PUEBLO, Col. –
Ryan Jeffrey strikes again with a grand slam in the top of the sixth to help lead the Montana State University Billings baseball team to a comeback 11-7 victory over CSU Pueblo (4-4) in the final game of their four-game series. The Yellowjackets improved to 6-3 on the year after winning their second series of the season 3-1 over the Thunderwolves, marking their best start since 2020.
After falling behind 6-0, the Yellowjackets exploded with a seven run fourth inning backed behind a two RBI double from
Bodee Wright. After the Thunderwolves tied it back up, Jeffrey hit what proved to be the go-ahead grand slam to help lead the 'Jackets to an 11-7 victory. Allowing just one earned run and throwing 7.2 innings out of the bullpen was
Malcolm Bartholomew who earned the win on the day after shutting out Pueblo's offense for the final five innings of play.
HEAR FROM WADDOUPS: "So many guys stepped up for us this weekend; to get down early and show the resilience to come back and win shows a lot about the character of this group. Malcolm did a fantastic job of just changing speeds to keep them off balance. All weekend, our pitching staff did a good job of competing in the strike zone and continue to show their growth and improvement. We took quality at bats throughout the four-game stretch and just found ways to score runs. We were tough up and down the lineup and had different guys step up in each game. It was a great series win against a high-quality Pueblo team."
Freshman
Sam Coxen took the mound for the Yellowjackets, making his second start of the season after the 'Jackets offense went three up-three down in the top of the first. The Thunderwolves were first to strike, piling on three runs in the bottom half. Coach Waddoups was quick to the bullpen the following inning, bringing in Bartholomew, but not before Coxen went 1.1 innings with a pair of strikeouts. With runners in scoring position, Bartholomew made quick work and sent his lineup back to work heading into the top of the third down 3-0.
After another three spot from the Thunderwolves in the bottom of the third inning, the Yellowjackets exploded with seven runs on five hits to take a one run lead.
Nate McDonald plated the 'Jackets first run of the game, scoring
Jack Nehler on an RBI single, followed by Artzer drawing an RBI hit by pitch to score
Kaden Kirshenbaum.
Parker Bleggi brought home another on an RBI single scoring McDonald and Wright broke it open with a two RBI double. MSUB didn't stop there as Nehler drew an RBI walk to tie it up and Kirshenbaum scored Wright on an RBI fielder's choice to take the 7-6 lead.
After a quick response from Pueblo in the bottom of the fourth to tie up the game at seven apiece both squads went scoreless until the top of the sixth when
Ryan Jeffrey hit an opposite field grand slam, scoring Kirshenbaum, Nehler, and Wright to take an 11-7 advantage. The Yellowjackets were held scoreless for remainder of the game but doing the same to the Thunderwolves offense was Bartholomew. The big lefty threw five straight scoreless innings and went on to earn the win after 7.2 innings of work with three strikeouts while allowing just one earned run.
STATISTIC LEADERS
HITS: Bodee Wright (2);
Ryan Jeffrey (2);
Nate McDonald (2);
Parker Bleggi (2)
RBI: Ryan Jeffrey (4);
Bodee Wright (2); Five players tied (1)
RUNS: Bodee Wright (2);
Jack Nehler (2);
Kaden Kirshenbaum (2);
Ryan Jeffrey (2)
IP: Malcom Bartholomew (7.2);
Sam Coxen (1.1)
SO: Malcolm Bartholomew (3);
Sam Coxen (2)
ER: Malcolm Bartholomew (1);
Sam Coxen (3)
THE BUZZ: Malcolm Bartholomew was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after throwing 7.2 innings out of the bullpen with three strikeouts while allowing just one earned run to earn his second win of the season.
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings baseball team heads back to Colorado for some more Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference competition. The Yellowjackets will take on the Regis University Rangers in a four-game series, starting on February 13
th at 2:00 PM. Live statistics can be found
here, and the live stream link can be found
here.
