LACEY, Wash. – The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team (8-14, 2-2 GNAC) evened their first GNAC series with a 1-0 victory over the Saint Marin's University Saints (7-17, 2-6 GNAC).
The pitching staff lead the 'Jackets to the 1-0 victory, throwing their first shutout of the 2024 season. Pitcher
Ryun Cross lead the way, going a full seven innings while giving up just two hits and dishing seven strikeouts.
Beau Burnett followed up in the eighth, allowing just one hit and was credited with the win.
Sage Wayment finished the job with a no-hit save in the ninth. Ryan Jeffery got the bats going late in the game with a triple, followed by an RBI single from
Bodee Wright to tally the 'Jackets lone run to secure the win.
HEAR FROM WADDOUPS:
"Cross and their guy Driscoll threw outstanding games. We were able to scratch out a tough win in extra innings. Cross just kept making pitch after pitch throughout the entire outing and mixed speeds well, making it really tough on their lineup. We hit some balls well in the middle of the game that just didn't fall for us. It was good to see
Ryan Jeffrey trust his approach and come up clutch with a triple in the ninth. Bodee had a tough day at the plate but came through with the RBI single. Burnett and Wayment did an outstanding job out of the pen. It's an awesome feeling to have those two on the mound with their ability to command and change speeds. Sage continues to prove how clutch he is in big moments."
The 'Jackets got off to a slow start at the plate but came out firing in the top of the ninth. Jeffrey ripped a triple over the top of the right fielder's head to put a runner in scoring position with one out. Wright followed Jeffrey with a first pitch RBI single down the left field line to give the 'Jackets the first and only run of the day.
Cross held the Saint's bats at bay for seven complete innings, recording seven strikeouts and only giving up two hits and a walk. Cross now leads the team with 23 strikeouts on the year. Junior RHP Burnett relieved Cross in the bottom of the eighth and held the Saints to another scoreless innings after allowing just one hit and a pair of walks. Wayment earned the save in the ninth inning with a no-hit performance to hold the Saints scoreless.
HIGHLIGHT PERFORMANCES
Ryan Jeffrey – 1-3, 1 3B, 1 R
Bodee Wright – 1-4, 1 RBI
Beau Burnett – 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, W
Sage Wayment – 1.0 IP, 0 H, S
THE BUZZ: Ryun Cross was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after throwing a career-high seven complete innings, seven strikeouts, two hits, one walk, and zero earned runs.
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team hosts their first home series of the season on Friday, March 15
th against #12 ranked Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks. Live stats can be
found here. Live video can be
found here. Tickets can be
purchased here.
