PUEBLO, Colo. – Completing two comebacks in unlikely fashion, Montana State University Billings won a pair of road games against two different opponents Friday afternoon at Rawlings Field in non-conference baseball. The Yellowjackets overcame an early deficit and scored four runs in the eighth inning to down University of Sioux Falls in game one 8-5. In game two, Tanner Parker smacked a double down the right field line to score three runs and give MSUB an 11-9 victory. "Our group showed a lot of heart coming back in both games today," said MSUB baseball head coach Derek Waddoups.
 
The Yellowjackets (4-1) continued their strong start to the regular season. MSUB plays two additional games against the same two opponents beginning Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
 
Game 1 – MSU Billings 8, University of Sioux Falls 5
 
The Yellowjacket offense came alive in the waning innings and MSU Billings overcame a three-run deficit to win 8-5 against University of Sioux Falls at Rawlings Field. Held scoreless through five, MSUB chipped away with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings before exploding for four runs in the eighth and two in the ninth totaling 15 hits. Dayton Provost led the charge with three hits, including a home run, a triple, and four runs batted in. Shortstop Wyatt Setian and designated hitter Daniel Cipriano also finished with three hits with one double apiece in the victory.
 
The Cougars scored a pair of runs off MSUB starting pitcher Tevin Hall in the bottom of the second inning. Ryan Burnaby reached on a hit-by-pitch Zane Butts knocked a triple to drive him in. Jared Binsford scored Butts on a ground out to Setian at shortstop.
 
USF extended its lead to 3-0 after Brennan Albert tripled to left-center field. Butts crossed the plate as an unearned run after he reached on an error at second base. Hall left the game after 5.1 innings on the mound and allowed two earned runs on three hits with one walk. Hall also struck out a career high 10 batters and faced 20 hitters.
 
The Yellowjackets began to gain ground with one out in the sixth inning. Cipriano singled up the middle and Chris Arpan was hit by a pitch. Andrew Schleusner and Dayton Provost hit back-to-back singles, which brought in Cipriano from third.
 
Trailing 4-2 in the away half of the seventh, Will Riley hit a triple to the gap in left center and Setian brought him home with his single to left.
 
MSUB's four-run eighth inning began with a leadoff walk issued to Arpan. Tanner Cantwell singled and Schleusner immediately followed with a double to left field. Dayton Provost connected on his second home run of the season, a blast to right field.
 
Leading 6-5 in the final frame, Cipriano doubled down the right field line and advanced to third on a passed ball. Parker picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly and the 'Jackets added further insurance on Provost's two-out triple.
 
Tyler Elliott faced three Cougar hitters in the ninth and struck out one to earn his first save of the spring. Cort Dietrich (1-0) relieved Hall to earn the win. Dietrich pitched 1.2 innings and allowed one earned run on three hits, walked two, and struck out one. Andrew Ellingson also pitched one inning out of the bullpen for the 'Jackets and did not allow a run.
 
Jackson Olsen (0-1) suffered the loss for USF after allowing five earned runs on five hits. Right-hander Matt Graham had a strong start for MSUB and lasted 6.0 innings and allowed one earned run on seven hits, walked zero, and struck out nine.
 
Schleusner finished 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored, and two runs batted in for MSUB. Cantwell also recorded a multi-hit game with a run scored and a walk.
 
Butts went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, a triple, and two runs batted in. The Yellowjacket pitching staff held the remaining eight players for USF to one hit combined. Both teams committed three errors in the field.
 
"Our bullpen was outstanding and gave the offense a chance to come back and win the game," Waddoups said. "We started slow but kept grinding out at bats and were able to punch a big inning in the eighth, highlighted by Dayton Provost's home run." 
 
Provost was named St. Vincent Healthcare player of the game for MSUB.
 
Game 2 – MSU Billings 11, Colorado State University Pueblo 9
 
Tanner Parker's double to right field cleared the bases in the top of the ninth inning to give MSUB its final lead and an 11-9 victory over CSU Pueblo Friday afternoon. The Yellowjackets scored runs in seven out of nine innings and combined for 12 hits in the seesaw affair. Five players recorded multi-hit games and Parker finished with four runs batted in.
 
Wyatt Setian hit a solo home run in the first at bat of the game to give MSUB a 1-0 advantage. Will Riley scored on a sacrifice fly in the second, then Colorado State Pueblo broke out for five runs in the second to take the lead. The rally began when MSUB starting pitcher Dylan Barkey issued a walk to Aiden Welch. The Thunderwolves followed with two hits and a triple by Easton Adler with the bases loaded to score three.
 
The Yellowjackets pieced together runs in innings three through six, including Daniel Cipriano's first home run of the season and Thomas Rudinsky's double in the fifth to take a 6-5 lead. MSUB and CSUP traded single runs in the seventh before the 'Jackets improbable ninth frame.
 
Cipriano began the rally by reaching base on a passed ball strikeout. Rudinsky and Provost reached via walk and Riley was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring the 'Jackets within one run of a tie ballgame. Pinch hitter Chris Arpan struck out, leaving one out to spare for Parker. Parker cleared the bases with a double down the right field line and Sam Muskat kept CSUP from scoring in the bottom of the inning.
 
Muskat (2-0) tossed the final 3.0 innings of relief to earn the win for MSUB and allowed one earned run on one hit, walked one, and struck out seven.
 
Muskat was an absolute stud out of the pen today," commented Waddoups. "Three solid innings of relief with seven strikeouts to earn the win was outstanding. Tanner Parker came up clutch in the ninth as well. Overall I was impressed with the composure of our guys today."
 
Barkley pitched 5.0 innings and allowed six earned runs in his first start of the season for MSUB. Barkley also struck out eight and walked three. Brett Matthews (0-1) suffered the loss in relief and allowed three runs on zero hits, walked two, and struck out four for the Thunderwolves. Tim McIntyre started the game for CSU Pueblo and worked 4.0 innings. McIntyre surrendered six runs (five earned) on nine hits, walked zero, and struck out two.
 
Parker was named St. Vincent Healthcare player of the game for MSUB.