MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team (11-21, 5-9 GNAC) had a come-from-behind 5-4 victory in game one but dropped the second game of the day 13-3 in favor of the Western Oregon Wolves (13-14, 7-7 GNAC).
 
The Yellowjackets down 4-2 heading into the final two innings of play, pulled off a true comeback win with ninth inning heroics from Kaden Kirshenbaum. Jackson Betancourt had yet another quality outing, going six complete and was relieved by sure handed closer, Sage Wayment. After the 'Jackets tallied two runs to tie the game in the seventh, Kirshenbaum hit a go-ahead homer in the top of the ninth to take the lead. Wayment did the rest, closing out the game and earning his second win of the season.
 
HEAR FROM WADDOUPS: "Game one was a great baseball game, it was fun to see out guys battle back even when they took the lead. Betancourt had a solid start for us and Wayment was lights out from the pen. Kirshenbaum came up with the clutch home run to solidify the win, but what led to that was how quality every at bat he had prior."
 
GAME 1: MSUB 5, WOU 4
The 'Jackets struck first in the nine-inning conference showdown, scoring in the top of the third inning via leadoff double from Parker Bleggi who was later scored on a sacrifice fly from James Anderson. Jarret Elmer tallied another run in the sixth after a solo home run but MSUB's lead would not last long following the bottom frame of the inning. After five scoreless innings from Yellowjacket starter Jackson Betancourt, the Wolves strung some hits together to put up four runs and take the 4-2 lead.
 
The Yellowjackets quickly answered in the top of the seventh after Payton Flynn led off the inning with a double and was immediately brought home on an RBI single from Kaden Kirshenbaum. Kirshenbaum eventually came around to score on a fielder's choice, tying up the game at 4-4. In the bottom of the seventh, Sage Wayment got the call out of the pen relieving Betancourt after six complete innings with five strikeouts while allowing just four earned runs.
 
After a scoreless eighth inning from both squads, they headed into the last inning still tied up at four apiece. Ninth inning heroics came from none other than Kaden Kirshenbaum who hit a go-ahead solo home run to give the Yellowjackets the advantage. Wayment did the rest, closing out the final inning to help lead MSUB to a 5-4 victory. Wayment went three complete innings with one strikeout while allowing just three hits, zero runs, zero earned runs, collecting his second win of the season.
 
GAME 2: MSUB 3, WOU 13
The Wolves came out firing on all cylinders in the second game of the day, scoring five runs in the first inning and forced an early pitching change from the 'Jackets. Cy Miller was quickly relieved by Zane Baltz after going just 0.1 innings. Baltz had the answer as he sat down the next two batters in order, including a strikeout to end the bottom of the first inning.
 
The Yellowjackets chipped away with one run in the second and one in the third bringing their deficit within three. Parker Bleggi got the 'Jackets on the board via sacrifice fly, scoring Payton Flynn who led off the inning with a double. James Anderson created the action in the third after leading off the inning with a triple, followed by a single from Zack Blaszak to score Anderson and make it a 5-2 ballgame.
 
From there the Wolves piled it on, scoring two in the third, five in the fourth, and another in the fifth to take a 13-2 lead. The Yellowjackets made quite a few mound visits during the stretch, making three more pitching changes trying to find an answer to the red-hot Western lineup. Baltz ended his day after throwing 2.2 innings with three strikeouts while allowing two earned runs and was relieved by Kevin McClellan. Andy Evans quickly entered for McClellan and went one complete inning while allowing two earned runs and rounding it out for MSUB was Lance Schaaf.
 
Schaaf entered the game in the fifth with bases loaded and no outs, but quickly silenced the Wolves dugout sitting the next three hitters down in order. Schaaf went on to throw two complete innings with two strikeouts while allowing just one hit, zero walks, zero runs, and zero earned runs. The Yellowjackets would go on to add another run in the top of the seventh after a solo home run from Cole Ayala but would go on to drop the game 13-3 in favor of WOU.
 
HEAR FROM WADDOUPS: "We just didn't get enough going offensively, hats off to Murdock, he kept us off balance and really commanded the baseball all game. We played well defensively but just needed to win the strike zone battle on the mound. Lance Schaaf did an outstanding job late in the game, he did a great job changing location and speeds and he stifled a hot Western Oregon lineup."
 
KEY PERFORMANCES:
GAME 1
Jarret Elmer: 1-3, RBI, R, HR
Parker Bleggi: 1-3, R, BB, 2B
Payton Flynn: 1-4, R, 2B
Jackson Betancourt: 6.0 IP, 5 SO, 4 ER, 1 BB
Sage Wayment: 3.0 IP, 1 SO, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, Win
GAME 2
Cole Ayala: 1-1, RBI, R, HR
Payton Flynn: 1-2, R, BB, 2B
James Anderson: 1-2, R, 3B
Zack Blaszak: 2-4, RBI, SB
Zane Baltz: 2.2 IP, 3 SO
 
THE BUZZ
GAME 1: Kaden Kirshenbaum was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting a 2-4 performance including a go-ahead bomb in the top of the ninth. Kirshenbaum also slashed two runs, two RBIs, and a home run.
GAME 2: Lance Schaaf was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after throwing two complete innings with two strikeouts while allowing just one hit, zero walks, zero runs, and zero earned runs.
 
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team is back at it again tomorrow for another double-header vs Western Oregon with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 PM (PDT).