PUEBLO, Col. — The Montana State University Billings baseball team (3-2) dropped an 11–6 decision to CSU Pueblo (1-0) on Tuesday afternoon at Rawlings Field, as the ThunderWolves used a six-run fifth inning and a three-run sixth to gain separation in the series opener.
"White gave us a quality start," said head coach
Derek Waddoups. "The defensive miscues in the fifth inning really hurt letting them get out to a lead. I like how we continued to compete and scored some runs in the late innings. We will bounce back and take better care of the baseball tomorrow."
MSUB's offense was led by
Kaden Bertram, who turned in a standout performance at the plate. The senior designated hitter went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, three RBI and a run scored, accounting for half of the Yellowjackets' runs. Nathan McDonald also enjoyed a productive afternoon, finishing 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a run scored.
Kyle Henington added a triple and an RBI, while
Jason Wright provided a spark off the bench with a double, a walk and two runs scored.
Jack Nehler chipped in an RBI with a sacrifice fly as part of MSUB's seventh-inning push.
On the mound,
Andrew White started for MSUB and worked 4.1 innings, throwing four straight scoreless innings with one strikeout before making his exit in the bottom of the fifth.
Scott Klinker followed in relief, throwing one complete inning while
Malcolm Bartholomew closed out the game with 2.2 innings, limiting CSU Pueblo to two unearned runs on two hits while striking out three.
Game Flow
After five scoreless innings, CSU Pueblo broke through in the bottom of the fifth, stringing together four hits and taking advantage of traffic on the bases to plate six runs. The Yellowjackets followed with a run in the top of the sixth on Bertrams first double of the game, but he Thunderwolves responded with three more in the sixth, stretching the margin to 9–1 before MSUB mounted a late response.
The Yellowjackets first got on the board in the sixth when Wright reached base and scored on Bertram's RBI double to left center. MSUB added two more in the seventh, highlighted by Henington's RBI triple and Nehler's sacrifice fly, trimming the deficit to 9–3. In the eighth, the 'Jackets continued to apply pressure as Bertram launched a two-run home run to left before McDonald drove in another run with a double, briefly cutting the margin to 9–6.
MSUB's momentum was cut short there, as the Thunderwolves would score two more in the bottom of the eighth to regain a five-run lead. The 'Jackets tried to get things going in the top of the ninth with another Bertram double, but Pueblo would ultimately close it out to take the 11-6 victory.
STAT LEADERS
H:
Kaden Bertram (4)
RBI:
Kaden Bertram (3)
R:
Jason Wright (2)
IP:
Andrew White (4.1)
SO:
Malcolm Bartholomew (3)
THE BUZZ: Kaden Bertram was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after going 4-5 at the plate with three RBIs, two doubles, run, and one home run.
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets will stay in Pueblo, taking on the Thunderwolves again tomorrow for gam two of their series at 1:00 pm at Rawlings Field.
