LOS ANGELES, Cali. – The Montana State University Billings baseball team opened the season with a bang, collecting a pair of victories over Cal State Los Angeles to start the season undefeated.
 
The Yellowjackets (2-0) won game one on Monday night 11-3 over the Golden Eagles, before taking the finale on Tuesday 12-11. The 'Jackets offense hit impressively all the way around, totaling 23 hits across the two games, with nine extra base hits, and drew 14 walks in the series. Meanwhile pitching was able to come up when it mattered most, throwing quality innings in both games, especially down the stretch.
 
"This was a great way to start off the new season." Said Yellowjackets head coach Derek Waddoups. "We showed a lot of ability and toughness, I'm excited to see where we go from here."
 
Game 1: MSUB 11, LA 3
 
The Yellowjackets couldn't have asked for a much better start to the game, striking hot in the first innings. After Hayden Foltz walked to reach base, Mitch Winter scored him on a two out double for the 'Jackets first run of the season. Not content with just the one run though, MSUB's next four hitters reached base, highlighted by a two-run homer from Payton Flynn. By the time the Golden Eagles escaped the first, the 'Jackets were up 5-0.
 
"We were able to get momentum early with Payton's home run." Said Waddoups. "Our lineup took quality at bat after quality at bat, I was very impressed with our approach at the plate."
 
After Foltz double in the second scored another runner, the score would hold until the bottom of the seventh inning. A bases loaded double from Matthew Piotrowski would score three, tightening the game up. But Cy Miller stepped in to stop the rally, striking out four batters and not allowing a hit over 2.2 innings, and a big ninth inning highlighted by home runs from Foltz and Kirshenbaum would give the 'Jackets a comfortable victory. "Hayden and Kaden were both game changers for us today." Waddoups said. "They each had three big hits, and their home runs to extend the lead made it a lot more comfortable for us down the stretch."
 
Daniel Naughton picked up his first win as a Yellowjackets, going 6.1, striking out six, and giving up three runs on five hits. Miller picked up the save, the first of his MSUB career. "Dan really set the tone with how he pitched." Said Waddoups. "And it was great to see Cy come in and close the door. I loved the way he attacked hitters and shut down their offense."
 
Game 2: MSUB 12, LA 11
 
It was an electric opening to game two between the 'Jackets and Golden Eagles. The teams combined to score 21 runs in the first three innings of play. After jumping out to a 2-0 lead on RBI hits by James Anderson and Mitch Winter, Cal State LA scored five runs in the opening frame. The two teams each scored two runs in the second, but a seven run third inning from MSUB would put the 'Jackets in the lead. Hitting around the order, the first six 'Jackets batters reached base in the third. Despite only three hits, the Yellowjackets reached base on three hit by pitches, and two walks, keeping the inning going however possible.
 
But after going into the fourth inning 11-10, the next four innings would be scoreless. Billings native Lance Schaaf calmed down after the third, and threw four scoreless innings for MSUB. "Lance settled in and threw a really good game for us." Waddoups said. "He showed a lot of composure in his first collegiate outing. Really proud of how he handled himself out there."
 
 Meanwhile 'Jackets hitters were left stymied by Mikell Chavez, who three 4.1 innings of scoreless baseball. The game wouldn't see another run cross until the bottom of the eighth, when a sacrifice fly from Fabian Moran would score the tying run. It would be the only run that would cross, despite the bases loaded in the eighth, after Trevor Cassell entered in relief to escape the jam.
 
The 'Jackets would respond by loading the bases in the top of the ninth. With no outs, Kirshenbaum's ground ball to the shortstop would be dropped, resulting in the Golden Eagle's fourth error of the game, and the winning run crossing the plate. Cassell came back out to close the ninth, striking out the last two batters, and MSUB escaped with a series sweep.
 
"Obviously not the way we wanted to start the game on the mound," said Waddoups. "But I'm proud of how we bounced back as a team. It's not easy to go from an offensive explosion early, to a defensive battle late, we showed a lot of toughness and ability to do that."
 
THE BUZZ: Kirshenbaum was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game for game one, going 3-5 in his MSUB debut, with a home run, three RBIs and two runs… Foltz was selected as the Player of the Game for game two, where the senior went 3-5 with two doubles, four runs, and an RBI… The save for Miller in game one was the first in his time at MSUB… As was Cassell's win in the second game.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets continue their stretch of six games in five days when they take on Cal State San Marcos tomorrow, with first pitch scheduled for 1 PM (2PM MST). Live video will be available here, and live statistics will be available here.