BILLINGS, Mont.- In their home opener, the Montana State University Billings baseball team exploded for 18 hits and used a decisive five-run third inning to defeat Regis University 10-7 Wednesday afternoon at Pirtz Field.
 
The win evened the Yellowjackets' record at 4-4 overall, while the Rangers dropped to 5-5 on the season. MSUB scored 10 runs on 18 hits, drew six walks, and tallied seven extra-base hits in a well-rounded offensive effort to begin the home series. On the mound, the Yellowjackets' pitching staff combined for six scoreless innings with five strikeouts, using five different arms to secure both the win and a save.
 
On the mound, Sam Coxen earned his first win of the season and eighth career win, throwing five innings and allowing two earned runs with two strikeouts and one walk. Blake Sweat followed with two innings in relief, giving up two earned runs on two hits with one strikeout and one walk. Bartholomew worked a scoreless eighth inning with a pair of strikeouts while Hayden Mullins tossed a perfect ninth inning to record the save.
 
"Coxen again gave us a quality start, and I loved how Sweat came in and attacked the zone," said head coach Derek Waddoups. "Bartholomew and Mullins closed the door with and were outstanding in executing their sequences."
 
Kyle Henington led the offensive surge, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, two RBI and a stolen base. Nate McDonald finished 1-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. Jack Nehler was 3-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored, while River Smith went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored.
 
Espn Fisher added a 2-for-5 performance with a double and an RBI. Keeton Bell reached base four times, finishing 1-for-2 with a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base. Kaden Bertram went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk, and Ryker Fortier was 2-for-5 with a double and a stolen base.
 
"We had great offensive production today with every guy in the lineup getting a hit," coach Waddoups said. "When we can extend the lineup and get turnover production it makes us really tough to pitch to. Henington had a great day with four hits in the leadoff spot for us and our outfield made some great running plays to shut down innings."

Home Opener Dub😤

Yellowjackets take game one of the series with a 10-7 victory over Regis University!

Kyle Henington was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game!#MSUBSPORTS | #MSUBBASEBALL pic.twitter.com/PGIQiWdcEp

— MSUB Baseball (@MSUBBaseball) February 13, 2026

 
Game Flow
Regis struck first in the second inning, capitalizing on two MSUB errors to plate a pair of unearned runs and take a 2-0 lead. The 'Jackets wasted little time responding in the bottom half as Bertram was hit by a pitch and Smith worked a walk to spark the rally. Bell delivered an RBI single to center to get MSUB on the board before McDonald lifted a sacrifice fly to even the score at 2-2. Henington followed with an RBI single, giving MSUB a 3-2 advantage after two innings.
 
The momentum continued in the third. Nehler ripped his second double of the afternoon to start the inning, and Smith followed with an RBI double down the right-field line. Fisher copied and pasted with an RBI double to center to extend the lead before McDonald broke the game open, crushing a three-run home run to left field to cap the five-run frame and push the score to 8-2.
 
Regis answered in the fourth with three runs on three hits, trimming the deficit to 8-5, but MSUB wouldn't let up. The 'Jackets added an insurance run in the fifth when Henington launched a solo home run to right field, and then pushed across another run in the sixth after Smith doubled and advanced on a fielding error, allowing Bertram to score.
 
The Rangers made one final push in the seventh, beginning the inning with a triple before a two-run home run cut the lead to 10-7. However, the MSUB bullpen locked in from there. Bartholomew retired the side in order in the eighth, and Mullins closed the door in the ninth, inducing two groundouts and a flyout to secure his second save of the season.
 
STAT LEADERS
Hits: Kyle Henington (4)
Runs: Three players tied (2)
RBI's: Nate McDonald (4)
Innings Pitched: Sam Coxen (5.0)
Strikeouts: Sam Coxen (2); Malcolm Bartholomew (2)
Win/Save: Sam Coxen (W); Hayden Mullins (S)
 
THE BUZZ: Kyle Henington was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after going 4-5 at the plate with two RBI's, two doubles, one run, one home run, and one stolen base.
 
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings baseball team will return to action tomorrow with a doubleheader against Regis University with first pitch set for 1:00 pm at Pirtz Field.