Montana State Billings Fall Report: Fresh off First NCAA Win, Yellowjackets Aim Higher

The 2025 season was a landmark campaign for Montana State Billings, one that saw the program reach heights previously untouched in its history. Under the guidance of Head Coach Derek Waddoups, who enters his seventh season at the helm, the Yellowjackets tied a program record with 33 wins and finished as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament Runner-Up.

The postseason magic continued with a trip to the West Regional—just the second appearance in school history—where the team secured its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, a 15-7 triumph over Point Loma. Now, coming off a year where he earned GNAC Coach of the Year honors, Waddoups faces the challenge of sustaining that momentum while replacing a significant portion of his everyday lineup. Despite losing nearly 63% of their offensive production, the coaching staff remains optimistic, buoyed by a pitching staff that returns half of its innings and a culture of competitiveness instilled by pitching coach Brian Greisman.

The Offense

The Yellowjackets’ lineup will have a new look in 2026 after graduating seven everyday starters, but the cupboard is far from bare. The offense will revolve around the steady presence of senior first baseman Jack Nehler, an emotional leader who has anchored the three-hole for three consecutive seasons. A Second Team All-GNAC selection, Nehler was a force at the plate last spring; in 203 ABs, he hit .379 with 10 doubles and 39 RBI, ranking third in the conference in batting average. Beyond his statistical production, Nehler is chasing history, looking to finish his career as the GNAC’s all-time batting average leader while providing elite defense at first base.

Joining him as a veteran pillar is senior Ryker Fortier, who is transitioning back to his natural position at shortstop after excelling in the outfield last year (see catch below). Fortier was a key offensive catalyst in 2025, and in 187 ABs he hit .348 with 13 doubles and 32 RBI, earning Second Team All-GNAC honors. He also led the conference with a strikeout rate at an impressive seven percent. The bat-to-ball skills are there. The coaching staff expects him to bat at the top of the order, where his base-stealing ability (18 stolen bases) and all-around offensive threat can set the table.

To fill the gaps left by graduation, MSUB will rely on a talented crop of newcomers. Freshman catcher Espn Fisher, a product of Polson High School, has impressed with his massive physical strength and "lightning" in his bat. Fisher showed significant growth in his baseball IQ during the fall and is expected to be a major contributor immediately. Another freshman making waves is Cade Queen, a two-way talent who will compete for time at all three infield spots when not on the mound. Queen brings pop to the lineup and displayed quality bat-to-ball skills throughout the fall camp.

The Pitching Staff

While the offense retools, the pitching staff appears ready to carry the load, returning 50% of its innings from the record-tying squad. Leading the rotation is sophomore right-hander Sam Coxen, the reigning GNAC Freshman of the Year. Coxen is an extreme competitor who features an elite fastball/changeup combination and has recently developed a slider. His freshman campaign was stellar; he posted a 7-4 record with a 5.13 ERA in 59.2 IP, tying for third in the conference in wins. With a fastball that consistently sat in the low 90s and touched 95+ mph this fall, Coxen is poised to be the staff ace.

Complementing Coxen in the rotation is senior Brennen Chappell, a poise-filled righty with a high baseball IQ. Chappell was a consistent starter last spring, logging a 4-4 record with a 5.75 ERA in 61 IP. His arsenal relies on an upper-80s fastball paired with an elite slider and changeup, the spin on the slider making him a particularly tough matchup.

Newcomer Cade Queen will also step directly into the rotation after an outstanding fall where he sat 90-93 mph with a "hammer" curveball. He is joined by junior transfer Owen Combs, who arrived from Mt. Hood CC and showed a jump in velocity and slider movement during the fall.

At the back end of games, the Yellowjackets boast one of the conference's premier arms in senior Hayden Mullins. A First Team All-GNAC selection, Mullins is described as the team's most competitive athlete and wants the ball with the game on the line. He posted a 5-3 record with a 2.70 ERA in 46.2 IP last season, securing 3 saves. His dominance was reflected in the leaderboards, where he ranked first in the conference in ERA and hits allowed per nine innings among relievers. With a fastball sitting 90-92 mph and a cutter/slider mix, Mullins anchors a bullpen that also features freshman Blake Sweat, a quiet competitor with a plus breaking ball expected to eat up innings.

Key Departures

The roster turnover is significant, as the program bids farewell to a decorated senior class. The offense loses Kaden Kirshenbaum, a First Team All-GNAC outfielder who hit .338 with 10 home runs and a massive 1.015 OPS. Also departing is First Team All-GNAC shortstop Zack Blaszak, who paced the team with a .382 average and 86 hits. The lineup also loses the production of Ryan Jeffrey (First Team All-GNAC) and Bodee Wright (First Team All-GNAC), leaving a void in veteran leadership and consistent hitting. On the mound, the team graduates Jackson Betancourt, a Second Team All-GNAC lefty who threw a team-high 89.2 innings with a 3.61 ERA.

Schedule & Outlook

The 2026 slate offers no gentle ease-in period for the new-look Yellowjackets. MSUB opens the season on January 30th with a four-game road series against Cal State San Bernardino, a squad that finished 29-21 last year. The non-conference gauntlet continues into February with trips to face RMAC powerhouses. They will visit Colorado State Pueblo (32-20, RMAC Tournament appearance) in early February before heading to Grand Junction to face Colorado Mesa, the reigning RMAC champions who won 42 games and played in a regional in 2025. Sandwiched between those road trips is a home series against Regis University, another 35-win team from the RMAC tournament field.

Conference play kicks off on February 27th at Central Washington, but the circle-the-date matchups come later in the spring against Northwest Nazarene. The Nighthawks are coming off a monster 46-16 season where they won the West Region and reached the World Series. MSUB will travel to Nampa in late March and host NNU in late April, series that will likely determine the hierarchy of the GNAC standings. The regular season concludes in early May against Colorado School of Mines before the GNAC Championships begin on May 7th in Nampa, Idaho.

With a battle-tested pitching staff and a schedule designed to build RPI early, Montana State Billings is positioning itself for another run at the postseason. If the new offensive pieces can gel around Nehler and Fortier, the Yellowjackets have the mound talent to potentially exceed the historic success of 2025. If you value this in-depth, non-paywalled coverage of D2 Baseball, please consider supporting our independent reporting efforts. Your contribution helps us continue providing free access to all our articles without relying on restrictive paywalls. To support our work, please visit our Patreon page: patreon.com/diviibaseball