PUEBLO, Colo. – The Montana State Billings baseball team dropped the first two games of a four game series at Colorado State Pueblo in both teams' season openers Saturday. The Thunderwolves won the opener 6-4 and the nightcap 6-5.

 

“For our first games out we played well,” first year head coach Rob Bishop said. “All four of our pitchers threw well. We didn't capitalize on a couple of scoring opportunities that ended up costing us. We will come out tomorrow ready to play.”

 

The Jackets were led offensively by senior Jordan Kessler who went 4 of 9 in the doubleheader with a double and one RBI. Sophomore transfer, Colby Robison, went 3 of 6 with a triple and two RBI, while senior Jeff Ridgway led the team with three RBI and a home run.

 

CSUP was led by Jason Veyna who went 3 of 8 with two doubles and one RBI. Kyle Wagner had a team-high five RBI and two home runs to lead the team.

 

In the opener, two errors by the Jackets proved costly in the first inning as CSUP took an early 2-0 lead. 

 

MSUB then cut the deficit in half in the second as Robison tripled and later scored on a Blake Nelson RBI bunt single for a 2-1 deficit.

 

The Jackets took the lead in the fifth with a two out rally. After a Kessler single, Ridgway blasted a two run home run and tallied a third run with a bases loaded walk as senior Kevin Zukaitis scored for a 4-2 lead.

 

The Thunderwolves scored two in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at four courtesy of a RBI double from Veyna and a sacrifice fly. 

 

CSUP broke the tie in the sixth with a solo home run by Wagner for a 5-4 advantage. The Jackets looked as if they had something going in the seventh and eighth with two on and one out, but both innings ended in double plays to kill the potential rally.

 

Senior Jacob Vulk went 4.1 innings to start the first game for the Jackets he allowed four hits, four runs – three earned, three walks and he fanned four. Senior Kyle Gieselman took the loss in relieve, surrendering the decisive two runs, will striking out four in relief. 

CSUP's Tim Pomierski earned the victory in relief in four innings striking out four and scattering just three hits after starter Cole Stephens went five innings allowing seven hits and four earned runs.

 

In the nightcap, the Thunderwolves again got off to the quick start with two runs in the first. The Jackets cut the deficit in half in the third as redshirt freshman Blake Loran tripled to begin the inning. Redshirt sophomore Andrew Kachel singled up the middle for the 2-1 score.

 

CSUP added another run in the bottom of the frame for a 3-1 score courtesy of a Yellowjacket throwing error.

 

MSUB had the answer once again with another big inning. This time the Jackets plated four runs in the fifth to take a 5-3 lead. Kessler drove in the first run of the inning scoring Kachel courtesy of an error. Ridgeway then followed with a RBI single and later Robison singled home both Ridgeway and Kessler.

 

Wagner again was the Yellowjacket killer as he belted a three run homer in the bottom of the fifth for a 6-5 score. Two walks proved costly in the frame for the Jackets.

 

It looked again as if the Jackets had something going in their last at bat with two on and nobody out. However, the third double play of the day ended the scoring threat and the game.

 

Despite the loss, senior Kody Kennedy fanned seven in 4.2 innings with just two walks and seven hits. He allowed six runs and five earned. Redshirt senior, Archie Smith, went 1.1 innings in relief. Smith missed a majority of the season last year due to injury. He had a very successful 2009 season.

 

Sean Gavin picks up the win for the Thunderwolves again in relief of starter Matt Cole. Cole went 4.1 innings allowing five hits, four earned runs, one walk and two strikeouts. 

 

The two teams will conclude the four game series Sunday beginning at 11 a.m. Live stats were originally going to be available for all four games, but due to technical difficulties they are not going to be available.