DENVER, Colo. – The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team (4-10) dropped their final game of their road series vs MSU Denver (7-8) with a final score of 14-9.
 
HEAR FROM WADDOUPS:
"Proud of our offensive effort and how we continued to battle throughout the whole game, it was just unfortunate that we gave them a big lead early. We continue to get production up and down the order, which is awesome to see, and I like how we are playing overall as a team."
 
The Yellowjackets got behind early in their 14-9 loss after an eight-run inning in the third from the Roadrunners but battled back for a chance to win behind Payton Flynn and Kaden Kirshenbaum. The two heavy hitters combined for a
7-9 performance from the plate with seven RBIs, five runs, and four home runs, their second multi home run game of the series. The 'Jackets held the red hot MSU Denver offense at bay in the last five innings behind Cole Bertram and Cy Miller who combined for 5.1 IP, two earned runs, and seven strikeouts. Even with the help on the bump from Bertram and Miller the 14-run total from the Roadrunners proved too much to come back from.
 
MSUB got things going in the first after a leadoff triple from Bodee Wright who later was scored on a groundout fielder's choice by Zack Blaszak. The Roadrunners quickly answered back in the second after scoring four runs on two hits, but their lead was quickly diminished in the top of the third. The 'Jackets caught fire from a leadoff double from Josh Mapel who was called out on the next at bat on a fielder's choice which led to Blaszak drawing a walk. This set the stage for Flynn's first homer of the game clearing the bases and gaining some momentum back. Kirshenbaum followed suite going back-to-back and making it a 5-4 ballgame.
 
The momentum didn't last long as disaster struck in the bottom of the third when the Roadrunners erupted with an eight-run inning on five hits, including two home runs and a double. From there, both offenses got quiet until the 'Jackets scraped one across in the seventh on Flynn's second homer of the game and did their best to amount a comeback in the ninth. Down to just three outs Cole Ayala started the inning with his first career home run, and after a Flynn base hit Kirshenbaum hit his second homer of the game bringing them within five. The last inning rally didn't last long after that as the Roadrunners sat the next two batters down in order to secure the 14-9 win to even the series 2-2.
 
Andy Evans made the start in the final game of the series going 2.1 innings with three strikeouts and was relieved by Cole Bakker. Bakker was quickly relieved by Cole Bertram who threw a solid 2.1 innings with four strikeouts while allowing just one earned run and three hits. Following Bertram was Cy Miller who made his first appearance of 2024 as a closer and made quick work of the Roadrunner offense. Miller went 3.0 innings with three strikeouts while allowing just one earned run and three hits.
 
HEAR FROM WADDOUPS:
"Cy Miller was absolutely outstanding out of the pen for us, he threw well and gave us a chance late in the game to come back by attacking hitters and commanding the baseball well in the zone. Cole Bertram also had a solid outing for us keeping them at bay in the middle innings. There are good things to come with one more week before conference play and we are looking forward to finally having a home series next week."
 
HIGHLIGHT PERFORMANCES:
Kaden Kirshenbaum – 3-4, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 HR, HBP
Josh Mapel – 2-4, 2B
Bodee Wright – 1 H, 2 R, 3B
Cy Miller – 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 3 Ks
Cole Bertram – 2.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 4 Ks
Cole Ayala – 1-1, 1 RBI, 1 R, HR
 
THE BUZZ: Payton Flynn was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after going 4-5 from the plate with four RBIs, three runs, and two home runs!
 
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team returns to the 406 for their first home games of the season against Colorado State University Pueblo starting on February 29^th at 2:30 PM.