Box Score

PUEBLO, Colo. – In his first game with the Montana State University Billings baseball team, Division I transfer Matt Comer gave his new squad the spark they needed to win their season-opener as the Yellowjackets opened their 2012 campaign with a 7-5 road-victory over Colorado State University – Pueblo Friday afternoon inside Rawlings Field.

“Overall I was happy with our effort today,” said second-year head coach Rob Bishop. “We were able to play through some mental mistakes and still get the win. Derek Allen gave us a great start today. He set the tone for the game early and gave the offense time to settle in.”
 
The Yellowjackets struck pay-dirt first in the second inning and never looked back as Comer rocked his first at bat with a home run to commence what would be a three-run inning for MSUB. The senior from Bozeman, Mont., who transferred prior to the season from Seattle University, led the team at the plate with a 3-for-5 performance that included his home run for an RBI and a run scored.
 
Later in the second inning, Jordan Carlson singled to drive in Cole McPherson and Brody Miller to put MSUB up 3-0 on the home Thunderwolves.
 
The Yellowjackets would add another three runs in the top of the fourth inning to go up 6-0. Starting shortstop and 2011 All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference selection Colby Robison drove in Ty Gilmore to start the scoring drive before Miller recorded a pair of RBIs as he singled to centerfield to give Robison and Gilmore each enough time to cross the plate.
 
As the first half of the game belonged to the Yellowjackets, the Thunderwolves' bats woke up in the second half of the game as CSU – Pueblo went on to out-score MSUB 5-1 over the final five innings, falling just short in an attempt at a come-back. The Thunderwolves scored single runs in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings and had a pair of runners score in the bottom of the eighth inning.
 
Robison ended the afternoon with a team-high two runs scored and one RBI while Miller and Carlson each had a pair of RBIs.
 
For Colorado State – Pueblo, Chase Lacomb went 3-for-4 at the dish with a pair of RBIs while Chris Schindler went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
 
Junior right-handed pitcher Derek Allen pitched six innings for the Yellowjackets, fanning five batters and giving up just two earned runs as he recorded the win on the mound. Bobby Ragasa came in for a pair of innings, striking out the final two batters of the game to earn the save.
 
Jeremiah Struble suffered the loss for the Thunderwolves as he went four innings and gave up six earned runs, but he did manage to strike out six batters.
 
The two teams will face off again tomorrow in a double-header that begins at high noon.