BILLINGS, Mont. – The Western Oregon Wolves dropped the series finale to the Montana State Billings Yellowjackets, 6-1, on Sunday morning at Dehler Park. The loss handed the Wolves a two games to one series defeat at MSUB.
 
Gary Steindorf (0-2) got the loss for WOU after allowing three runs on seven hits over 5.2 innings of work. Cody Cooper (5-0) threw eight innings for the Yellowjackets, allowing one earned run on nine hits with four strikeouts.
 
WOU managed nine hits, led by the seven-eight-nine hitters of Joey Crunkilton (2-for-3, RBI), Erik Long (2-for-4) and Jay Leverett (2-for-4).
 
Western Oregon (10-13, 5-8 GNAC) scored first in the top of sixth inning. Kyle Vanderkin led off the frame with a triple to center field. Then, Crunkilton lifted a ball to center field deep enough to get Vanderkin home on a sacrifice fly, putting the Wolves up 1-0.
 
However, Montana State Billings (13-11, 7-8 GNAC) responded immediately with a three-run bottom half to seize the lead. The scoring spurt started with a one-out solo home run. The bags loaded for MSUB with a hit batter, a single and a walk. Steindorf walked his final batter to force home a run. Reliever Elias Bedolla entered and strained to find the strike zone, walking his first batter for the Jackets to take a 3-1 lead.
 
MSUB added two more runs in the seventh and blasted another solo homer in the eighth to claim the series finale.
 
Western Oregon closes out the first half of conference play next weekend traveling to Ellensburg for a four-game series at Central Washington. The first pitch of the series will be thrown at 12 noon on Saturday, April 2 as part of a doubleheader.