FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Saturday, February 18, 2017 ‘Jackets pick up first win of 2017 in split on Saturday
Picking up the first win in program history against a nationally-ranked opponent, MSUB defeats No. 12 Colorado Mesa 95 in Game 2 to earn a doubleheader split and win their first game of the 2017 season Saturday. GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Three runs each in the fifth and sixth innings helped the Montana State University Billings baseball team break a 5-5 tie and earn its first win of the season in a 9-5, Game 2 triumph over host No. 12 Colorado Mesa University at Suplizio Field on Saturday. The win helped MSUB (1-5) split a doubleheader against the Mavericks (5-2), after CMU took Game 1 on Saturday 13-6. It was also the first-ever win for the Yellowjackets against a team ranked national in the NCAA Division II top-25. Senior Zach Robinson went 6-for-9 with four runs scored and two RBIs in the doubleheader, and newcomer Ryan Myers homered twice and drove in five runs in the Game 2 victory.
“The biggest thing was that our guys kept competing, and we got that momentum shifted back into our dugout in the second game,” said MSUB head coach Aaron Sutton, who earned his first-career victory as skipper of the Yellowjackets. “Our pitchers in Game 2 were outstanding, and Ryan had a great day at the plate for us.” Game 1 – Colorado Mesa 13, MSU Billings 6 Robinson went 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs, and Landon Peterson also had two RBIs to lead the ‘Jackets at the plate. Robinson started his big day at the plate with a single up the middle in the top of the first, and came around to score on an RBI-double by Adam Cox. The Mavs responded in the bottom of the first, as PJ Gonzalez came through with a clutch, two-out, two-run double to right that gave the host a 2-1 lead. MSUB starter Matt Hape shook off the early runs, retiring the side in order in the second and pitching around a pair of baserunners in the third to put up another zero. CMU blew the game open in the fourth however, scoring four runs with one out and five more with two outs to take a commanding 11-1 advantage. Kyle Serrano, Will Dixon, and JJ Carr each had two-run hits in the big inning, during which CMU sent 13 batters to the plate. Hape’s afternoon ended allowing eight runs – four earned – on nine hits with three strikeouts and one walk in 3 2/3 innings pitched. Senior Zach Robinson picked up six hits in Saturday’s doubleheader.
Meanwhile, CMU starter Kyle Leahy made it through five strong inning allowing five hits and zero walks with five strikeouts to set himself up to
earn the victory. The Yellowjackets’ bats were kept quiet until the seventh inning, when Robinson struck again this time with an RBIdouble that scored Alec Leighton and Caje Golden. With two outs, Peterson delivered a two-run double to left center, as MSUB showed signs of life and cut the deficit to 11-4. The Mavs got two runs back in the bottom of the frame however, on a two-run home run by designated hitter Trevin Reynolds. Two more runners reached with two outs, but left-hander Tanner Watson ended the threat by coming on and striking out Dixon in a full count. MSUB continued to chip into the lead, as Robinson drove in another run with a single and Ryan Myers collected his first career hit as a Yellowjacket with an RBI-single in the eighth to make it 13-6. The comeback effort stopped there however, as closer Eli Thornquist pitched a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts to give the Mavericks their fourth straight victory. Serrano led CMU with three hits in the game, while four different players had multiple RBIs. Seven of the Mavericks’ 15 hits went for extra bases.
Talon Derrick made his MSUB debut, tossing three innings in relief before handing the ball off to Watson. Game 2 – MSU Billings 9, Colorado Mesa 5 (7 Innings) Myers got the ‘Jackets on the board in the top of the first inning with his first-career home run, taking CMU starter Chris Ramirez deep to left field and driving in Robinson after another double. The junior left-hander settled down after that however, striking out the side in the second and putting up zeroes in the third and fourth frames as well. The ‘Jackets got to Ramirez for three runs in the fifth, and drove his pitch count up over the century mark to end his day. He wound up with a dozen strikeouts and three walks, allowing five runs on five hits in five innings pitched. Myers was again responsible for a big inning, as he crushed a three-run blast with two outs in the fifth to give MSUB a 5-3 lead. The big swing of the bat gave pitcher Josh Harrington some breathing room, after coming on in relief of an injured Adam Cox with one out in the first inning and tossing four strong innings in relief. The redshirt freshman was driven from the game on a two-run home run by Bligh Madris in the fifth inning, after one strikeout and one walk and five runs allowed on seven hits. Senior Bryon Baker continued the impressive start to his final season, striking out five Mavericks and allowing just two hits in 2 2/3 stellar innings to earn his first win of the year.
Senior Bryon Baker logged his second straight scoreless appearance to start the 2017 season, and picked up the victory in Game 2 on Saturday.
The ‘Jackets loaded the bases to start the sixth inning, before Watson was hit by a pitch to drive in a run and make it 6-5. MSUB plated two more runs on a wild pitch and an error, giving Baker a three-run lead to work with. Matt Dillon came through with an RBI-single in the top of the seventh, providing a further insurance run that helped secure the victory. Four of the final six outs Baker recorded came via the strikeout, as he didn’t allow a runner past second base in his dominant outing. Madris and Serrano each had three hits for the Mavericks, who used three pitchers in relief over the final two innings. John Beaudrie took the loss, allowing three runs on only one hit in 1/3 innings pitched. Brick Paskiewicz threw the final 1 1/3 for CMU, allowing only Dillon’s single and striking out a batter. THE BUZZ: Robinson was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…it was Robinson’s second career fourhit game as a Yellowjacket…MSUB had been 0-11 against nationally-ranked opponents before Saturday’s win…Cox, a preseason All-American, was lifted from the game after just 10 pitches due to an arm injury. AHEAD: The series wraps up with a single, 9-inning game on Sunday scheduled for a 10 a.m. first pitch. Live video and live statistics will be available online via www.msubsports.com.
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