning heroics.

SUSPENDED GAME FROM MARCH 14 — MONTANA STATE BILLINGS 8, WESTERN OREGON 5 (7-INNING GAME)

In a game that was suspended for over a month with MSUB leading 1-0 with the bases loaded in the top of the first inning, the Yellowjackets would continue to score adding two more runs in their opening at-bat before Western Oregon got on the board with a pair of single runs in the bottom of the second and third innings, respectively.

The Wolves would pull within two runs (3-1) on a RBI single by Oliver in the second inning before a double to center field by senior Garret Harpole brought WOU within a single run (3-2) one inning later.

MSUB would tack two more runs on the board in the top of the fourth inning to pull ahead 5-2 before Western Oregon answered the 'Jackets' two runs with RBIs by Shaffer and Taylor in the bottom of the fourth inning to pull the Wolves back within a single run (5-4).

In the top of the sixth inning, Montana State Billings would add its three final runs to pull in front by four runs (8-4) before Western Oregon got a single run when Hinkle scored on a wild pitch for the final margin of three runs (8-5).

Shaffer and Oliver led Western Oregon with a pair of hits, while Shaffer, Taylor, Harpole, and Oliver each registered RBIs for the Wolves.

Trevor Nix was the lone Montana State Billings' player to register a multiple-hit game with two base knocks, while five other Yellowjackets also tallied hits for the designated visitors.

GAME #1 OF WEEKEND SERIES – MONTANA STATE BILLINGS 5, WESTERN OREGON 4 (9-INNING GAME)

In the first official game of this weekend's four-game series between Western Oregon and MSUB, the host Yellowjackets would jump out to a 2-0 lead after three innings of play before the Wolves cut the deficit in half with a single run in the top of the fourth inning on a Sullivan double to right center that pulled WOU to within 2-1.

Montana State Billings would add another run in the bottom of the fourth inning to increase their lead to two runs (3-1) before Western Oregon answered with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning on a two-run home run over the right field wall by Taylor to tie the score at 3-3.

A run in the bottom of the sixth inning by MSUB would put the 'Jackets in front (4-3) before Western Oregon rallied in the top of the ninth inning with a lead off single by Sullivan before he advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and then moved to third on a wild pitch one batter later. With runners on second and third, senior Jacob Whisler lifted a sacrifice fly into center field that was deep enough to bring home Sullivan and tie the game at 4-4.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, MSUB would get a one-out double off the bat of Morris before Conner Holbrook brought him home to score the winning run on a single to right center that ended the game with the 'Jackets winning by the final score of 5-4 in walk-off fashion.

Hinkle and Sullivan led Western Oregon offensively with two hits each, while Taylor drove in a team-high two runs on his first home run of the season.

Montana State Billings would get a game-high four hits from Morris with Reinschmidt contributing three hits to go along with a pair of RBIs by Merritt.

These same two teams will square off in a pair of seven-innings game tomorrow – Saturday, April 18 – beginning at 1 PM (MST) at Dehlar Park in Billings, Montana.