Box Score

Billings, Mont. – The Yellowjackets and Colorado Mesa put on an offensive display Sunday afternoon, combining for 32 hits and 26 runs. While MSU Billings recorded its highest hit and run outputs of the season, they would unfortunately be out dueled by the Mavericks losing 14-12.
 
The Yellowjackets started slow then found its rhythm late scoring seven of its 12 runs in the top of the seventh inning. Both MSUB and Colorado Mesa finished with 16 hits. Colby Robison was in the zone today going 4-5 with two runs scored. Blake Loran had one of his best outings of the season, finishing 3-5 with two runs scored and three runs batted in.
 
Brad Birch also registered three runs batted in, as he exhibited his power, hitting his third homerun of the year.
 
Seven pitchers saw action on the mound for the Jackets, with Mack Unruh making his second start of the season. Bobby Ragasa tallied a team high two strikeouts in one inning of work. The unit finished with five total strikeouts, seven force outs and 11 groundouts.
 
Colorado Mesa's Nate Robertson had a game high four runs batted in, finishing 3-5 on the afternoon. Justin Rosales was also solid going 2-5, with two runs scored, two runs batted in and one homerun.
 
Cody Lahman got the start for the Mavericks and won his second game of the 2013 season. He finished with three strikeouts while only allowing three hits in five innings pitched.
 
Similar to yesterday's contests, the Yellowjackets fell behind early as Colorado Mesa owned a 6-0 advantage heading into the fifth inning. MSUB got their offense going in the top of the fifth when Orrin Pyrah singled to center field, driving Robison home to give the Jackets their first run. Colorado Mesa answered quickly with five runs in the bottom of the inning, giving them the 11-1 advantage entering the sixth inning.
 
Birch homered over left field, bringing home Drew Fosnes and Loran to come within seven (11-4) of the opposition entering the bottom of the sixth inning. Robertson doubled, bringing Mitch Corwin in to give the Mavericks the 12-4 advantage.
 
Both teams traded runs in the seventh and Colorado Mesa held a comfortable 13-5 lead going into the eighth inning. Just as it seemed the Mavericks would cruise to a lopsided victory, MSUB came out strong in the top of the eighth scoring seven runs, all earned, to come within one (13-12) of Colorado Mesa's lead. The Mavericks added another run in the bottom of the inning to hold a two point advantage as they entered the final inning.
 
In their final bat attempts, MSUB would not be able to keep the momentum going and they finished with one hit and one left on base, as the Mavericks went ahead to claim the 14-12 victory.
 
"I was happy with how we kept competing today,” stated Rob Bishop. “We could easily have rolled over and quit after being down so much early. I saw our guys compete hard until the last out. Colorado Mesa is a great program and will definitely be a post season team again this year.”
 
The Yellowjackets, now at 2-7-1, will travel to St. George, Utah for a four game series with Dixie State College Feb. 22-24.