HAYWARD, Calif. – The Montana State University Billings baseball team finished off its California road trip with a pair of tight losses, falling to Cal State East Bay and San Francisco State to conclude the team's California road trip.
 
The day opened with a 7-2 loss for the Yellowjackets (3-2) in the series finale against the Pioneers (1-4), before following that up with an extra innings defeat to the Gators (1-0).
 
GAME 1: CSUEB 7, MSUB 2
 
The Yellowjackets would threaten to score in the first inning following a leadoff double from Bodee Wright, but would be unable to convert him into a run, while five runs, including a grand slam from East Bay in the bottom of the first would put the Yellowjackets in an early hole. The Yellowjackets would claw back a run in the top of the second inning with an RBI double from Parker Bleggi, and another in the third with an RBI single from Ryan Jeffrey, but two more runs in the bottom of the frame from East Bay would restore a five-run lead for the hosts.
 
The MSUB bullpen would step up down the stretch, not allowing a run after Cole Bakker stepped in for starter Sam Coxen in the fourth inning. The junior would go 2.2 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out a single batter. He would be followed by Kevin McClellan and Gunner Thompson on the mound, both of whom retired each batter they faced in 1.1 and 1 inning of work respectively. But despite ten hits and drawing three walks, the 'Jackets would be unable to score another run for the rest of the game, falling short but finishing with a 3-1 record in the team's season-opening series against the Pioneers.
 
Wright and Bleggi both finished 2-4, with Wright collecting a pair of doubles and Bleggi getting one double and an RBI. Nate McDonald batted 2-5 with a double, collecting the first multi-hit game of his MSUB career. Also collecting doubles were Zack Blaszak, Jack Nehler, and Kaden Kirshenbaum, who each had one hit in the game along with Jeffrey's RBI single.
 
HEAR FROM WADDOUPS: "Some defensive miscues early ended up being the difference in the game. We competed offensively but missed some opportunities to score runs in the middle innings. Coxen threw better than the results show. He really competed in his first collegiate outing. Bakker, McClellan and Thompson gave us a chance and kept putting up zeros. Our bull pen has been fantastic so far this season."
 
GAME 2: SFSU 11, MSUB 10
The two teams traded solo home runs in the opening inning of play, with Bodee Wright leading off with an opposite field blast for his first homer of the season. And after a scoreless second inning, the Yellowjacket bats would catch fire in the third, plating six runs. After loading the bases, Ryan Jeffrey would be hit by a pitch to score the go-ahead run. It would then be followed by a two-RBI double from Ryker Fortier, before Jason Wright would put an exclamation point on the inning with a three-run home run, his second home run of the season.
 
The 'Jackets would put two more runs across in the following inning after loading the bases once more, with Jeffrey collecting another RBI on a single, while Jason Wright would draw a walk to get another run home. Andrew White would find success on the mound early, allowing just two runs and five hits over the first four innings. But a five-run inning would chase White, with Jaxon Meyer coming in to stop the Gator's mid game rally, and maintaining a two-run lead for the 'Jackets heading into the final three innings. Fortier would collect another RBI on a single up the middle to add another MSUB run in the sixth, which would prove pivotal after a two-run double would help San Francisco State pull to within one. But after Lance Schaaf and Hayden Mullins helped MSUB hold onto that lead in relief, the Gators would get one back in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game. Andy Evans would be able to escape the jam, but it would send the game to extra innings, the first time the Yellowjackets have played extras this year. The tenth inning wouldn't go the 'Jackets way however, with MSUB going three up three down before a walk-off RBI double by the Gators would hand MSUB it's second defeat of the day.
 
Both Bodee Wright and Zack Blaszak would hit 3-6 in the game, with Wright collecting two runs and an RBI along with a home run and a double, while Blaszak had a run and two stolen bases. Jason Wright batted 1-3 with his home run and a pair of walks, scoring a run and totaling four RBIs while Fortier went 2-5 with three RBIs and a run. Jeffrey finished 1-4 with a run and two RBIs. Also collecting hits were Kaden Kirshenbaum and River Smith, who went 1-5 and 1-4 respectively. Nate McDonald reached base with three walks, turning them into two runs. On the mound, Andrew White finished with a pair of strikeouts and four earned runs allowed in 4.2 innings of work, while Meyer and Mullins both kept the Gators off the scoreboard in their appearances, with Mullins striking out two batters.
 
HEAR FROM WADDOUPS: "That is a game we let get away from us in the middle innings. We need to do a more consistent job defensively throughout the game. I loved the compete factor of our pitching staff and team overall today. Ryker Fortier has really stepped up and done a nice all-around job for us. Our lineup has shown the ability to score in a variety of ways. We just need to keep working on improving the details of the game."
 
THE BUZZ: Bodee Wright was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game for his game one effort, while Jason Wright was selected Player of the Game in game two.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets head over to Colorado next to kick off a series against Colorado State University Pueblo, beginning with a game on Thursday, February 6 at 2 PM. Live video of the game will be available here, and live statistics available here.