PUEBLO, Colo. – Early mistakes and untimely hitting doomed Montana State University Billings as they fell 17-3 to University of Sioux Falls Sunday afternoon at Rawlings Field in Pueblo, Colorado. The Cougars scored five runs on MSUB starting pitcher Hunter Roubidoux before the sophomore could record an out in the first inning, then posted five runs in both the third and sixth innings to put the game out of reach in a seven-inning non-conference contest.
 
The Yellowjackets (5-2) took three of four games on their trip to Pueblo with a pair of wins over Colorado State University Pueblo and a split with University of Sioux Falls. MSUB's non-conference schedule continues Friday, February 21 against Colorado School of Mines at Pirtz Field in Billings.
 
"Overall, it was a good weekend of baseball for us as a team," said MSUB head coach Derek Waddoups. "Today we didn't play catch and it caused us some trouble. Still, I was proud of how we competed all weekend."
 
 
The Cougars mounted 17 hits and benefited from three fielding errors committed by the Yellowjackets. Brennan Albert went 3-for-4 with four runs batted in for USF and added a walk to his strong day at the plate. Grant Lung and Ryan Burnardy also recorded three-hit games.
 
Winning pitcher Alex Krout (1-0) tossed 5.0 innings in start for USF and allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits, walked one, and struck out three. Roubidoux (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing five runs (all earned) in his first start of the season. Roubidoux did not record an out before Will Heward entered the game in relief. Zander Petrich, Ryan Roche, Dylan Johnson, and Tyler Elliott also pitched for MSUB.
 
The Yellowjackets combined for six hits and scored single runs in the second, third, and fourth innings. Tyler Detloff finished 1-for-3 with a triple and a run batted in. Will Riley went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
 
THE BUZZ: Tyler Detloff was named St. Vincent Healthcare player of the game for MSUB.