BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team (17-31, 11-19 GNAC) split on the day against the Western Oregon Wolves (25-19, 19-11 GNAC).
Game one featured the longest GNAC game in conference history after going 15 innings with the Wolves pulling out the 9-8 victory, knocking MSUB out of post-season contention. The Yellowjackets turned it around in game two, claiming a 4-2 victory over Western Oregon to earn a split on the day.
HEAR FROM WADDOUPS: "Game one was a disappointing way to get knocked out of post-season contention. Betencourt and Wayment were outstanding on the mound, its just too bad we had an unfortunate ninth inning that let them back into the game. Western Oregon did a great job battling throughout the game, but we had opportunities in extra innings and just couldn't cash in. Flynn has been a clutch hitter for us throughout his whole career, climbing the ladder to number two for home runs is an outstanding accomplishment. I love him as a man, as a teammate, and I will miss him dearly after this year."
GAME 1: MSUB 8, WOU 9
After the Wolves struck first in the opening game of the weekend, the Yellowjackets responded with seven runs in the next four innings to take the early 7-1 lead. Following a
Jack Nehler single,
Payton Flynn got the 'Jackets on the board with a sacrifice fly, scoring
Zack Blaszak.
Ryan Jeffrey scored the second run of the inning via RBI base hit to score Nehler. MSUB scratched one across in the second following a leadoff double from
Berk Barnes who would come around to score on a sacrifice fly from
Parker Bleggi. Flynn did it himself in the bottom of the third, leading it off with a double of his own and came around to score on a wild pitch.
The Yellowjackets tacked on three more in the fourth after an RBI single from Nehler with who else than Flynn scoring two more on a two RBI home run. Both squads traded punches in the sixth and after that the Wolves started to amount their comeback. Western Oregon scored one in the seventh and five in the top of the ninth to tie the game and send it to extra innings. Free baseball is what the fans got, as the game continued for five more scoreless innings before the Wolves struck in the top of the 15
th and held on to take the 9-8 game one victory.
Jackson Betancourt made the game one start and nearly went the distance, throwing eight complete innings with four strikeouts before he was relieved by
Sage Wayment. Wayment nearly threw a complete games worth out of the pen, closing it out for MSUB with seven complete innings out of the pen. Wayment was stellar, dishing out six strikeouts while allowing zero runs and just five total hits.
GAME 2: MSUB 4, WOU 2
After a pair of scoreless innings from both squads the 'Jackets lineup dominated the middle innings, scoring two unanswered runs in the third and two in the fourth. The Yellowjackets loaded the bases with Bleggi scoring the first run on an error from the Wolves, followed by Anderson scoring on a hit by pitch from
Ryan Jeffrey. Following a walk from Barnes, a single from
Cole Ayala, and an Anderson walk, Blaszak did the rest with a two RBI base hit to make it a 4-0 ballgame. Western Oregon scratched one across in the fifth and one in the sixth but were unable to convert in the seventh. The 'Jackets threw up a much needed zero in the top of the seventh, holding on to take the 4-2 victory in game two.
Beau Burnett made the start in the second game of the day, going five complete innings with four strikeouts and held the Wolves to just six hits and one earned run. Closing out the final two innings for the Yellowjackets was senior
Brian Baker who had a pair of strikeouts while allowing just two hits and one earned run in his 2.0 innings of work.
HEAR FROM WADDOUPS: "Burnett was tough as nails today; it was great for him to come out and give us a chance to win. We did a nice job with our approach, being able to punch across a few runs in multiple innings. It was awesome to see Baker come in and get the save in his last collegiate weekend."
KEY PERFORMANCES:
GAME 1
Jackson Betancourt – 8.0 IP, 4 SO, 7 ER
Sage Wayment – 7.0 IP, 6 SO, 0 ER, 5 H
Zack Blaszak – 2-5, 2 R, 3 BB, 3 SB
Jack Nehler – 3-7, 2 RBI, 2 R, SF, SB
Payton Flynn – 4-7, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2B, HR
GAME 2
Beau Burnett – 5.0 IP, 4 SO, 1 ER
Brian Baker – 2.0 IP, 2 SO, 1 ER, 2 H
Zack Blaszak – 3-3, 2 RBI
James Anderson – 1-3, 2 R, BB, SB
Berk Barnes – 1-2, R, BB
THE BUZZ
GAME ONE: Payton Flynn was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game for game one after posting four hits, three RBIs, two runs, a double, and a home run. Flynn's home run put him at 2
nd all-time (28) in MSUB history for career home runs.
GAME TWO: Beau Burnett was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game for game two after posting four strikeouts while allowing just one earned run in five complete innings of work.
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket baseball team is back at it again tomorrow for their final double header of conference play against the Western Oregon Wolves. The Yellowjackets will honor their seniors a half hour prior to their 12 PM game three start time for their senior day ceremony.
