GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team (2-7) split on the day with a 13-9 victory and a 4-3 loss against the Colorado Mesa University Mavericks (4-3).
 
 The Yellowjackets looked flawless in their game two victory with highlight performances across the board. MSUB had six players with at least two hits, eight players with at least one run, four players with at least two RBIs, and three players with a home run including a grand slam from James Anderson. Beau Burnett silenced the Mesa lineup holding them scoreless for the final three innings and collecting his first win of the season. Game two featured a tight back and forth battle with the 'Jackets coming up short by one run. Jackson Betancourt had a quality six inning outing and picked up his 100^th career strikeout.
 
HEAR FROM WADDOUPS:
"We did a great job of fighting through adversity throughout the whole game but give it to Colorado Mesa for continuing to battle back as well. It was a back-and-forth game, but we were able to scratch runs across in almost every inning to keep our lead. Finkelstein battled to keep us in it and Burnett was just absolutely outstanding out of the pen."
 
Game One: MSUB 13, CMU 9
The Yellowjackets came out for blood after dropping the first game of the season, scoring five runs on three hits and one error. James Anderson was to thank as he hit a grand slam in the first inning and putting the 'Jackets at an early 5-0 lead. They would later strike again in the top of the third after Ryan Jeffrey hit a two-run home run, his first in an MSUB uniform. Payton Flynn started a rally in the fourth as well, hitting a leadoff double and was scored on a base hit from Anderson.
 
The Yellowjackets tacked on another one in the same inning and followed that up with two more in the fifth to take a 11-4 lead over the Mavericks. Colorado Mesa didn't go away as they scored four funs in the bottom of the fifth on a pair of home runs to make it a three-run ballgame. After CMU added another to make it a two-run game, Jack Nehler hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh. The 'Jackets also scratched one across in the eighth inning to give the 'Jackets the insurance they needed to take game two.
 
Jake Finkelstein made his second start of the season going 4.2 innings with seven strikeouts. Finkelstein allowed just four runs through his four innings, but an untimely home run with two outs led to a pitching change with Cole Bertram coming out of the pen. Following Bertram was Beau Benett who seemed to have the answer to the talented Maverick lineup. Burnett had an impressive 3.1 innings pitched with four strikeouts while allowing zero earned runs and just two hits. Burnett closed the door on Mesa and was awarded his first win of the season.
 
HEAR FROM WADDOUPS:
We had production up and down the lineup especially from our eight- and nine-hole Scott Artzer and Ryan Jeffrey. The two of them contributed a lot on offense, scoring three runs and three RBIs between the two. It was great to see a complete game from our guys."
 
 
Game Two: CMU 4, MSUB 3
The seven-inning competition was more back-and-forth baseball, but it was the Mavericks who squeaked by with a late run in the bottom of the sixth to edge the 'Jackets. The Yellowjackets scored their first two runs early in the game on a pair of sac fly's by Nate May and Parker Bleggi. Mesa did the majority of their damage in the fifth, scoring three runs tot take the lead. May answered right back with a single in the sixth to score Kaden Kirshenbaum to score their final run of the ballgame.
 
Jackson Betencourt got the start for game three of the series in his third start of the year. To nobody's surprise, Betancourt went the distance throwing six complete innings while striking out four. His fourth strikeout of the game was also a milestone as it was his 100^th career strikeout in an MSUB uniform.
 
HEAR FROM WADDOUPS:
"Betancourt threw a solid game and gave us a chance to win against a very high-quality Mesa team. We had the early lead but let too many scoring opportunities get away from us."
 
 
HIGHLIGHT PERFORMANCES
GAME 1:
James Anderson – 2-5, 5 RBI, HR, 1 R, 1 BB
Jack Nehler – 3-6, 3 R, 2 RBI, HR
Scott Artzer – 3-4, 2 R, 1 RBI
Ryan Jeffrey – 2-5, 2 RBI, 1 R
Kaden Kirshenbaum – 2-5, 2 R, 2RBI, 2B
Game 2:
Jackson Betancourt – 6.0 IP, 4 K
James Anderson – 1-3, 1 R
Nate May – 1-2, 2 RBI
 
THE BUZZ
Game 1:
Beau Burnett was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after throwing 3.1 innings pitched with four strikeouts while allowing zero runs and just two hits.
Game 2:
Kaden Kirshenbaum was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after going 2-3 from the plate with two runs and a double.
 
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team squares off with Colorado Mesa for their final game of the series tomorrow at noon.