GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Despite putting up 16 runs of offense on Friday afternoon at Suplizio Field, the Montana State University Billings baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader against No. 5 Colorado Mesa University on Day 2 of the Courtyard By Marriott Leadoff Weekend.
 
The Mavericks (2-1) won the opening game 15-11 before taking the nightcap 17-5 as they put up a healthy 32 runs of offense. "Colorado Mesa is a good club, and they do a good job of staying inside the baseball with their 2-strike approach," said MSUB head coach Derek Waddoups. "They did an outstanding job competing, and it is fun to compete against great teams. It is really exciting how many runs we are putting up, and our approach today at the plate was even better than yesterday."
 
Ten of MSUB's 23 hits on the day went for extra bases, including five home runs. Tanner Cantwell homered in each game, while Tanner Parker, Will Riley, and Chris Arpan each also had a long ball. Riley finished the day 5-for-9 with a team-high five RBIs at the plate, while Parker went 4-for-6 in the doubleheader. "Will Riley had an outstanding day," Waddoups said. "Just the way he is at the top of our order really gets us going. Tanner Cantwell had a good day, and he is hitting the ball really hard. He just takes such professional at-bats. Tanner Parker is swinging it well right now, and he worked a lot in the fall on really staying on the baseball. That is paying off, and he has done an outstanding job at the plate."
 
Game 1 - #5 Colorado Mesa 15, MSU Billings 11
 
The Yellowjackets had an early opportunity to take the lead, loading the bases with no outs in the top of the first inning. CMU starter Andrew Morris struck out the next three hitters however, as MSUB squandered one of its best scoring chances of the afternoon.
 
Haydn McGeary led off the bottom of the second inning with a solo home run, which kicked off a five-run rally to help the Mavericks establish the lead in the game. Tanner Garner's two-run double was the other key hit in the inning, and CMU plated two more runs in the bottom of the third on back-to-back solo homers by Spencer Bramwell and Harrison Rodgers.
 
Arpan's first home run of the year led off the fourth inning, and Riley followed with his first RBI of the day to help get MSUB on the board with a pair of runs. Two wild pitches, an error, and a passed ball in the bottom of the fourth led to four more CMU runs however, as the Mavericks opened up an 11-2 advantage.
 
MSUB starter Dylan Barkley was lifted midway through the fourth inning, allowing 10 runs on seven hits with a pair of strikeouts and three walks in his 3-plus innings of work.
 
The Yellowjackets refused to give in, scoring five times in the top of the seventh to bring the deficit down to 14-9. Parker's first homer as a Yellowjacket got the scoring started, and Justin Lutz had a two-run double in the frame to help MSUB inch closer. Riley and Cantwell added home runs in the top of the ninth, but that was the end of the scoring for the 'Jackets as they came up four runs short.
 
Defense hindered MSUB for a second straight game, as the 'Jackets committed six errors in the opener after making five defensive miscues in Thursday's 7-5 loss to New Mexico Highlands. "As we continue to clean up a few things defensively, we will be able to get back on the right track," said Waddoups. "I love the demeanor of our group. We had a good, optimistic outlook and good, positive energy in the dugout and on the field today."
 
Braelen Pippin and Mason Powell were bright spots out of the MSUB bullpen, each throwing two innings and combining to allow zero earned runs while striking out three and walking one. "Braelen threw really well in Game 1, and I was really proud of him," said Waddoups. "He has shown a lot of growth with his composure, and how he is going about pitching. Mason Powell as well had his first collegiate outing, and really pitched well. He was throwing his breaking ball for a strike and did a fantastic job for us on the mound."
 
Game 2 – #5 Colorado Mesa 17, MSU Billings 5 (7 Innings)
 
Cantwell got the 'Jackets on the board in the top of the first inning, delivering a two-run home run that brought home Daniel Cipriano. Garner led off the bottom of the first with a home run however, and the Mavericks went on to score five times on seven hits in the frame.
 
Riley kept the hot start to his season going with a two-run triple in the top of the second, and after a Parker RBI-single in the third MSUB trailed just 6-5.
 
Three doubles helped CMU score three runs in the fourth, and a Matt Turner two-run home run highlighted a five-run fifth inning. The Mavericks added three more in the bottom of the sixth, while the 'Jackets had a quiet end to the day offensively with no runs scored over their last four frames.
 
MSUB starter Matthew Houlihan gave up six runs on 10 hits with two strikeouts and one walk in his three innings of work. For CMU, Trevin Reynolds got the win, allowing five runs on eight hits with nine strikeouts and a pair of walks in six innings of work.
 
Bramwell went 4-for-5 in Game 2, while Jordan Stubbings was 3-for-4 with four RBIs to lead the home team. Cantwell and Parker were the two Yellowjackets with multiple hits in the nightcap.
 
"It's tough playing from behind, but I really like the way our guys continued to battle throughout the day," said Waddoups. "I thought our offensive approach was spot on today and our guys did a really good job with that. We showed a lot of power."
 
THE BUZZ: Riley was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…MSUB is now 3-11 all-time against CMU, with all games being played in Grand Junction…Arpan's home run was the 15th of his MSUB career.
 
NEXT UP: The Yellowjackets close the weekend with a noon first pitch against New Mexico Highlands University on Saturday. Live statistics will be available for the game online here.