BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team (10-20, 4-8 GNAC) drew a split on the day after a 21-3 loss in game three and a 3-1 victory in game four to split the home series against the Central Washington Wildcats (13-13, 8-4 GNAC).
Game two on the day, and game four of the series proved to be a true rubber match as both squads combined for just four runs and 15 hits.
Cy Miller and
Ryan Jeffrey led the way for the 'Jackets by combining consistent production with clutch performances in high pressure situations to help lead them to a 3-1 victory. Miller went the distance throwing a one earned run complete game while Jeffrey accounted for all three of the Yellowjackets runs.
HEAR FROM WADDOUPS: "We got our butts kicked in game one in all phases. On the flip side, the way our team bounced back and showed grit in game two was outstanding. Miller was electric on the mound, Bleggi and the entire defense stepped up and played a fabulous game, and the sac bunt from Kirshenbaum which led to a Jeffrey two-RBI single proved to be the difference. It was a fabulous game by both teams, Miller and Charron locked up in a quality pitchers duel and its just always great to win a tight battle."
GAME 2: MSUB 3, CWU 1
Yellowjacket starter
Cy Miller and Wildcat starter Daniel Charron squared off in the final game of the series with the Wildcats looking to win the series and MSUB looking to even the series. Both starters kept the seven-inning matchup scoreless through the first three innings of play until the 'Jackets struck in the fourth.
Jack Nehler and
Payton Flynn led things off with back-to-back singles followed by a sacrifice bunt from
Kaden Kirshenbaum to put them into scoring position. The table was set, and
Ryan Jeffrey served it via a two-RBI base hit. Jeffrey didn't stop there as he stole second and was brought home on an RBI base hit from
Parker Bleggi to give the 'Jackets a 3-0 lead.
The Wildcats quickly responded with a run in the top of the fifth and put more pressure on in the same inning after back-to-back hits to put runners on second and third with no outs. Miller buckled down and dealt two straight strikeouts and with the help of a diving catch in right field from
Scott Artzer the Yellowjackets got out of the inning with minimal damage. Miller continued his dominance throughout the final two innings and ended his outing with an impressive seven inning complete game with five strikeouts while allowing just one earned run, seven hits, and two walks to earn his first win of the season.
GAME 1: MSUB 3, CWU 21
The Yellowjackets kept the game close through the first three innings of play but a combination of MSUB errors and Central Washington hits resulted in the Wildcats compounding their lead throughout the whole game. CWU scored five runs in the fourth, followed by seven in the fifth to help lead them to a 21-3 victory in game three of the series.
KEY PERFORMANCES
GAME 1:
Zack Blaszak – 2-3, RBI, 2B
Bodee Wright – 1-3, R
Scott Artzer 1-2, R, 2B
GAME 2:
Ryan Jeffrey – 1-3, 2 RBI, R, SB
Parker Bleggi – 2-3, RBI, SB
Payton Flynn – 2-3, R
THE BUZZ: Cy Miller was named Intermountain Health Player of the day after throwing a seven-inning complete game and collecting his first win of the season. Miller tallied five strikeouts in game two while allowing just one earned run, seven hits, and two walks!
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team hits the road for a four game GNAC series in Monmouth, OR to square off against the Western Oregon Wolves, with first pitch on March 29
th at 1 PM (PST).
