ST. GEORGE, Utah – Two more tight games slipped away from the Montana State University Billings baseball team on Saturday at Bruce Hurst Field, as No. 20 Dixie State University completed a doubleheader sweep.
 
After losing 9-5 in the series opener Friday, the 'Jackets lost 4-3 in Game 1 Saturday before being shut out 2-0 in the night cap. MSUB put the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the bottom of the final inning in both games, but the Trailblazers wiggled out of trouble to collect two wins. DSU is now 9-2 on the season, while MSUB is still in search of its first win at 0-7.
 
"This was really good baseball today by both clubs, and we just happened to come up short in both games," said MSUB head coach Aaron Sutton. "I thought our pitching staff threw very well as a whole, and defensively we were clean. This club showed a lot of fight today, and we know they will compete tomorrow."
 
 
Game 1 – #20 Dixie State 4, MSU Billings 3
 
The Yellowjackets placed the tying run on third and had the go-ahead run on first with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, but Brayden Bonner finished off the save by getting a ground ball off the bat of Blake Bell.
 
MSUB had to play from behind, after surrendering a four-run lead over the first four innings. Wyatt Setian came through with a two-run double in the top of the fifth inning, and Conner Linebarger made it a one-run game in the eighth with an RBI-single. But the 'Jackets came up a run short while leaving nine runners on base.
 
Jake Engel hit his fourth home run of the year in the bottom of the first inning, delivering a two-run blast to right that gave his team a lead that it never relinquished. Tyler Hollow punched a two-out base hit to right in the bottom of the second, and Kaid Urban was able to beat Matt Dillon's throw to the plate to make it a 3-0 ballgame.
 
Jack Gonzales meanwhile worked through the Yellowjacket lineup without issue until the fifth inning. He earned his second win of the year by pitching to contact, as he recorded just one strikeout in 5 2/3 innings pitched while surrendering two runs on four hits.
 
Chandler Greenfield bridged the gap with four strikeouts in two innings, before Bonner shut the door to pick up his fourth save of the season. Engel was the only Trailblazer with multiple hits in the game, as Dixie State made the most of its seven knocks in the opener.
 
What proved to be the winning run was plated in the bottom of the fourth, when Braxton Ipson singled to right to bring home Jake Brown.
 
Setian paced the 'Jackets by going 3-for-4 at the plate, while Steen Fredrickson was saddled with the loss after giving up all four runs in 5 2/3 innings. The senior right-hander struck out four and walked four, and scattered seven hits while throwing 100 pitches. Sam Muskat kept MSUB alive until the end, as he logged 2 1/3 near-perfect innings with a pair of strikeouts.
 
Game 2 – #20 Dixie State 2, MSU Billings 0 (7 Innings)
 
The Yellowjackets didn't go without chances, the best of which came in the bottom of the seventh. Singles in succession by Daniel Cipriano, Chris Arpan, and Landon Peterson loaded the bases with two outs and put the tying run in scoring position. But Bonner was summoned for his second save of the day and ended it with a strikeout.
 
Preston Hannay threw 82 pitches in an outstandingly efficient performance, as he gave up just four hits while striking out four in 6 2/3 innings.
 
It took a stellar play by DSU right fielder Lane Pritchard to keep the 'Jackets off the board in the sixth, when he ranged back and snagged a deep drive off the bat of Brandon Koszuth. The catch stranded Jalen Garcia and Sam Powers who were both on base.
 
Both of the Trailblazers' runs crossed the plate in the bottom of the fourth, when Pritchard tripled and Alec Flemetakis kept the rally going with a base hit. The latter finished the game 3-for-3 to lead DSU.
 
Peterson went 2-for-3, while Matt Dillon drew a pair of walks in the quiet offensive showing from the 'Jackets.
 
Lefty Dylan Barkley pitched well in the loss, giving up two runs on five hits with three strikeouts and one walk in 4 2/3 innings. Hunter Roubidoux tossed the final 1 1/3 innings, walking two and giving up a hit.
 
THE BUZZ: Peterson was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…MSUB is now 5-25 all-time against Dixie State…the Yellowjackets were shut out just twice during the 2018 season…the 0-7 mark is the second-longest losing skid to start a season in program history…in 2006, the inaugural year of baseball, MSUB started the year 0-18.
 
NEXT UP: The series finale is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Live statistics will be available online here.