LACEY, Wash. – The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team (7-12, 1-0 GNAC) started their conference slate with a 7-3 victory over the Saint Marin's University Saints (5-16, 0-5 GNAC).
In their 7-3 win, the Yellowjackets were impressive defensively largely due to
Jake Finkelstein's performance on the bump. Finkelstein and the 'Jackets held them scoreless for seven straight innings while plating seven runs of their own behind
Berk Barnes. Barnes went 3-4 at the plate with 2 RBIs, 1 run, and a double to help lead the Yellowjacket offense. Finkelstein was relieved in the 9
th inning, but not before throwing a career high eight complete innings while allowing zero earned runs and allowing just five hits, two walks, and two runs.
HEAR FROM WADDOUPS:
"Fink was outstanding on the bump today and commanded the zone. It was great to see him trust his defense and continued to get ground balls throughout the whole game. Our double-play defense really changed the game and got us out of tough situations in the middle innings. Berk had a great day for us, and he was very productive late in the order. We took advantage of some opportunities that they gave us, and we executed on the small ball part of our game. We did a great job of putting the ball in play with runners in scoring position and it helped us extend our lead throughout the game. I liked how we bounced back from adversity during the game and never let it change our demeanor."
The 'Jackets got things going early in the first inning, scoring three runs on one hit from junior second baseman
Bodee Wright. MSUB scratched all three across by capitalizing on free bases from the Saint's. The Yellowjackets struck again in the top of the third after a pair of walks from
Payton Flynn and
James Anderson and
Berk Barnes did the rest, plating two RBIs on a two-out single to give the 'Jackets a 6-0 lead. The 'Jackets tallied their last run in the top of the sixth after a leadoff double by Barnes and later scored on a fielder's choice groundout from Wright.
After seven complete innings from Finkelstein, the Saint's scratched across two unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth. Finkelstein ended his outing, going a personal best 8.0 innings pitched while allowing two runs, zero earned runs, five hits, and two walks. Closing out the ninth for the 'Jackets was senior transfer
Brian Baker that went 1.0 innings pitched with two strikeouts while allowing just one earned run.
HIGHLIGHT PERFORMANCES
Bodee Wright – 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 R, SB
Kaden Kirshenbaum – 1-3, 2 R, 2 HBP
Nate May – 1-4, 1 RBI
Brian Baker – 1.0 IP, 2 K, 1 ER
THE BUZZ: Jake Finkelstein was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting a career-high 8.0 innings pitched with zero earned while allowing just five hits, two walks, zero earned runs, and picked up his second win of the season!
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team is back at it again tomorrow at 12 & 3 PM (PST) against the Saint Martin's Saints.
