GRAND JUNCTION, Col. – A dominant six-inning performance by true freshman Sam Coxen guided the Montana State University Billings baseball team to a 5-1 victory over Colorado Mesa University (7-7) earlier this afternoon. The Yellowjackets improved to 9-7 on the season with the win, securing game four of the series and limiting the Mavericks to just one run—five fewer than their season average.
 
Coxen stole the spotlight with a stellar outing, allowing only one earned run on three hits in his six innings of work. Despite Colorado Mesa's potent offense, which averages nearly 10 hits per game, Coxen held the Maverick lineup to just three hits and zero walks. Hayden Mullins and Andy Evans followed up with a flawless bullpen performance, combining for three hitless, scoreless innings with one strikeout to close out the win.
 
On the offensive side of the ball, Bodee Wright led the way with two hits in his four plate appearances while driving in a pair of runs. Also with two RBI's was Jack Nehler who lit the spark for the Yellowjackets, hitting a two-run bomb in the top of the fourth to give MSUB the advantage. Kaden Kirshenbaum, Zack Blaszak, and Jarret Elmer also contributed to the hits category with Elmer putting the game away via solo home run in the top of the ninth inning.
 

Game Four Dub👊

Yellowjackets take the final game of the series, downing the Colorado Mesa Mavericks 5-1!

Sam Coxen was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game!#msubsports | #msubbaseball pic.twitter.com/5L43HJAORR

— MSUB Baseball (@MSUBBaseball) March 1, 2025

HEAR FROM WADDOUPS: "Our pitching staff was electric today, Coxen was strong throughout his outing and commanded his pitches really well. It was great to see Mullins and Evans come in to slam the door while making some great defensive plays behind all of our pitchers. Nehler had the big home run in the fourth that really brought out our energy and confidence the rest of the game. In the first and second innings we had a few big plays in the outfield with Jeffreys diving catch while Fortier and Kirshenbaum were able to cut some balls off to limit extra bases. Elmer did a really good job of controlling the game behind the plate, catching an all around great game and hitting a late home run that put the game away."

Ryan Jeffrey with the #WEBGEM to get the Jackets out of the second inning!#msubsports | #msubbaseball pic.twitter.com/2C9YYBdKAs

— MSUB Baseball (@MSUBBaseball) March 1, 2025

 
After the Mavericks struck first in the bottom of the first, both squads were held scoreless for two straight innings. This was until the top of the fourth when Blaszak got things started by drawing a walk, followed by Nehler clearing the center field wall with a two RBI home run to give the Yellowjackets a 2-1 lead. From there, Coxen retired nine straight batters, ending his day with six innings pitched with three strikeouts while allowing just one earned run.
 
The 'Jackets were able to add some insurance in the top of the seventh inning, scoring two runs on one hit, a pair of walks, and a hit by pitch. Ryan Jeffrey led things off by drawing a walk, followed by River Smith drawing a hit by pitch and Parker Bleggi loading the bases via walk. Wright did the rest, driving Jeffrey and Smith home on a two out two RBI single to extend their lead to three.
 
Mullins was first out of the bullpen for MSUB, collecting six straight outs while allowing zero runs, zero hits, and zero walks, sending his lineup back to work heading into the top of the ninth. Elmer did exactly that, adding another insurance run after hitting a two out solo bomb to give the Yellowjackets a 5-1 lead heading into the final half inning of play. In the bottom of the ninth, coach Waddoups went back to the pen to bring in his closer Andy Evans. The senior right hander retired three straight hitters with a strikeout to complete the game four victory.
 
STATISTIC LEADERS
HR: Jack Nehler (1); Jarret Elmer (1)
RBI: Jack Nehler (2); Bodee Wright (2)
BB: Zack Blaszak (1); Ryan Jeffrey (1); Parker Bleggi (1)
IP: Sam Coxen (6.0); Hayden Mullins (2.0); Andy Evans (1.0)
SO: Sam Coxen (3); Andy Evans (1)
ER: Hayden Mullins (0); Andy Evans (0); Sam Coxen (1)
 
THE BUZZ: Sam Coxen was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after earning his first collegiate win with six complete innings pitched, three strikeouts, three hits, and just one earned run.
 
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings baseball team will head to Nampa, Idaho on March 7^th to open up Great Northwest Athletic Conference play against the #RV Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks. Live statistics for the GNAC matchup can be found here, and the live stream link can be found here.