Golden swings of the bat lift MSUB in DH split Saturday night

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Saturday, April 22, 2017 Golden swings of the bat lift MSUB in DH split Saturday night

A solo home run and two-run double by Caje Golden in Game 2 Saturday lift MSUB to a 6-2 win over Saint Martin’s, as the Yellowjackets and Saints split a GNAC doubleheader at Dehler Park.

BILLINGS, Mont. – Caje Golden delivered a two-run, bases-loaded double in the bottom of the sixth inning in Game 2 Saturday night at Dehler Park, helping the Montana State University Billings baseball team to a doubleheader split against Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent Saint Martin’s University.

Golden homered earlier in Game 2 to give MSUB a 2-1 lead, before his double sparked a four-run, sixth-inning rally that gave the ‘Jackets a 6-2 win in the nightcap. SMU collected a 6-2 win in the opener, behind an 11-strikeout effort on the mound by sophomore left-hander Aaron Shoup over eight innings. “We just had to come out and win this game, and there was a sense of urgency with this one,” Golden commented after his late-night heroics. “They played good ball today too, but the second game we came out and knew we had to get a win.”

MSUB moved to 15-25 on the year with the split, and remains in fourth place in the GNAC standings at 13-17 in league play. The Saints meanwhile are 13-21 on the year, and are just below the ‘Jackets at 10-16 in league play. “Give credit to Saint Martin’s, as they came out and threw the first punch,” commented MSUB head coach Aaron Sutton. “They got us and played extremely well in that first game, but Game 2 we were able to regroup and get a really gutsy win.”

Zach Robinson went 4-for-8 in the doubleheader with three doubles, and Jalen Garcia hit his second home run of the year in Game 2.

Game 1 – Saint Martin’s 6, MSU Billings 2 The first pitch of the day was delivered at 4:58 p.m. after rain on Friday pushed the start time back, and Brandon Witherspoon drilled a leadoff double into the left-center gap to set the tone for the Saints. SMU scored two runs in the opening frame on four wild pitches and a balk, and never relinquished the lead in the opener.

MSUB went 0-for-9 at the plate with two outs and at least one runner in scoring position in Game 1, its two runs each coming on an RBIgroundout.

Shoup put to rest a leadoff walk and ensuing bunt single by Casey Merritt in the bottom of the first, striking out five of the next six batters he faced to help SMU maintain the lead into the third inning.

Garcia brought home MSUB’s first run of the day, as Max Hartgraves crossed the plate on the former’s ground ball to third base.

The Saints responded immediately however, as Zach Raczok roped an RBI-single into center and Witherspoon delivered a two-out, two-run single to cap the three-run fourth inning.

Tanner Watson threw five strong innings for the ‘Jackets in Merritt came through with an RBI-groundout to make the score 5-2 in Game 2 Saturday. the fifth, but it was the final run of the game for the ‘Jackets. MSUB stranded five runners the rest of the way, including three in the bottom of the ninth as SMU closer Luke Hare pitched through the tying run at the plate to earn his fourth save of the season.

Shoup gave up seven hits and walked just one in his eight innings, and reached a new career high with his 11 strikeouts.

MSUB starter Cody Cooper struck out five in six-plus innings, giving up six runs on seven hits with five walks and 119 pitches. Jarod Paul, Talon Derrick, and TJ Andricopoulos combined to throw the final three innings, allowing just two hits and no runs.

Game 2 – MSU Billings 6, Saint Martin’s 2 Merritt backed up Golden’s game-winning double with a two-run double of his own, plopping a high popup down the left-field line to turn the bottom of the sixth into a four-run frame.

Reliever Jared Winslow worked around a one-out walk in the top of the seventh, dialing up a double-play ball that was handled by Golden, Hartgraves, and Paul to help MSUB salvage the split.

Tanner Watson pitched into the sixth inning for the ‘Jackets, striking out a pair and giving up two runs on five hits. Garcia had a pair of spectacular catches in right field, the first coming and a sinking line drive into the right-center gap off the bat of Shaan Kothari. The sophomore lunged forward at the last second and snared the ball off the outfield grass to take away extra bases.

Garcia then made a similarly impressive grab in the next frame on a sacrifice lineout by Alec Hagerman in the top of the third inning. Sliding forward to pick another drive out of the air, Garcia then rose and was just a half-step late with his accurate throw to home as the Saints took a 1-0 lead.

Garcia tied the game in the bottom of the inning however, crushing a long solo home run over the fence in left center to make the score 1-1.

Watson emphatically ended the fifth inning with a three-pitch strikeout, stranding the bases loaded as the Saints threatened to pull ahead. Golden made it a 2-1 ballgame with his seventh home run of the year in the bottom of the fifth, but the Saints equalized on a sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Trevor Young in the top of the sixth.

An error by the Saints and a double to right-center by Matt Dillon set the stage for the heroics by Golden and Merritt, as the ‘Jackets capitalized late to pull out the win.

SMU starter Tanner Inouye allowed two runs on five hits with two strikeouts and no walks in 4 2/3 innings, before giving way to Mickey Walker for the final 1 1/3 innings.

THE BUZZ: Golden was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…he now ranks second on the team with seven home runs, and is tied for third in the GNAC…the appearance was Winslow’s first on the mound since March 24.

NEXT UP: The series finale has been pushed to 11 a.m. Sunday morning, with another doubleheader on tap from Dehler Park. Live video with play-by-play commentary and live statistics will be available online through MSUB’s Stretch Internet portal here.

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