LACEY, Wash. – The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team (7-14, 1-2 GNAC) dropped two one-run games against the St. Martin's Saints (7-16, 2-5 GNAC) on Friday.
GAME ONE: SMU 2, MSUB 1
In a very tightly contested game, the Yellowjackets offense couldn't get going in a 2-1 loss to the Saints in game one of the doubleheader. The 9
th inning rally although scoring one for the 'Jackets, wouldn't be enough as they ended the game grounding into a double play.
Scoreless through eight innings,
Brock Molenda started off the 9
th inning with a double and advancing to third on a balk.
Ryan Jeffrey had a clutch RBI-single to score Molenda, but a fly out and double play would allow the Saints to be victorious and escape the jam. The 'Jackets had seven different players get a hit in the game but left 10 total runners on which proved to be costly.
Starting pitcher
Cy Miller was outstanding on the mound for the 'Jackets. Miller went 7.0 innings, only allowing 6 hits, 1 run and adding three strikeouts. Miller was only charged with one run in the fourth inning, but the Saints were able to get a run across in the 8th which proved to be the game winner.
Cole Bertram came in to relieve Miller and pitched .2 innings before
Zane Baltz relieved him to finish the inning.
Jeffery had an impressive day at the plate, going 3-4 with an RBI.
Zack Blaszak,
Payton Flynn,
Kaden Kirshenbaum,
James Anderson,
Berk Barnes, and Molenda all added one hit for the 'Jackets offense in game one.
GAME TWO: SMU 2, MSUB 1 (7 inn.)
Game two of the doubleheader was eerily similar for the 'Jackets, losing the 7 inning doubleheader by a final score of 2-1. The 'Jackets and Saints were tied 1-1 heading into the 5
th inning, but the Saints would score on an error, the run which would prove to be the game winner. Game two was a sloppy game from both teams, totaling 5 errors and only 1 earned run out of the three scored.
The Yellowjacket starter,
Jackson Betancourt, had another solid outing, going the entire 6 innings and only allowing 1 earned run on 5 hits while striking out five. Saints' pitcher, Justice Yamashita, a well-known pitcher in the GNAC, picked up the complete game victory while allowing 5 hits, 1 run and 0 earned runs.
The 'Jackets offense could not get going for game two, totaling only 5 hits from 5 different players:
Bodee Wright,
Payton Flynn,
Kaden Kirshenbaum,
James Anderson and
Berk Barnes. The offense left a total of five on base for game two, including one in the 6
th inning.
The 'Jackets go into the series finale tomorrow against the Saints, looking to rebound and grab a victory to head back to Billings with a series split. The series finale will look to happen tomorrow, but the weather forecast in Lacey, Washington leaves the game up in the air. If the two are unable to complete the game before Sunday afternoon, they will look to play a five-game series in Billings later this year.
HEAR FROM WADDOUPS:
"Miller was outstanding today. We let the game get away from us with a few mistakes in the 9
th. I love how our guys battled back in game one and put a run on the board late. We missed a lot of opportunities leaving 10 guys on base."
"Betancourt also threw an outstanding game today and deserved to win his game, too. We hit balls hard and right at people, and just didn't get enough offensive support today. Our defense played outstanding and I am really proud of the way we played the game."
"
Ryan Jeffrey was outstanding at the plate today. He just helps our offense score runs with him on base. It was nice to see some quality pitching starts and we need to come out tomorrow and give a better effort on offense."
THE BUZZ: Cy Miller was named the Intermountain Health Player of the Day after his impressive outing on the mound
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team is back for the series finale tomorrow, Saturday, at 12pm (PST). Live stats and video links can be
found here.
