CHICO, Cali. – The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball narrowly fell 5-4 to Chico State in game three of their three game series. Despite the 'Jackets outhitting the Wildcats 11-8 errors proved kryptonite for MSUB on the defensive end. "Our team did a good job bouncing back after yesterday," said head coach
Derek Waddoups. "There was a lot of learning moments in the series, but Chico did a nice job of just making routine plays and not beating themselves."
The Yellowjackets came out firing in the final game of the series scoring three runs in the first two innings on four hits.
Zack Blaszak scored the first run of the ballgame on a double from
Jack Nehler. In the top of the second inning
Bodee Wright had a two RBI double to take an early 3-0 lead. The Wildcats were able to answer in the 3
rd due to a pair of infield errors by the 'Jackets and tie up the game at three apiece. After another run by Chico in the sixth, Blaszak had a leadoff triple in the seventh followed by a sac fly by Nehler to ty up the ballgame at four. Both squads would not push across runs until the eighth when the Wildcats scored the final run of the game on a base hit to take a 5-4 lead.
Jackson Betancourt in his second start of the season threw 75 pitches, 5.0 innings while allowing just one earned run and striking out one hitter.
Cy Miller entered the game in the bottom of the sixth with runners in scoring position. Miller would load the bases via walk but got a ground ball with Blaszak and
Parker Bleggi turning the double play to get them out of the jam. Following Miller's 0.2 innings was
Beau Burnett who closed it out for the 'Jackets with 2.0 innings pitched, zero earned runs and two strikeouts. "Betancourt had another stellar outing," said coach Waddoups. "
Beau Burnett was awesome out of the pen and gave us a chance to come back but it was a just a tough loss."
HEAR FROM WADDOUPS:
"Wright was clutch today with runners in scoring position, and Blaszak did a fenominal job of getting on base in every at bat. Nate May had an awesome day with three hits but we were just one clutch hit away from winning the game in several spots."
HIGHLIGHT PERFORMANCES
Bodee Wright – 1-2, 2B, 2 RBI
Jackson Betancourt – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 SO
Jack Nehler – 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI
Nathan May – 3-4, 1 R
Beau Burnett – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 SO
Payton Flynn – 2-5
THE BUZZ: Zack Blaszak was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after going 1-1 from the plate with one triple, two runs, two walks, and a hit by pitch.
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team stays on the road as they head to Grand Junction Colorado to take on Colorado Mesa for a four-game series starting on February 15
th at 2 PM.
