ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team (16-30, 10-18 GNAC) swept the Central Washington University Wildcats (20-24, 14-14 GNAC) on day two of their four game matchup, winning the series 3-1. The Yellowjackets kept themselves in contention for playoff baseball after a dominant 14-9 victory in game three, followed by a 7-6 comeback win in game four.
HEAR FROM WADDOUPS: "So proud of our guys for their never-give-up attitude today. Putting together five two-out hits in the top of the seventh in game two was outstanding. Evans did his job giving us an opportunity to win, and Baker and Wayment were fabulous out of the pen. Flynn hit the big home run in the sixth to bring us within one run that ended up being a big milestone, being his 27
th homer of his career. I loved our at bats the entire day especially from game two after our game one performance."
GAME 1: MSUB 14, CWU 9
The Yellowjackets offense was on full display in their game three victory, putting up 14 runs on 23 hits. Six of the nine hitters posted three hits apiece, including three doubles and three home runs in the nine-inning matchup.
James Anderson and
Zack Blaszak led the way, combining for six hits, eight RBIs, three runs, and two home runs.
The 'Jackets got out to an early 6-1 lead after putting up three in the first and three in the fourth. MSUB struck first in the opening frame via RBI double from
Payton Flynn, followed by a two RBI home run from Blaszak. Anderson did all the damage in the top of the third after hitting a three RBI bomb, scoring Nate May and
Ryan Jeffrey. The scoring didn't stop there as the Yellowjackets tacked on two more in the fifth and one in the sixth to make it a 9-2 ballgame. Blaszak brought two home on a base hit to left center and Anderson scored the only run in the sixth on an RBI double.
The Wildcats didn't lay down, as they scored five unanswered runs to bring them within two until the top of the ninth when the Yellowjackets added all the insurance that they needed. MSUB tallied five runs in the last inning on a two RBI homer from
Berk Barnes, an RBI single from Blaszak, an RBI sacrifice fly from
Jack Nehler, and another RBI double from Flynn. The Wildcats tried to amount a comeback but the 'Jackets held on to win their second straight game with a final score of 14-9.
Cy Miller made the game three start and gave the Yellowjackets their best starting outing of the weekend thus far. Miller went 6.0 complete innings with a pair of strikeouts while allowing five earned runs and earning the win. First out of the pen was
Kevin McClellan who had one strikeout and allowed four earned runs in his 2.2 innings of work. Closing it out in the bottom of the ninth in his third appearance of the weekend was
Lance Schaaf. As the Wildcats gained some momentum after scoring a pair of runs earlier in the inning, Schaaf closed the door after getting the final out of the game.
GAME 2: MSUB 7, CWU 6
The final game of the series was all Central Washington through the first five innings of play. The 'Jackets scored one run in the top of the second on an RBI base hit from
Parker Bleggi, but the Wildcats had controlled the game with a 4-1 lead until the sixth inning. In the top of the sixth Flynn not only brought their deficit within one run on a single swing, but also hit his 27
th home run of his MSUB career which tied for second all-time in the MSUB record books.
After a scoreless inning from the Wildcats the 'Jackets headed into the top of the final down by one, with playoff hopes on the line. With two outs, Wright gave the Yellowjackets some life with a base hit to center field followed by a double from Blaszak to advance Wright to third.
With their season on the line,
Jack Nehler hit the biggest double of his career, scoring Wright and Blaszak to take the 5-4 lead. The action didn't stop there as Flynn followed suite with an RBI double of his own, followed by an RBI base hit from
Ryan Jeffrey to take the 7-4 lead. The Wildcats again would score in the final inning of the game, but it wasn't enough to come back. The 'Jackets held on to win their third straight game 7-6 to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Andy Evans made the start in the final game of the weekend, going 3.2 innings while allowing four runs. Following Evans was
Brian Baker who had two strikeouts while allowing just two runs in his 2.2 innings of work. Closing it out for the Yellowjackets was no other than
Sage Wayment, who went 0.2 innings, collecting the final two outs and helping MSUB win their third straight game.
KEY PERFORMANCES:
GAME 1
Bodee Wright – 3-5, 3 R, BB
Zack Blaszak – 3-6, 4 RBI, 2 R, HR
Payton Flynn – 3-6, 2 RBI, 2 2B
Ryan Jeffrey – 3-5, 2 R, BB
James Anderson – 3-5, 4 RBI, R, 2B, HR
Parker Bleggi – 3-5, 2 R
GAME 2
Bodee Wright – 2-4, R
Jack Nehler – 1-3, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2B, BB
Payton Flynn – 2-4, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2B, HR
Ryan Jeffrey – 2-4, RBI, R
Parker Bleggi – 1-2, RBI, BB
Brian Baker – 2.2 IP, 2 SO, 2 R
THE BUZZ
GAME ONE: James Anderson was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after going 3-5 from the plate with four RBIs, one run, one double, and one home run.
GAME TWO: Payton Flynn was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after going 2-4 from the plate with three RBIs, two runs, a double, and his 27
th home run that tied for second all-time in MSUB history.
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team returns home for their final GNAC series of the year against the Western Oregon Wolves. The 'Jackets will be honoring their seniors just before first pitch which will be Thursday, May 2
nd at 1:00 PM.
