BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team (13-25, 7-13 GNAC) claimed a 7-6 victory on the opening game of the day but fell short 6-1 in the second game to the Saint Martin's Saints (14-26, 8-15 GNAC), drawing a series split on the weekend.
GAME 3: MSUB 7, SMU 6
It was the 'Jackets striking first in the third game of the series,
Zack Blaszak led things off with a base hit, followed by a single from
Jack Nehler, and an RBI single from
Payton Flynn. MSUB kept things going, scoring two more in the bottom of the second inning via RBI single from
Brock Molenda, and an RBI triple from
Bodee Wright. The Saints quickly answered with one in the top half of the third and three in the fourth to take their first lead of the game.
Kaden Kirshenbaum tied it up in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly, scoring Nehler who got on via double. Both squads traded punches in the sixth and then in the bottom of the seventh the 'Jackets tacked on what ultimately would win them the game. Kirshenbaum hit a go-ahead two-RBI homer which was all they needed as the Yellowjackets went on to take game three 7-6 over the Saints.
Jake Finkelstein got the start on the mound, going 3.2 innings with three strikeouts while allowing four earned runs and four hits.
Beau Burnett proved to be the only reliever MSUB needed, entering top of fourth with two outs and went the distance. Burnett showed complete dominance, allowing just one earned run and four hits, striking out five hitters, and earning the win in his 5.1 innings of work.
GAME 4: MSUB 1, SMU 6
The Saints came out for blood in the final game of the series, jumping out to an early 4-0 lead after the first inning and a half of play.
Berk Barnes answered with conviction, hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the second to get the Yellowjackets on the board. SMU would tally a run in the fourth and another in the seventh which was all they needed, taking game four 6-1 over the Yellowjackets.
Ryun Cross made the start in the final game of the series, where he was quickly relieved by
Cole Bertram. The two combined for three complete innings with three strikeouts while allowing five earned runs but just two hits.
Sage Wayment closed it out for the 'Jackets and gave up just one earned run and three hits while striking out two in his four innings of work.
KEY PERFORMANCES:
GAME 3
Kaden Kirshenbaum – 1-3, 3 RBI, R, HR, SF
Jack Nehler – 2-4, R, 2B
Ryan Jeffrey – 2-4, 3B, 2B
Payton Flynn – 2-4, RBI, R
GAME 4
Berk Barnes – 1-3, RBI, R, HR
Nate May – 2-2, BB
Cole Ayala – 2-3, 3B
THE BUZZ
GAME 3: Beau Burnett was named Intermountain Health Player of the day after earning his third win of the season. Burnett went 5.1 innings with five strikeouts while allowing just one earned run and four hits.
GAME 4: Sage Wayment was named Intermountain Health Player of the Day after throwing four complete innings with two strikeouts while allowing just one earned run and three hits.
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team is back on the road, headed to Nampa, Idaho for a four-game series at Northwest Nazarene on April 19
th.
