PUEBLO, Colo. – A clutch 3-run home run by
Brody Miller helped the Montana State University Billings baseball team to a 7-6 victory over host Colorado State University – Pueblo in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Saturday, but the ThunderWolves rallied for a big 15-7 triumph in Game 2 as the teams split the 7-inning contests at Rawlings Field.
Overall on the day, Miller and
Luke Reinschmidt each had three hits, four RBIs and hit their first home run of the season. Reinschmidt also stole a base, scored two runs and totaled seven bases.
Bret Bitow finished the day 3-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored, and
Kevin Toon and
Kyle Durbin also had three hits apiece.
"Our offense was really productive again today," said MSUB head coach
Rob Bishop. "Brody came up with a huge hit to tie the first game up against their closer. That was a really big win for us."
For the ThunderWolves (2-1), Shane Fessel and Austin Mascorro each had five hits, with the latter driving in five and scoring three times in the two games. Mike Wagner hit a grand slam in the second game and had six RBIs total.
CSUP pitchers struck out 17 Yellowjackets on the day, and Thomas Bevington picked up the Game 2 victory while MSUB's
Jake Campeau was handed the loss.
For MSUB (1-2)
Bryon Baker was the winner in Game 1 and
Cody Cooper tossed a scoreless eighth inning to earn his first save of the season.
Game 1 – MSUB 7, CSUP 6 (8 Inn.)Down to their final two outs, Miller played the role of hero with a three-run home run to right center that knotted the score at 6-6 in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The momentum-changing swing of the bat by Miller helped the 'Jackets extend the game into extra innings, and a sacrifice fly by Bitow pushed MSUB ahead 7-6 in the top of the eighth.
A key two-run double by Jordan Godman in the bottom of the sixth inning broke a 3-3 tie and Mascorro added on one more with a base hit as CSUP surged late to take a 6-3 lead.
MSUB starter
Jake Mills tossed 5 1/3 solid innings, striking out four and allowing four earned runs against 26 batters. Baker threw the final 2 2/3 innings, picking up the win with a pair of strikeouts and two earned runs allowed on four hits.
Miller and Durbin each had a pair of hits, and Bitow and Reinschmidt joined Miller in the RBI column with one apiece. Left fielder
Casey Merritt scored two runs for the 'Jackets, who were out-hit in the game 10-7 despite the victory.
For the ThunderWolves, Godman and Mascorro each had three hits and drove in two runs. Two of Godman's three were doubles, and the leadoff batter scored half of CSUP's runs.
The ThunderWolves utilized eight different pitchers to get through the first game, with Kevin Megyeri getting tagged with the loss. Starter Doug Finley lasted just one inning, and Kolby Rimer handled most of the duties allowing two earned runs on three hits with four strikeouts and five walks in five innings.
CSUP got out to an early 3-0 lead as Shane Richins lofted a sacrifice fly to center and Mascorro followed with an RBI-single to left in the second inning. The ThunderWolves scored their first run of the day on a balk by Mills in the first inning.
The Yellowjackets responded quickly as Reinschmidt had a sacrifice fly of his own in the top of the third and Bitow crossed the plate on a passed ball. MSUB tied the score in the fifth on a double by Miller, as the senior accounted for four of MSUB's total runs in the first game.
The 'Wolves threatened to take the game in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs on an error by Miller. The second baseman recovered on the next play however, flipping the ball to Durbin for a force out at second that sent the game into extra innings.
Game 2 – CSUP 15, MSUB 7 Despite overcoming an early 6-2 deficit, the Yellowjackets could not keep pace with the ThunderWolves' offense as CSUP scored 15 runs on 14 hits to take the second game.
Reinschmidt hit his first home run of the season to give MSUB an early 2-0 lead, as his first-inning blast to center field also plated Durbin.
The 'Wolves jumped all over Campeau in the first, scoring six runs on six hits. Wagner plated two with a double into left, and four other CSUP batters posted an RBI in the big inning.
The senior settled down in the second and didn't allow a run, and the 'Jackets took off with a big five-run third inning to reclaim a 7-6 lead. Singles by Toon and
Corey Morris set the table for
Conner Holbrook, who drove them both in with a double.
Myles Berkram, Bitow and Reinschmidt each followed with RBIs to put MSUB back on top.
Another six spot by CSUP in the third put the 'Wolves ahead for good however, as a Wagner grand slam highlighted the outburst. A Fessel double in the fourth plated two more runs, and it was all CSUP needed to close out the win.
Bevington earned the victory for the 'Wolves with 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, as he struck out four and walked none against 11 batters. Austyn Garcia and Chris Gimenez each tossed a blank inning to finish the game.
Campeau (0-1) took the loss for the 'Jackets, allowing eight runs in two innings. Freshman
Griffen Pape made his Yellowjacket debut, striking out five and allowing just one run and two hits in 2 2/3 solid innings.
"Pape had a great first college outing and showed some real toughness against a quality lineup," Bishop said. "We didn't pitch well overall in Game 2 and just dug too large of a hole to climb out of."
NEXT UP: The series wraps up on Sunday with a single game set to start at 1 p.m. at Rawlings Field. The 'Jackets will then prepare for a nine-game road trip over seven days before GNAC play kicks off on Feb. 28.
