Box Score

Billings, Mont. – Despite outhitting No. 24 Dixie State College of Utah 11-10, Montana State Billings' baseball team could not match their runs scored and were defeated by their nationally ranked opponent 17-6. The Yellowjackets trailed 7-6 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, before the Red Storm scored 10 combined runs in the bottom of the seventh and bottom of the eighth.
 
MSUB took an early 3-0 lead heading into the third inning; as Austin Rue scored on a wild pitch in the top of the first, and Jacob Bohne and Bryce Todd crossing on a Colby Robison single in the top of the second. Dixie State answered in the bottom of the third, scoring three unearned runs. MSU Billings had a total of six errors on the day compared to Dixie's two.
 
The Yellowjackets offense stalled as the Red Storm's found its rhythm, taking the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning with Kevin Kline scoring off a Yuto Kata single. Dixie State added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to give them the 7-3 lead heading into the sixth inning. MSUB went scoreless in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
 
Rue gave the Jackets' offense a spark, scoring in the top of the sixth, off a Brody Miller sacrifice fly. MSU Billings forced the Red Strom to go three up, three down in the bottom of the inning, then scored two more runs in the top of the seventh to come within one (7-6) of Dixie State's lead.
 
The turning point in the contest came when the Red Storm scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, then added six more in the bottom of the eighth inning. MSUB would not be able to match their opponent, going hitless in the final two innings. Dixie State would advance to 7-1 on the season with the Jackets falling to 2-11-1.
 
Rue turned in strong offensive numbers, finishing 2-3, scoring two runs and batting in two more. Bohne played well also, going 2-4 with two runs scored.
 
Joe Andriolo made his third start of the season for the Yellowjackets and faced 23 batters in his 4.2 innings on the mound, recording one strikeout. Bobby Ragasa also saw significant time on the mound, striking out one batter in his 2.1 innings pitched.
 
The Red Strom had a total of 13 runs batted in. Kata went 3-5, tallied two runs and batted in two. Jordan Hanley finished 2-3, scoring three runs and batting in two also. While Bubba Blau made the start for Dixie State, Austin Christiansen got the win, pitching 3.2 innings.
 
“We continue to struggle with our defense; Dixie is too good of a team to give them extra outs and we did that several times today,” stated third year head coach Rob Bishop. “We have the ability to play at a high level but right now we lack the consistency necessary to beat high level teams.”
 
MSUB will need to correct their flaws quickly, as they start their Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule Saturday, March 2 against the reigning conference champion, Western Oregon University.