GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Montana State University Billings baseball team lost the opening game of their series Thursday against Colorado Mesa University, falling 8-19 on the road.
 
The Yellowjackets (5-6) began their second consecutive series of games in Colorado, running into a talented Mavericks (7-5) team who were ranked 6^th in the NCBWA Top 25 poll in the preseason. And they put that talent on display, pulling out a big win over MSUB. The 'Jackets kept it close in the early innings, before a ten-run bottom of the fourth would give the Mavericks a comfortable lead to see out the game.
 
The Mavericks slowly built a lead in the early innings, tacking on a single run in each of the opening three innings. But starter Hunter Smith did a good job of limiting the damage early, and picked up four strikeouts in three innings of work. The Yellowjackets showed promise in the top of the fourth, where they picked up a pair of runs. Left fielder Payton Flynn sent a pitch to deep right center, hitting his third home run in the past five games, before Carson Green's RBI single made it just a one run contest.
 
It wouldn't stay that way for long though when the Mavericks picked up ten runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Mavericks batted through the order, picking up runs in small doses with singles and sac flies before a grand slam from Kennedy Hara put Mesa up 13-2.
 
MSUB would show life offensively, scoring runs in three of the final five innings. Mitch Winter picked up a towering solo home run in the fifth, and Zach Blaszak sent one over the right field fence the following inning. In the ninth inning, Colby Kiesling and Keegan Weston would pick up their first RBI's as Yellowjackets. It wouldn't be enough to launch a comeback though, with Mesa staying ahead by a solid margin for the rest of the game.
 
Green led all MSUB players in hits, going 3-5 with a double, run and an RBI. Flynn went 2-4 with an RBI, and Bodee Wright went 2-3, picking up a run and a stolen base. Kiesling went 2-5, his first multi-hit game for MSUB. Shortstop Zach Blaszak went 2-5 as well, with 2 RBIs and a run.
 
Smith picked up the loss for the Yellowjackets after allowing four runs. Blake Murray made his longest appearance pitching for the 'Jackets, going 2.2 innings and striking out three, helping to get the 'Jackets out of a rough fourth inning on the mound.
 
THE BUZZ: Green was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game… The 'Jackets are now 4-15 against the Mavericks all time, having played all of their matchups on the road in Grand Junction.
 
UP NEXT: The 'Jackets continue their series against the Mavericks tomorrow, with a doubleheader scheduled to being at 12 PM at Suplizio Field. Live video for the games will be available here, and live statistics will be available here.