LACEY, Wash. – The Montana State University Billings baseball team opened it's four-game series against Saint Martin's Friday, splitting the opening day of Great Northwest Athletic Conference action with a 16-3 victory in the first game of the day, before falling 7-6 in a tightly contested game.
 
The Yellowjackets (25-13, 16-6 GNAC) would jump out to an early lead in the opening game of the day, but the Saints (2-35, 2-19 GNAC) would slowly cut into the 'Jackets early advantage, closing the lead to one run heading into the late stages of the game. But a strong finish would see the Yellowjackets total 12 runs across the final two innings of action, flipping the script and helping MSUB claim victory in the first game of the day's doubleheader. The Saints would respond strong in the second game however, taking the lead in a big first inning and seeing off a late comeback attempt from the 'Jackets to claim victory in the final game of the day.
 
GAME ONE: MSUB 16, SMU 3
 
The Yellowjackets would take advantage of some early pitching struggles by the Saints, scoring four runs despite collecting just a single hit. The 'Jackets would reach base three times via walks, while also earning free passes to first on a pair of hit by pitches. They would score two runs before even collecting that hit, with Jarret Elmer singling down the third base line to drive in two more runs, and give the Yellowjackets a cushion. MSUB would keep hold of that lead  behind a standout performance from Jackson Betancourt, who would pitch seven innings of work and strike out five batters in the game. The Saints would chip into that lead as the game wore on however, scoring their first run in the bottom of the third inning on a sacrifice fly, before errors in the six inning would allow the Saints an opportunity to score a pair of unearned runs, closing the gap to just one run.
 
But the Yellowjackets would restore control of the game in the top of the eighth inning, with eight of the first nine batters up in the inning reaching base. MSUB would once again take advantage of the Saints defensive and pitching woes, reaching base on another walk and two hit by pitches, while MSUB would score runs on both a wild pitch and a passed ball, while an error would extend the inning further for the 'Jackets. The highlights of the inning would come off the bat of Zack Blaszak though, whose two-run single would be one of two hits by the 'Jackets in the inning. After totaling five runs in the eighth, MSUB would add seven more in the top of the ninth inning, scoring two more runs via walk and one from an error. Satch Kawakami would collect the first hit and RBIs of his Yellowjacket career with a two-run triple, before Parker Bleggi would send him home with an RBI single. The two innings would turn the game from a tightly contested battle to a blowout, with Gunner Thompson striking out three batters in the ninth inning as the 'Jackets took game on of the series.
 
Despite collecting just seven hits in the game, MSUB would let the Saints' pitching staff do the damage for them, walking 13 times as a team in the game, while reaching base additionally with seven beanballs. Bodee Wright would walk four total times in the contest, scoring three runs while matching the program record for walks in a game. Elmer would lead the Yellowjackets in hits, batting 2-4 with a pair of RBIs, while Bleggi would hit 1-4 with two runs, collect a walk, an RBI, and two runs. Blaszak would hit 1-5 with a pair of RBIs and runs each. Meanwhile, Ryan Jeffrey would hit 1-3, Kaden Bertram would hit 1-4, and Kawakami would hit 1-2 with two RBIs. Just one of the three runs allowed by Betancourt in his appearance would be credited as earned runs, while Andy Evans would hold the Saints off the scoreboard in his one inning of work.
 
HEAR FROM COACH WADDOUPS: "Betancourt did a nice job of changing speeds today and giving us another quality start. Gunner Thompson was light out in the ninth striking out the side. Our offense took to good at bats and was able to draw several free passes. Satch Kawasaki had a triple late that blew the game open. We saw several different guys step up today."
 
GAME TWO: SMU 7, MSUB 6
 
The Yellowjackets would jump out to another early lead in the top of the first inning, with freshman Nate McDonald opening his tally for the game with a three-run double. But that lead would be short lived, with the Saints scoring four runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. Two of those runs would be unearned, with a pair of defensive miscues by MSUB helping the Saints propel into the lead. From there the game would become a battle between the team's pitchers, with Brennen Chappell pitching a pair of scoreless frames on the mound, but the Saints would strike again in the bottom of the fourth, scoring a pair of runs on an RBI single to help the Saints expand their lead.
 
But MSUB would battle back as the game reached the sixth inning, with Nate May and Cole Ayala both reaching on walks to open the inning. Zack Blaszak would then send both of the runners home on a triple, pulling the Yellowjackets to within one run before Kaden Kirshenbaum would single to send Blaszak home, evening the game up at 6-6. But after being unable to break the deadlock in the seventh inning, the Saints would walk it off, hitting a solo home run on the first pitch they saw in the bottom of the seventh to hand MSUB the loss.
 
McDonald would finish the game 2-4 with three RBIs, while Blaszak would go 2-3 with two runs and an RBI, and Kirshenbaum would go 2-3 with a run and an RBI each. May and Ryker Fortier would each hit 1-3 with a run, while Cole Ayala would reach base twice, walking once while going 1-2 with a run. Chappell would throw four innings, allowing nine hits and six runs (four earned) while striking out three batters. Hayden Mullins would relieve him, throwing two innings and allowing three hits with two strikeouts, with the home run finishing as the only run the reliever would allow in the game.
 
HEAR FROM WADDOUPS: "I was proud of how we showed fight to tie up the game late after some bad luck got us behind early. We needed to do a better job executing the short game in the middle innings. We will bounce back tomorrow."
 
THE BUZZ: Gunner Thompson would be named Intermountain Health Player of the Game for game one, while Nate McDonald would be awarded Player of the Game for game two… MSUB will clinch it's ticket to the GNAC Championships with one more victory.
 
UP NEXT: MSUB will conclude it's series against the Saints Saturday, April 19, with another doubleheader scheduled to begin at 12 PM MT (11 AM PT). Live video of the games will be available here, while live statistics will be available here.