PUEBLO, Colo. – The Montana State University Billings baseball team wrapped up its first four games played in Colorado over the next week with a 2-2 record, losing once to West Texas A&M before going 2-1 in a trio of games against Colorado State University Pueblo.
 
The 'Jackets (5-5) faced adversity even getting to Pueblo to play their games, with weather and road conditions delaying games to Saturday, and had their third game split over two days after it was suspended due to lack of light. But MSUB persevered, responding strong after some early struggles to split their games on the weekend.
 
Game 1: MSUB 5, West Texas A&M 22
 
Playing a neutral site game between the two teams, West Texas A&M jumped on the 'Jackets early, picking up six runs in the first two innings. The 'Jackets would pull things back in the middle innings, with James Anderson taking advantage of a wild pitch to score from third, before Payton Flynn jacked a two-run homer to pull the game to within three. But the 'Jackets were unable to much more offensively, and some hot late hitting would turn the game from a three run deficit to a blowout, with MSUB surrendering seven runs in the seventh inning, and eight runs in the ninth.
 
"We came out a little flat for sure," said head coach Derek Waddoups, "But I'm proud of how we picked things up in the middle innings."
 
Tyler Godfrey and Kaden Kirshenbaum each went 2-4 in the matchup. Kirshenbaum picked up an RBI with a double in the eighth inning, scoring Colby Kiesling. Flynn went 1-3, with his 2 RBI's being an team high for MSUB. The 'Jacket's other run came on a sacrifice fly from Bodee Wright.
 
Game 2: MSUB 1, CSU Pueblo 3
 
In contrast to the first game on Saturday, the 'Jackets second battle was a pitchers duel. After letting up two runs and three hits in the first inning, MSUB pitcher Jackson Betancourt settled in nicely. The sophomore struck out 12 batters over eight innings of work, both career highs for the lefty. Betancourt let up eight hits, but didn't walk a batter. "Betancourt battled for us and gave us a good opportunity," said Waddoups. "He threw a solid game for us and was very composed."
 
But the Thunderwolves' arms were also on their A game. A combined four pitchers allowed just three hits in the game, striking out 12 batters to help seal a 3-1 victory for the home team. Zach Pratt opened for Pueblo, throwing 4.1 innings and striking out seven, before Dylan Weaver, Frank Wierman, and closer Jacob Petersheim entered in succession to slam the door of opportunity closed on MSUB. Payton Flynn would strike again, picking up a RBI double to get the 'Jackets on the board early, but it would be the only damage MSUB's bats would be able to inflict all game.
 
"It's disappointing to let games like this get away from us," Waddoups said. "But experiences like these give us an opportunity to learn and grow, and I think that will benefit us as the season goes on."
 
Game 3: MSUB 12, CSU Pueblo 10
 
The second meeting between the Yellowjackets and the Thunderwolves ended up stretching into two days, with the game being suspended after six innings due to lack of light and continued the following day. Up to that point it had been a back and forth game, with the teams swapping leads multiple times.
 
The 'Jackets offense struck first and struck hard, hitting a pair of home runs in the first two innings. Kaden Kirshenbaum sent a ball over in the first inning, sending it flying over the right field wall, followed by the hot hitting Flynn's second long ball of the weekend, a drive to dead centerfield. Add in a pair of RBI hits by Tyler Godfrey to score James Anderson, and the Yellowjackets found themselves up 5-0 after the top of the third inning.
 
But Pueblo would find their way back into things, scoring runs in four consecutive innings take the lead. MSUB would briefly steal it back following a 2-run double by Kirshenbaum, but the Thunderwolves immediately responded, taking a 7-9 lead before the game was suspended until Monday, with the 'Jackets needing to respond.
 
And MSUB responded in a big way following the game's resumption. The Yellowjackets began the seventh by scoring on a Pueblo error, before pinch hitter Mitch Winter sent a towering blast to right field to give the 'Jackets a 11-9 lead. Zach Blaszak grew that lead again with an RBI single in the eighth, and Cy Miller picked up the win, throwing 3.1 innings between the two days, striking out five hitters and allowing just a single run to score as the 'Jackets pulled off the comeback victory.
 
"Playing a halted game is really tough," Waddoups said. "So I am very proud of the energy we brought to the park. Mitch's home run really swung the momentum for us, and Cy was electric out of the pen. A big comeback win for this team."
 
The 'Jackets had big games across the lineup, led by Kirshenbaum. The third baseman went 3-5, picking up four RBIs. Flynn finished 2-5 with a solo home run, while Godfrey went 2-3 with a pair of RBIs. Anderson finished with four runs, going 2-4 with a walk, and Parker Bleggi went 2-4 with a double and a triple.
 
Game 4: MSUB 19, CSU Pueblo 10
 
The final game of a long week for the Yellowjackets started close, with MSUB holding a narrow lead. James Anderson got things going in the first inning with an RBI double, before Pueblo responded to tie things in the second inning. The 'Jackets would take control again with a pair of solo home runs, with Zach Blaszak striking in the third and catcher AJ Wagenamnn in the fifth inning. Bodee Wright added an RBI double in the sixth, with MSUB taking a 4-2 lead into the top of the seventh inning.
 
In that seventh inning, the 'Jacket's bats we nearly unstoppable. Forcing the Thunderwolves to use four pitchers, the Yellowjackets nearly batted through the order twice. They scored 15 runs on 12 hits, with seven different players picking up an RBI. Every Yellowjacket who stepped into the box did something, with the highlights being a pair of three run home runs, first from Mitch Winter, followed by Jack Nehler's first home run in his MSUB career. The Thunderwolves would score runs down the stretch, but by then the 'Jackets had built a comfortable lead, subbing almost every starting position player as they closed out a victory, going 2-1 on the weekend against CSU Pueblo.
 
Winter went 2-5, with a home run and five RBIs. Anderson went 3-5 with a pair of RBIs and runs, as did Hayden Foltz. Wagenmann finished 2-4 with two RBIs, and Bodee Wright went 3-6, with two runs and an RBI. Blaszak went 2-3, driving in and scoring a pair of runs, and Carson Green walked four times, scoring three runs. Ty Wilson threw four innings of one run ball to start the game, before Cole Bertram entered to pick up his first MSUB win. The Yellowjackets hit four home runs in the game, and their 19 runs tied for eighth in school history for total runs scored in a game.
 
"It was a close game until our seventh inning explosion." Waddoups said. "We just took a bunch of quality at bats, and were tough to get out at the plate. Really proud of our team effort, we had multiple guys step up and perform, which is always a good sign for a team."
 
THE BUZZ: Betancourt was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game for his day one efforts… Kirshenbaum was selected for the third game, while Winter earned the honor for game four… The 'Jackets got active on the basepaths, converting 5-7 stolen base attempts, led by Green's two successful swipes… Flynn was the only Yellowjacket to get a hit in all four games in Pueblo… Between the final three innings of the third game played Monday, and the entirety of game four, MSUB had 26 hits as a team, and scored 24 runs, along with five home runs.
 
UP NEXT: The 'Jackets remain in Colorado for the next week, where they will head to take on #8 Colorado Mesa. The opening game of that series is scheduled for Thursday, March 2 at 2:30 PM. Live video for those games will be available here, and live statistics will be available here.