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Yellowjacket Upset Bid at No. 14 Chico State Falls Short in Doubleheader Sweep

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Box Score (Game 1)

Box Score (Game 2)

CHICO, Calif. – No. 14 Chico State posted a doubleheader sweep of visiting Montana State Billings in baseball Sunday afternoon, 4-2 and 10-5.  With the losses, the Yellowjackets fell to 5-5 on the year, while Chico State improved to 7-1.  The teams are scheduled to play a single game to complete the three game series Monday at 3 p.m. PT. 

“We competed well today,” MSUB head coach Rob Bishop said.  They (Chico) got some big hits in each game and they deserve the credit for that.”

Senior Jeff Ridgeway led the way for the Jackets in the doubleheader going 5 for 7 with two doubles and two runs scored, while senior Kevin Zukaitis went 3 for 5 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored.

Chico State was led by a 4 for 8 performance from Jackson Evans who scored three runs and drove in two.  Jon Peters went 2 for 3 with two runs scored and a team-high four RBI along with a double.  The Jackets did contain Chico's leading hitter, Ian McKay, as he went just 1 for 8 with one a double and two RBI.

The opener was a pitcher's duel as both senior Jake Vulk and CSU's Brian Buckham stymied the offense on both sides through the first four innings. Both teams had runners on base (a total of nine between the teams), but were unable to get anything across.

In the fifth, Ridgeway doubled, followed by senior Jordan Kessler who reached on a Wildcat miscue.  Freshman Dillon Ness scored Ridgeway on a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead. 

The lead was short lived, however, as Chico State came back in the bottom of the frame with two runs as Evans singled home both for a 2-1 advantage. 

MSUB tied the score in the sixth on a Zukaitis solo home run to right center off Chico State reliever Jordan Lindebaum for a 2-2 score.

The Wildcats plated what turned out to be the game-winning runs in the bottom of the sixth as Ben Manlove singled home the two runs off Yellowjacket reliever senior Archie Smith. Lindebaum retired the final nine Yellowjackets to earn the win in relief.

Smith (2-1) took the loss in three innings as he allowed four hits, two earned runs and he fanned one.  Vulk went five strong innings, allowing four hits, two earned runs, three walks and a game-high six strikeouts.  Buckham also went five innings, allowing four hits, one unearned run, two walks and he fanned five.

Just as in the opener, the Jackets took the lead first in the nightcap.  This time, MSUB plated two runs in the first inning as sophomore Andrew Kachel singled home Zukaitis as the Jackets loaded the bases with two out.  Moments later, sophomore Colby Robison scored on a passed ball for a 2-0 lead.

Senior pitcher, Kody Kennedy, got out of a first inning jam in the bottom of the frame as the Wildcats loaded the bases with two out, but Kennedy calmly retired Justin Manci to end the threat.

The Wildcats scratched across a run in the bottom of the third courtesy of the first of three Yellowjacket miscues in the game.  With two out, Evans singled then stole second and advanced to third on the throwing error.  He then stole home for the 2-1 score.

MSUB didn't panic, however, as it plated three runs in the top of the fourth.  Ridgeway got things started with a double to left field after junior Zachary Smith singled to open the frame.  After an intentional walk to Ness, Zukaitis came up big once again as he singled up the middle scoring two runs.  Robison later hit a sacrifice fly scoring Ness for a 5-1 lead.

Seven runs came across in the bottom of the frame for the Wildcats.  McKay got his lone hit – a two run double to left to open the scoring in the inning.  Shane Kroker plated two more runs on a single through the left side and Peters hit a bases-clearing double for three more runs and an 8-5 lead.  Chico State would add two more runs in the sixth for a 10-5 final.

Kennedy (0-3) took the loss as he went 3.2 innings, surrendering seven hits, seven runs – six earned, one walk and he fanned one.  Juniors Kyle Gieselman and Michael Waldorf each saw action in relief.  Stephen Thompson (1-0) earns the victory in relief of Ryan O'Shea.  O'Shea went just 3.1 innings as the Jackets belted him for six hits, three runs – two earned, two walks and he struck out two.
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