BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team (12-24, 6-12 GNAC) earned a split on the day with a walk-off win in game two over the Saint Martin's Saints (13-25, 7-14 GNAC).
HEAR FROM WADDOUPS: "After a rough start,
Andy Evans came out of the pen and really pitched us back into the game. Really proud of our lineup and how they approached Justice Yamashita. He is an outstanding pitcher and our quality at bats chased him out of the game. It was great to see our guys trust their approach late in the game, we had several great at bats that led to the seventh inning and Wright getting the job done with the walk-off hit. Just a crazy comeback after being down 13-1 and I'm just proud our guys never gave up."
GAME 2: MSUB 15, SMU 14
The Saints carried their momentum over from their game one victory, scoring four runs on four hits in the top of the first.
Zack Blaszak would quickly answer with a one out solo home run to make it a 4-1 ballgame. SMU then took control, scoring nine unanswered runs in the next three innings to extend their lead to 12. The 'Jackets scratched thre across in the bottom half of the fourth via
Kaden Kirshenbaum RBI single and Nate May two RBI single. The bottom of the fifth is where the Yellowjackets found life, Wright led things off with a base hit, followed by a Blaszak base hit and a
Jack Nehler two-RBI double. They didn't stop there as Kirshenbaum hit a two-RBI home run to make it 13-8, still in favor of the Saints. After another scoreless inning on defense again, the 'Jackets exploded with five runs in the bottom of the sixth.
May led it off with a triple and was immediately brought home on a two-RBI homer from
Brock Molenda. Following that was a
Parker Bleggi double, Wright single, and Blaszak walk. Wright would come around to score via fielders' choice and Blaszak scored on a wild pitch. Kirshenbaum then walked and would later come around to score on a base hit from
Ryan Jeffrey to help the Yellowjackets take their first lead of the game. The Saints followed that with a run of their own, tying it up at 14-all and sending MSUB to the plate with a chance to win the game. The 'Jackets had a textbook performance in the bottom of the seventh as Molenda led it off with a base hit, followed by a sacrifice bunt from Bleggi, and Wright did the rest. Wright sent a ball to deep left-center field, scoring Molenda, and winning the game 15-14 in walk-off fashion.
The 'Jackets struggled to find an answer to the SMU offense as
Brian Baker made the start, was quickly relieved by
Kevin McClellan, and again relieved by
Andy Evans. Evans entered the game in the fourth and did what no Yellowjacket had done all day, silenced the red-hot Saints offense. Evans went three complete innings with a pair of strikeouts while allowing zero runs, zero earned runs, and just two hits before making his exit after the sixth inning.
Sage Wayment closed it out, throwing one complete innings with one strikeout while allowing just one earned run, two hits, and was awarded the win.
GAME 1: MSUB 8, SMU 17
Game one of the series was all action from the start, the Saints led off the opening frame with a pair of runs to take the early 2-0 lead. This would not last long as the Yellowjackets fired right back with six of their own in the bottom half. Wright got on base with a leadoff walk, Blaszak reached on SMU error, and Nehler brought them both home with a two-RBI single. Following was a
Payton Flynn single, Kirshenbaum hit by pitch, Jeffrey RBI base hit, Molenda RBI base hit, and a Bleggi RBI walk.
The rally didn't stop there as Wright hit a sacrifice fly in his second at bat of the inning to make it a 6-2 ballgame. From there the Saints blew it open, scoring 15 unanswered runs and took a commanding 17-6 lead. The 'Jackets would score a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth from a two-RBI bomb from Flynn, but they would ultimately fall 17-8 in favor of the Saints.
Jackson Betancourt got the game one start and went 4.2 innings with five strikeouts before he was relieved by true freshman,
Zane Baltz. Baltz completed one inning and
Cy Miller entered out of the pen. Miller threw 1.1 innings with one strikeout while allowing just one earned run and one hit.
Lance Schaaf closed it out for MSUB, throwing the final two innings, allowing two earned runs and collected one strikeout.
HEAR FROM WADDOUPS: "Game one, we jumped out to a good start but were just not able to string anything together to get things going."
KEY PERFORMANCES:
GAME 2
Bodee Wright – 3-5, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2B
Zack Blaszak – 2-3, RBI, 3 R, HR, BB
Jack Nehler – 2-4, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2B
Kaden Kirshenbaum – 2-3, 3 RBI, 3 R, HR, BB, SB
Nate May – 2-3, 2 RBI, R, 3B, BB
Andy Evans – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 SO
Sage Wayment – 1.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 1 SO, Win
GAME 1
Jack Nehler – 2-5, 2 RBI, R, 2B
Payton Flynn – 2-5, 2 RBI, 2 R, HR
Ryan Jeffrey – 2-5, RBI, R
Parker Bleggi – 2-4, RBI, BB
THE BUZZ: Brock Molenda was named Intermountain Health Player of the Day after going 5-8 from the plate with 3 RBI's, 2 runs, and a home run. "Molenda had a great day for us at the plate," said coach Waddoups. "He had a bunch of clutch at bats that ultimately were game changing."
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team is back at it again tomorrow for another double header against the Saint Martin's Saints, with first pitch scheduled for 12 PM at Dehler Park.
