PUEBLO, Colo. – After 56 combined runs of offense in the first three games of the series, the finale between the Montana State University Billings and Colorado State University-Pueblo baseball teams was decided by the score of 2-1 as the TunderWolves emerged with the victory Sunday afternoon at Rawlings Field.
MSUB turned an ESPN-worthy triple play to end the sixth inning, as
Kyle Durbin stepped on second base and threw along to
Kevin Toon at first to complete the rare feat.
The play was featured as the No. 9 play on ESPN's Sunday Sports Center Top 10 Plays. An eighth-inning solo home run by Jordan Godman proved to be the deciding factor, as MSUB took the lead early with a first-inning run and CSUP responded with a single run in the fourth.
In his first start as a Yellowjacket,
Tanner Johnson tossed five quality innings, allowing one run and just two hits with a pair of strikeouts and four walks. Junior
Lee Busto (0-2) piggybacked off of MSUB's starter with three big innings out of the bullpen, allowing one run on two hits with two strikeouts and just one walk.
"Tanner and Lee were both outstanding today but their staff matched our effort," said MSUB head coach
Rob Bishop.
For CSUP (3-1) starter Victor Soto threw six innings and matched Johnson by allowing just one run. The senior right-hander allowed seven hits and two walks, and struck out four Yellowjackets en route to the no-decision.
Kevin Megyeri, Daniel Tessone and Tyler Rich combined to blank MSUB over the final three innings, allowing just one hit between the three of them. Rich (1-0) picked up the win after throwing a perfect eighth and ninth.
The Yellowjackets (1-3) manufactured a run in the first inning as
Casey Merritt led off with an infield single and
Kyle Durbin pushed him over to second with a sacrifice bunt.
Kevin Toon came up with a two-out base hit into left field to plate Durbin, as the 'Jackets took the early lead.
Johnson retired 10 of the first 11 ThunderWolves he faced, and did not allow a hit until Dominick Bregar punched a ground ball through the right side with one out in the fourth. Mike Wagner and Shane Fessel drew back-to-back walks to load the bases, and an RBI-groundout by Manny Menocal evened the score at 1-1.
Soto retired six of the final seven batters he faced, exiting after the sixth inning having left eight Yellowjacket runners on base to that point in the game.
A leadoff double by Wagner followed by a walk to Fessel put two on with no outs in the bottom of the sixth, but the 'Jackets pulled off an incredibly rare triple play. Durbin snared a line drive by Menocal, stepped on the bag at second and threw on to Toon at first to stun the 'Wolves and end the inning.
Both offenses were silent in the seventh, and Godman stepped up with a solo shot to right field leading off the eighth. Rich set down the 'Jackets in order in the ninth, preserving the narrow lead and giving CSUP the series victory.
The game was clean defensively, as neither team made an error. Johnson was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game for his strong starting effort.
"We played in three tight games this weekend and although we aren't happy about the results, I believe it will benefit our team down the road," Bishop said. "We can't wait to get back on the field."
AHEAD: The Yellowjackets have a week off before heading to Dixie State for nine games against Azusa Pacific, DSU and Minot State. MSUB then begins GNAC play on Feb. 28 with four road games against Central Washington.
