YELM, Wash. – A seven-run third inning propelled the Montana State University Billings baseball team to a 10-3 victory over host Saint Martin's University in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action at Yelm High School on Friday afternoon.
 
The Yellowjackets (11-12, 2-3 GNAC) scored their 10 runs on 10 hits, and played clean defense with no errors to kick off the four-game conference set. "We had a great, disciplined approach at the plate," MSUB head coach Derek Waddoups said on the big third inning. "We took advantage of some freebies, and Tyler Godfrey had a big double for us. I'm really proud of our guys' effort today. We had momentum from the top of the first, Barkley kept it going, and we played great defensively."
 
Carson Green led off the game with his second home run of the season, putting the Yellowjackets ahead immediately 1-0. Green finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Mason Powell was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and Godfrey drove in three runs. "Carson's leadoff home run got the momentum into our dugout from the get-go," Waddoups said on the junior's 16th-career home run.
 
The seven-run third proved to be more than enough to support another quality start from senior left-hander Dylan Barkley, who earned his third win of the season with six strong innings. Barkley pitched well to contact, needing just three strikeouts while allowing five hits and a pair of walks. "Barkley had a solid outing for us," said Waddoups. "He commanded the zone and changed speeds in his typical style."
 
Michael Buchanan bridged the gap to the ninth inning with two spotless frames, striking out one and retiring all six batters he faced while throwing just 16 pitches. "Michael Buchanan threw two clean innings in relief, and looked dominant," Waddoups said on the Yellowjacket newcomer. "I was excited to see him come in and pound the zone for us."
 
The Saints scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth, but the rally quickly fizzled as MSUB was never in danger of surrendering its big advantage. The error-free day defensively also featured a highlight-reel catch from senior centerfielder Dominick Buso, who negotiated swirling wind in the sixth inning to make a running, over-the-shoulder grab to rob an extra-base hit.
 
All nine Yellowjacket starters reached base in the game, and the 'Jackets did well to draw six walks while limiting their strikeouts to six. MSUB left seven runners on base, while SMU stranded six.
 
Cody Chavis had a pair of RBIs, but no SMU player had more than one hit. SMU starter Zach Alcos was tagged for six runs on three hits in his two-plus innings of work, and Kameron Richards allowed four runs on six hits in his 4 1/3 innings of relief for the hosts. SMU slipped to 6-16 overall with the loss, and is now 1-4 in conference play.
 
THE BUZZ: Buchanan was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…MSUB is now 57-51-1 all-time against SMU and is 28-24-1 in road contests.
 
NEXT UP: The series continues on Saturday with a noon first pitch, as the teams will play a 7-inning doubleheader. The four-game set will conclude on Sunday with a single, 9-inning game starting at noon. Live coverage for the remainder of the games will be available online here.