Box Score PUEBLO, Colo. – Five fielding errors by Colorado State Pueblo kept the Montana State University Billings baseball team in a close game Friday afternoon, but it was an error by the Yellowjackets in the bottom of the ninth that allowed the winning run for the ThunderWolves to score as MSUB dropped its season opener 11-10 at Rawlings Field.
With two outs and the score tied at 10-10 in the ninth, Jordan Godman sped home on a ground ball to score the winning run as CSU-Pueblo emerged the victor in a game that featured seven lead changes.
"We played with resiliency but we didn't play clean enough to beat a quality CSU-Pueblo team," said MSUB head coach
Rob Bishop.
Colter Sternhagen finished the game 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs batting in the No. 5 hole for MSUB.
Bret Bitow was the lone player on either team to collect three hits in the game, and he added a pair of RBIs and a run scored to go along with a triple and two singles.
"Bret and Colter both had good days offensively to keep us in the game," Bishop said.
Reigning GNAC Player of the Year
Brody Miller was productive with a line of 2-for-4 and a pair of RBIs, and
Luke Reinschmidt,
Kevin Toon and
Corey Morris each scored a pair of runs for the 'Jackets.
For CSUP (1-0) first baseman Dominick Bregar launched his first home run of the season and finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, two runs scored and a pair of walks. Godman scored three runs batting leadoff for the TunderWolves, and shortstop Manny Menocal also logged a pair of hits.
Neither starting pitcher completed five innings, as Zac Wittmus tossed 4 2/3 for the 'Wolves and
Brady Muller turned in four innings for the 'Jackets. Muller allowed five runs on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts and faced 21 batters in his first outing of the season.
Wittmus accounted for five of CSUP's 11 total strikeouts, and allowed four runs – two earned – on six hits with only one walk. Doug Finley earned the victory for the 'Wolves, tossing a perfect ninth inning and striking out a pair of Yellowjackets.
Lee Busto (0-1) tossed 2 2/3 solid innings in relief, allowing just one earned run and two hits against 16 batters. "Lee was very solid for us today," said Bishop. "He definitely did not deserve the loss."
The 'Jackets (0-1) capitalized on a first-inning miscue by the ThunderWolves, as Toon beat out the throw on a dropped third strike with two outs. The second life gave Sternhagen a chance with runners on the corners, and the senior plated them both with a double.
Muller responded with a shutdown inning in the bottom of the frame, retiring the side in order.
CSUP put together a rally in the bottom of the second, loading the bases with a single, hit batter, and walk. Lawrence Chavez plated the first run of the game for the 'Wolves with a fielder's-choice ground out, and Shane Richins followed with a clutch, two-out, two-run double down the left-field line to give CSUP the 3-2 lead.
The bats quieted down for both teams over the next two innings, until MSUB regained the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. Miller punched a two-run single into center field, but the 'Wolves responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame.
The 'Jackets took advantage of a fielding miscue to bring the game even again at 5-5 in the sixth, but again CSUP had an answer in the bottom. After a leadoff single into right by Godman, Bregar hit a home run over the center-field fence.
Bitow, who co-led the team last season in triples with five, shot the gap in right center for his first three-bagger of the season and tied the score again at 7-7.
Back-to-back walks to start the bottom of the seventh spelled trouble for MSUB however, as Austin Mascorro came through with a two-run base hit and Mike Wagner was hit by a pitch to drive in another and cap off a three-run burst.
A two-run single by Toon and Sternhagen's second double of the game brought the Yellowjackets back to life with three runs in the eighth, but MSUB failed to score in the ninth and the 'Wolves walked off with the victory.
Despite committing five total errors, the CSUP defense also turned a pair of double plays which each ended innings for the Yellowjacket offense.
Bitow earned St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game honors for his offensive efforts.
"I am looking forward to the games tomorrow to see how our team responds," Bishop said.
COMING UP: The 'Jackets return to action tomorrow with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Rawlings Field against the ThunderWolves. The series will wrap up on Sunday with a single game scheduled for 1 p.m. Live stats will be available for all three of the remaining games in the series.
