Pueblo, Colo. – The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team (6-12) dropped game three but drew a series split after taking down #15 CSU Pueblo (11-5) in game four with a final score of 16-13.
 
Game three was no different than the opening game of the series as the #15 Thunderwolves got a quality start out of their pitcher and were nearly impossible to get out at the plate. Pueblo put up 13 hits in the seven-inning contest and went on to take game three 12-2. Game four was a different story as the Yellowjackets came out for blood. The matchup wasn't the cleanest as there were 10 combined errors between the two squads, but it was nothing short of an action-packed nail-biting game all the way until the final pitch.
 
With bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Berkley Barnes brought down the final out of the game at the warning track and the Yellowjackets took home the 16-13 win. MSUB's offense was once again on full display as they put up 16 runs on 14 hits in the second matchup of the day and also posted three doubles and four home runs. Jarret Elmer not only hit his first homer in a Yellowjacket uniform but had two in the same game and led the 'Jackets in RBIs with four. The result of game two was largely due to Sage Wayment's performance as he entered the game in the sixth with the Thunderwolves within three runs. Wayment went on to throw 3.2 innings while allowing just two earned runs and was awarded the win.
 
HEAR FROM WADDOUPS: "What a gritty performance by the entire team, especially Sage Wayment with his performance in the late innings. It's hard to explain how many different people stepped up to contribute in that win. Ayala stepped up and had a really big day as a DH for us and it just came down to quality at bats which we did a really great job of offensively."
 
GAME 1: MSUB 2, CSUP 12
It was the Thunderwolves who struck first in the third game of the series. Pueblo got off to a hot start scoring three runs in the first inning and one in the second inning all while holding the Yellowjackets scoreless through the first three innings of play. Kaden Kirshenbaum broke the shutout in the top of the fourth after hitting seventh home run of the season to get MSUB on the board. The Thunderwolves would go on to tack on eight more runs in the fourth and fifth inning before Cole Ayala scored the 'Jackets second run of the game on a pinch-hit solo shot in the top of the seventh.
 
Ryun Cross made the start on the bump for the Yellowjackets and went 3.2 innings while striking out three. First out of the pen was Kevin McClellan who went 1.1 innings while striking out one batter. Rounding it out for the 'Jackets was Lance Schaaf who had a quality 1.0 innings pitched allowing zero hits and holding the Thunderwolves scoreless in the sixth, but it was not enough as CSU Pueblo went on to take the 12-2 win.
 
GAME 2: MSUB 0, CSUP 0
After dropping the first game on the day the Yellowjackets came out firing in the final game of the series, scoring three runs in the first inning with base hits from Bodee Wright, Zack Blaszak, Payton Flynn, and Cole Ayala. After an action-packed top of the first, game four starter Cy Miller sat them down in order, to keep the 3-0 lead in favor of the 'Jackets. Despite the Yellowjacket momentum the Thunderwolves gained it back after scoring one in the second and five in the third to take the lead.
 
CSU Pueblos' lead didn't last long after the 'Jackets erupted again in the top of the fourth inning after Jarret Elmer started their rally with a two run shot, his first in a Yellowjacket uniform. The offensive surge proceeded as Wright followed the homer up with a double and Ayala did the rest hitting his second home run of the day and putting the 'Jackets up 10-6. Miller was then relieved by Andy Evans but not before he went three complete innings, one strikeout, and allowed just three earned runs. Evans stepped in and made quick work in his first inning shutting out the Thunderwolves before more action from the MSUB offense in the fifth.
 
The Yellowjackets kept piling the runs on after Elmer drew a one out walk followed by Wright reaching via fielders' choice, and Blaszak brought them both home with a two out two RBI double to extend their lead to six. MSUB produced more action in the sixth inning as well on a single by Josh Mapel and another two-run home run by Elmer. The Thunderwolves did some damage in the bottom of the sixth inning after putting up four runs forcing MSUB to go to the bullpen. Evans ended his day going 2.1 innings with two strikeouts and was relieved by Sage Wayment. Pueblo was able to scrape another run across, but Wayment minimized the big inning getting the final out via strikeout and keep the Yellowjacket lead at 15-12.
 
Both squads scratched runs across in the seventh with the Yellowjackets run coming from a solo home run from Payton Flynn, MSUB's fourth long ball of the game. The offensive showcase slowed down in the eighth inning, for the first time in the game both teams were held scoreless in the same inning and the 'Jackets headed to their final at bats of the game with a three-run lead. The Yellowjackets loaded the bases in the top of the ninth but were unable to convert and Wayment returned to try and close out the game and draw a series split against one of the top teams in D2. The bottom of the ninth had the stands on their feet and had the looks of a historic ending for the Thunderwolves. With bases loaded, two outs, and down by three, CSU Pueblos Kysen Howard sent a ball to deep right field at the warning track and Berkley Barnes brought it in to secure the 16-13 win. Wayment finished his day with an impressive 3.2 innings pitched while allowing just six hits, two earned runs, had three strikeouts, and was awarded the win.
 
HIGHLIGHT PERFORMANCES
GAME 1:
Zack Blaszak – 1-1, 2BB, 2B
Kaden Kirshenbaum – 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 R, HR
Lance Schaaf – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H
GAME 2:
Sage Wayment – 3.2 IP, 3K, 2 ER, W
Payton Flynn – 3-4, 3 RBI, 2 R, HR, BB
Bodee Wright – 2-4, 1 RBI, 3 R, 2B
Zack Blaszak – 2-5, 2 RBI, 3 R, 2B, BB
Cole Ayala – 2-5, 3 RBI, 1 R, HR
Ryan Jeffrey – 2-3, 1 R, 2B, BB
 
THE BUZZ
GAME 1: Cole Ayala was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after a perfect 1-1 pinch hit performance with one RBI, one run, and a home run!
GAME 2: Jarret Elmer was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after not only hitting his first home run in a Yellowjacket uniform but had a two-home run performance. Elmer slashed 2-4 from the plate with four RBIs, three runs, two bombs, and drew a walk!
 
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team opens up conference play at Saint Martin's University in Lacey, WA on March 8^th with first pitch starting at 1:00 PM (PST).