BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings baseball team opened their series against Colorado Christian University in historic fashion, setting a program record for most runs in a single game in the first game of a doubleheader Friday afternoon.
 
The Yellowjackets (12-18) defeated the Cougars (10-20-1) 30-6 to begin the day, with 12 different MSUB players collecting an RBI in the rout. Colorado Christian battled back to earn a win in the following game, defeating the 'Jackets 6-2.
 
"Our focus recently has been putting the ball in play, and we did that in a big way today," said Yellowjacket's head coach Derek Waddoups. "We had so many quality at bats, everyone produced up and down the line up. Just an awesome way to win."
 
Game 1: MSUB 30, CCU 6
 
The Yellowjackets came out on fire in the first game of the day, scoring runs across each of the first six innings of the game. A six run first inning, highlighted by a Payton Flynn two-RBI double and a two-run home run from James Anderson put the 'Jackets in a good position early, and they wouldn't let up, adding two runs in the second and another six in the third inning. Add in an electric fourth inning where MSUB nearly batted through the lineup twice, and it was more than enough for the Yellowjackets to cruise to victory in game one.
 
Hayden Foltz was the team leader in RBIs for MSUB, collecting five of them while going 3-4 with a double, home run, and a pair of walks. Anderson went 3-6 with five runs and four RBIs. Carson Green reached base in all six of his at bats, going 4-4 and walking once, earning four runs and three RBIs.
 
"When Carson is going, our whole lineup goes," said Waddoups. "And Hayden has been a clutch hitter for us this season. Those two guys are complete hitters. To get on base five or six times in a game is incredible, and when the top of your lineup gets on like that, it makes things easier for the guys behind them."
 
Along with Green, Flynn, Bodee Wright, and Parker Bleggi each had three RBIs. Tyler Godfrey and Zack Blaszak each had two hits and two runs, while Jack Nehler went 3-6 with a pair of RBIs. Keegan Weston entered as a sub, reaching base twice on hit by pitches and scoring three runs.
 
"We always talk about impacting the baseball, and today we showed our ability to do that up and down the lineup," said Waddoups. "We talk about next man up, how your only as good as your team, and we had so many guys step up in this one, either starting or off the bench. We had a great start in the first inning, when you can get positive momentum like that early it helps your offense get up and go."
 
Not to be outdone, the Yellowjacket pitchers also put on a show, striking out 13 batters between them. Starter Jackson Betancourt struck out seven batters in four innings, before being replaced at the top of the fifth. The relievers who replaced Betancourt surrendered just two hits and held the Cougars scoreless over the final five innings. Nolan Thebiay picked up his first career win, striking out two runners in the fifth inning. Out of the pitchers who followed him, Cole Bertram and Blake Rainey each struck out two batters in perfect innings, while Lance Schaaf and Blake Murray each retired batters without much trouble.
 
"The five zeroes we put up out of the pen was the most impressive thing to me," Waddoups said. "Multiple strikeouts and shutdown performances from five different arms is a great thing to have. They each commanded the zone and changed speeds well, and those final five innings from a defensive and pitching perspective were special."
 
Game 2: MSUB 2, CCU 6
 
In contrast to the first game of the day, things began slowly in game two. Neither team had very many hits in game the early going, but the long ball helped begin the scoring. Gabe Ramos began the scoring for Colorado Christian with a homer to right, giving the Cougars their first lead in either game. But following a Brock Molenda triple, Green would send a ball deep to right center, clearing the fence and giving the Yellowjackets a 2-1 lead. Defensive miscues plagued both teams, with CCU ended with four errors and MSUB two, but it would be the 'Jackets whose mistakes would prove costly, when five runs, three of which were unearned, would cross in the top of the fourth, giving the lead back to the Cougars. While the 'Jackets continued to make solid contact, Colorado Christian finished the game strong defensively, and six strong innings of four hit ball from starter Jake Gimbel would be enough as CCU took the second game of the day.
 
Green went 1-3 with two RBIs, and Molenda was 2-3 with a run. Besides those two, the only other 'Jacket who totaled a hit in the game was Jack Nehler. The Yellowjackets continued to put the ball in play however, only striking out twice in the seven innings.
 
"Gimbel threw a great game two," Waddoups said. "His slider was working, and it made things tough for us. We still hit the ball hard, I really liked our offensive approach. Just a lot of those balls turned into flyouts instead of extra base hits. That's just baseball though, sometimes you do everything right and still get out."
 
On the mound, Trevor Cassell gave the 'Jackets three quality innings, allowing just two hits and one earned run. And after a rough beginning of the fourth, Sage Wayment entered to escape a tough jam, allowing just two hits and striking out three over the final four innings of play.
 
"Sage pitched us out of a tough jam, and really gave us an opportunity in game two," said Waddoups. "I love the consistency he's been giving us out of the bullpen. He was a highlight for us from game two."
 
THE BUZZ: James Anderson was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day… The 'Jackets broke the previous record of 29 runs scored in a game, which they did against Central Washington on April 27, 2019… Their 24 hits were a season high.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets and Cougars conclude their series with another doubleheader tomorrow, April 8 at Dehler Park. The first game is slated to begin at 12 PM, with live video available here and live statistics available here.