GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Matthew Houlihan authored a gutsy complete game on the mound for the Montana State University Billings baseball team on Friday afternoon at Canyon View Ballpark, helping the Yellowjackets split a doubleheader against No. 2 Colorado Mesa University.
 
In the best start of Houlihan's career, the righty struck out nine while limiting the second-ranked team in the country to four runs on eight hits in MSUB's 5-4 victory. He walked just two batters while throwing the full nine innings, and used a career-high 115 pitches to get the job done. "My stuff felt great today," said Houlihan after his third start of the season. "I came out with a lot of confidence in my fastball and off-speed, and I established it in the zone. That's what helped me be successful during the start."
 
"He showed a lot of grit, and kept making pitches," MSUB head coach Derek Waddoups commented on Houlihan's performance. "They put some pressure on him in the middle innings, but he pitched out of it. The second half of that game he was lights out, and he pitched really well."
 
 
 
The hosts rallied to grab the nightcap 12-7, improving to 6-1 on the season after suffering their first defeat. Golden Spikes Award candidate Haydn McGeary went 6-for-9 with three doubles and five RBIs in the doubleheader to highlight the Mavericks' offense.
 
MSUB's Mitch Winter hit his first collegiate home run on Friday – a solo shot that tied the score at 4-4 in the eighth inning of Game 1. He finished the day 3-for-8 with four RBIs, while Dominick Buso got on base in 4 of 7 plate appearances. The Yellowjackets moved to 5-6 on the season after Friday's split. "Mitch had a really good day," said Waddoups. "We believe in his ability, and he has matured as a hitter. He has power, and that was a game-changing swing on his home run."
 
Game 1 – MSU Billings 5, Colorado Mesa 4
 
Carson Green delivered a two-out, RBI single to left center, bringing home Justin Lutz in the top of the eighth inning to push the Yellowjackets ahead for good 5-4.
 
Houlihan hinted he was in for a strong outing right out of the gate, striking out the first hitter he faced and posting a 1-2-3 bottom of the first inning. CMU struck first on an RBI-double by Harrison Rodgers in the second, but Houlihan retired the next two hitters he faced to limit the damage.
 
Buso got his big day started with an RBI on a sacrifice bunt in the top of the third, as he brought home AJ Wagenmann. Winter followed with a bases-loaded walk to give MSUB its first lead of the day at 2-1.
 
The Mavericks got even in the bottom of the fourth, when Spencer Bramwell punched a two-out, RBI-single into center field to bring home Matthew Turner. After reliever Austin Lorenz got out of a jam and stranded two runners in the fifth, the hosts struck for two runs on a McGeary triple and a wild pitch to make the score 4-2 after five innings of play.
 
Houlihan caught his stride after that, holding the Mavericks scoreless the rest of the game. The right hander ended the sixth inning with a strikeout, kicking off a string of seven straight hitters retired that carried into the ninth inning. By then, MSUB had taken the lead on an RBI-single by Bodee Wright, Winter's solo home run, and Green's clutch two-out knock. "He pitched more calmly today, and really grew from his last outing," Waddoups said. "He was awesome today, kept them off balance, and made pitches in big spots."
 
Houlihan was unfazed by an error that put the tying run on to start the ninth inning, and recovered from bobbling a sacrifice bunt in time to complete an ensuing play at first base. Getting a much-deserved boost from his defense after issuing just his second walk of the game, Houlihan provided Dulich with a ground ball that he and Wright turned into a game-ending double play. "My mentality was to be calm and composed, and to not allow my emotions to change how I made pitches," Houlihan said. "I just tried to stick to my game plan and ultimately it worked out really well for me. This start not only meant a lot to me but to the team. We are national contenders and when we stick together as a group, we win ballgames against any opponent – nationally ranked or not."
 
CMU starter Joey Mazzetti allowed two runs on no hits with three walks and a strikeout, while throwing the first two innings. Lorenz, Dave Henderson, and Frankie Fitzgerald combined to throw the final seven innings for the hosts.
 
Game 2 – Colorado Mesa 12, MSU Billings 7 (7 Innings)
 
Both teams threatened in the first inning but came up empty, with the Yellowjackets loading the bases with no outs but failing to score. McGeary hit a two-out double in the bottom of the frame, but MSUB starter Jackson Betancourt stranded him at second base with a ground out.
 
A leadoff single off the bat of Rodgers kicked off a five-run second inning, as the Mavericks jumped ahead early. The big swing of the bat was a three-run home run to left field off the bat of Turner, and McGeary capped the scoring with a two-out RBI-single to bring home Farmer. The Yellowjackets responded promptly in the top of the third inning, getting three runs back to pull the deficit to a single run down 5-4. Winter and Dulich each had RBIs in the frame, and four different Yellowjackets had hits in the inning.
 
The Mavericks plated five more runs in the bottom of the inning however, constructing a 10-4 advantage. Rallying with two outs, CMU used three walks, another RBI-single off the bat of McGeary, and a defensive miscue to wrestle back command of the game.
 
Buso led off the fourth with a walk, and James Anderson, Winter, and Ethan Babcock-Barrie each had RBIs in a three-run frame that got MSUB back within striking distance down 10-7. Farmer brought home a run with an RBI-triple in the bottom of the sixth, and McGeary capped a 5-for-5 game with one more RBI-double to boost the Mavericks ahead 12-7.
 
CMU starter Kannon Handy allowed all seven MSUB runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and four walks in his three innings of work. After a scoreless inning pitched by Cade Nicol, Garrett Tisdall allowed just one hit while striking out five over three scoreless innings to end the day.
 
Betancourt gave up five runs on six hits in 1 2/3 innings, before Ty Wilson, Tyler Elliott, and Trevor Cassell combined to finish the game out of the bullpen.
 
"I really like how clean we were defensively, and how well our catchers did behind the plate," Waddoups said. "Both Wags and Babcock caught great games today."
 
THE BUZZ: Houlihan was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…his previous career highs were six innings pitched, eight strikeouts, and 89 pitches…MSUB is now 4-13 all-time against Colorado Mesa.
 
NEXT UP: The series concludes on Saturday with a noon first pitch. Live video will be available online here and live statistics will be available online here.