Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

BILLINGS, Mont. – Saturday's games were just what the Montana State University Billings baseball team needed; two wins on their home field in front of a good crowd that braved the chilly temperatures to see the Yellowjackets in action. The 'Jackets did not disappoint in their home-opener as they bested Minot State University 8-4 and 6-5 Saturday afternoon at Dehler Park.
 
MSUB (6-10) trailed early in the first game, but came on strong when it mattered most to claim the win before taking the second game to extra innings to best the Beavers (5-19) and sweep Saturday's games.
 
“I am happy with how our guys competed today,” said second-year head coach Rob Bishop following Saturday's sweep. “We fought back from behind three times today. Our bullpen was solid as was our defense. I am looking forward to watching our team continue to improve.”
 
The Yellowjackets fell behind 4-0 in game-one of the doubleheader, but never surrendered as they battled back to take the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning with five runs off three hits and a Minot State error.
 
With the lead in-hand, one of the biggest stories of Saturday's games was the return of shortstop Colby Robison who was an all-conference selection last season and one of MSUB's biggest bats. The 6-1 junior from Rexburg, Idaho did not disappoint in his first game back in several weeks and even knocked a home run in the seventh inning to add a little padding to MSUB's lead.
 
The Yellowjackets continued to battle hard despite owning the lead, and added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to claim their first win in two games.
 
Ty Gilmore led the way at the plate for MSUB with a 2-for-4 hitting performance in the first game and also scored a run and batted another in. Robison scored twice and joined Justin Harcharik as the only two 'Jackets to cross the dish twice.
 
Brady Muller pitched six solid innings for MSUB to earn his third win of the season with Bobby Ragasa coming in to secure the save. Ragasa recorded all nine outs in his three innings of work as he fanned nine batters.
 
Zane Sawyer fell to 0-2 with the loss on the mound for Minot State in 4.1 innings of work. He failed to strike out a single Yellowjacket.
 
The second game was more of a slug-fest and pitchers' dual as the game progressed scoreless for the first four innings before both squads acquired a run in the fifth inning.
 
The second contest of the doubleheader was originally scheduled for seven innings, but as neither team could find the clear advantage, the game spilled over into extra innings and finished under the lights at Dehler for the first time this season.
 
Minot appeared to find the necessary momentum in the 10^th frame with three runs scoring, but Blake Nelson wanted nothing more than to give his team their second win in a row for the first time this season. Nelson jacked his first home run of the season to score Brody Miller and Robison on the play and keep the Yellowjackets drive alive.
 
The Beavers once again edged into the lead in the top of the 11^th inning, but having come so far already, MSUB would not go down without a fight. Miller and Nelson would each record RBIs in the inning to win the game for MSUB 6-5 despite being out-hit by Minot State 13-9.
 
Nelson ended the game with four RBI off a 3-for-4 performance at the plate while Mack Unruh went 2-for-3 at the dish with an RBI and a run scored.
 
Both teams dug deep into their pitching corps but it was Zachary Smith, MSUB's final hurler, who recorded the win on the mound in game-two to earn his first decision of the year. Trey Jacobson suffered his first loss of the season.
 
MSUB and Minot State will renew their rivalry tomorrow afternoon at Dehler Park in a 1 p.m. showdown. The first game is once again scheduled for nine innings with the second game scheduled for seven.