Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Billings, Mont. – Montana State Billings baseball team started their 2013 season on the right foot as they defeated Dakota Wesleyan University 9-3 in the first game of their double-header in the Metrodome Classic Friday afternoon. The Yellowjackets and Tigers played to a 4-4 tie in the second contest, which was suspended after the bottom of the fifth inning due to time constraints.
 
Game 1: MSUB 9 – Dakota Wesleyan 3
 
Samuel Paterson led the Yellowjackets on the mound; the senior left-handed pitcher worked six innings, giving up only two hits and no earned runs while striking out two to earn his first victory of the year.
 
Offensively, MSUB was led by Bryce Todd who was 3-4, with one run batted in and two runs scored. Blake Loran and Orrin Pyrah also turned in solid performances, as both went 2-4 in the first match.
 
As a team, MSU Billings had 14 hits, seven of which came in a six run 6^th inning.
 
Game: MSUB 4 – Dakota Wesleyan 4
 
Brady Muller pitched all five innings in the contest before play was suspended because of time limit.
 
Dakota Wesleyan took an early 1-0 lead after the first inning; then the Yellowjackets answered with three runs in the top of the second inning. Colby Robison started the inning with a walk, followed by Loran who was hit by a pitch. Both players advanced after an error on the Tigers' pitcher.
 
Sophomore infielder Colter Sternhagen hit a single to bring Loran and Robison home; then Drew Fosnes drove in Sternhagen with a fielders' choice.
 
Dakota Wesleyan countered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the third.
 
Not being fazed by the oppositions' momentum, MSUB answered in the top of the fourth when Fosnes hit a one out triple and Todd drove him in with a single, with the next at bat.
 
Both the Tigers and Jackets went three up three down in the fifth inning, before the games conclusion.

“I thought we competed well today; I saw a lot of good things in each facet of the game from our team,” stated head coach Rob Bishop. “We are looking forward to getting back on the field tomorrow against a very good Missouri Southern team.”

MSUB will face Missouri Southern State University Saturday, Feb. 9 and Sunday, Feb. 10, in two consecutive double-headers for the remainder of their Metrodome Classic games.