FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Saturday, February 25, 2017 Blazers out-slug ‘Jackets in 12-8 loss Saturday
MSUB can’t make a 7-3 lead last, as No. 15 Dixie State rallies for nine runs over the final six innings in a 12-8 loss for the Yellowjackets Saturday. ST. GEORGE, Utah – Caje Golden hit the first two home runs of his Montana State University Billings baseball career to help the Yellowjackets build a 7-3 lead over Dixie State University on Saturday, but the No. 15 Trailblazers rallied late and slugged their way to a 12-8 win over MSUB at Bruce Hurst Field. Game 2 of the three-game series started well for MSUB (2-7), as the ‘Jackets scored seven runs in the first three innings to take an early advantage. Dixie State scored three in the fourth and four more in the sixth however, and added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth to pick up its second straight win over the ‘Jackets. Ryan Lucero matched Golden with two home runs of his own, and Drew McLaughlin and Logan Porter each also homered and drove in a pair for the Blazers. Preston Hannay struck out four and walked none, while allowing three runs
on five hits in four innings of relief. Sean Hardman, Walker Williams and Jose Rosales-Rodarte combined for three strikeouts against one hit and one walk in three scoreless innings of relief to finish the game. “Offensively, our hitters were very disciplined early, and we went out and scored first,” said MSUB head coach Aaron Sutton. “We didn’t continue to have good at bats however, and we allowed them to get back into the game. Overall offensively, we had some guys with good games, but we just can’t let up later on in the game.” Designated hitter Kade Hall went 4-for-5 with his second home run of the year for the ‘Jackets, and Zach Robinson went 3-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored in the leadoff spot.
Freshman shortstop Caje
The ‘Jackets jumped on starter Matt Mosca, loading the bases with no outs in the top of the first inning. Landon Peterson and Michael Gahan followed with RBI-singles, and Conner Linebarger also drove in a run with a groundout to
give MSUB an early 3-0 lead. The Blazers (10-3) responded quickly with two runs in the bottom of the inning however, as Tyler Mildenberg doubled and Trey Kamachi and Miles Bice followed with run-scoring singles. MSUB starter Josh Harrington settled into a groove after allowing an RBI-single to Mildenberg in the second, retiring the side in order in the third. Golden’s first-career home run came in a full count while leading off the second, as he cleared the fence in left to drive Mosca from the game after just 1-plus innings pitched. Ryan Myers drove in Robinson with a groundout to make the score 5-2, and MSUB added two more runs in the third on Golden’s second home run of the game. “Caje was ready to go, and he played very aggressive,” Sutton commented on the ninth hitter in MSUB’s lineup. “He leaves it all out on the line, and we need more of our guys to play that way as well.” Lucero lifted a solo home run to right to get DSU a run back in the fourth, and a two-run shot by McLaughlin made the score 7-6 while ending Harrington’s day. The freshman right-hander struck out four, allowing six runs on nine hits with no walks in 3 1/3 innings for the ‘Jackets. Steen Fredrickson retired five straight hitters into the sixth inning, before Lucero struck again with another solo home run to tie the score at 7-7. The Blazers weren’t done there however, as Porter added a two-run blast later in the inning to give the home team its first lead of the day up 10-7. Plating an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh, DSU provided a four-run cushion for Rosales-Rodarte who worked around a leadoff walk and put up a zero in the eighth. Tyler Baker doubled home DSU’s final run of the day in the bottom of the eighth, ensuring that Hall’s solo shot in the ninth wouldn’t threaten the Blazers’ lead.
The Trailblazers played error-free defense behind their pitching staff, which allowed only four baserunners and none past first base with the exception of Hall’s home run over the final six innings of play. Though the ‘Jackets committed four errors defensively, 10 of DSU’s 12 runs in the game went down as earned. THE BUZZ: Golden was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…it was the 14th two-homer game in MSUB baseball history…MSUB is 3-20 all-time against Dixie State…Robinson upped his modest hitting streak to seven games with the big day at the plate. NEXT UP: The series wraps up Sunday with another 9-inning game scheduled for noon. Live statistics will be available online through this link. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--