March 7, 2008
 
Yellowjackets and Marauders Spilt Twinbill

     Game One Box Score
     Game Two Box Score
     Season Statistics 

CHANDLER, Ariz. – Montana State Billings earned a come-from-behind split with University of Mary Friday afternoon as the Yellowjackets played their final two games in the RussMatt Invitational. Mary won the opener 2-1, while the Jackets came from a 3-0 deficit to win 4-3 in their final at bat.

Mary put two runners on second and third courtesy of a double and a fielder’s choice error with nobody out in the second inning of game one. Yellowjacket hurler Jeremy Knowles settled down and got a groundout and a strikeout. Nine-hole hitter, Ryan Lee, grounded out, getting the Yellowjackets out of the jam.

A leadoff home run by Steve Larson put the Yellowjackets up 1-0 in the top of the third.

Mary tied the game at one with a triple in the bottom of the fifth from leadoff hitter Andy Leer. Nate Watson roped a double down the left field line to put the Marauders up 2-1.

The Yellowjackets had one last chance in the top of the seventh. Jeff Ridgeway drew a leadoff walk to begin the inning. Ridgeway was caught stealing second and Larson grounded out to end the game.

Knowles (1-1) takes the loss for the Yellowjackets, going six innings, allowing six hits, two earned runs, one walk and eight strikeouts.
In the nightcap, Mary got on the board first in the top of the second inning with a leadoff solo blast from Tyler Liffrig off MSUB pitcher Steve Scott. Despite giving up the run, Scott had five strikeouts in the first two innings.

The Marauders put two on in the top of the fourth for Brandon Quintas who doubled to the gap, scoring two runs for a 3-0 lead. Scott added to his strikeout total as he retired all three outs by strikeouts in the inning.

Matt Schoonover led off the bottom of the fourth with a deep double to right field. Moments later, Levi Johnson hit a RBI double to get the Yellowjackets on the board, 3-1.

The Yellowjackets continued to chip away at the deficit in the bottom of the fifth inning as Nick Rupert lined a single down the left side and came around to score on an error by the first baseman, for a 3-2 score.

The Marauders put runners on second and third with one gone in the top of the sixth, but Scott got the second out by his 15th strikeout. Scott got out of the jam with a lazy fly ball to center field as UM stranded its fourth and fifth runners of the game.

Schlender led off the bottom of the inning with a seeing-eye single through the left side. He then reached third on a two base throwing error by the catcher with nobody out. Larson roped a single through the middle, scoring Schlender to tie the game at three.
Joe Via led off the bottom of the seventh with a single to right field. Rupert laid down the sacrifice bunt, but Mary hurler Mike Feldman couldn’t handle the ball as Rupert was safe at first and pinch-runner Ridgeway advanced to third with nobody out. Feldman intentionally walked Cole Pryor to load the bases. A wild pitch by Feldman scored the game-winning run, 4-3.

Scott (2-1) takes the victory as he set the school-record for strikeouts in a game with 15. The previous best was 11 by Kyle McBride. Schoonover and Johnson led the team with two hits each.

The Yellowjackets return home and will open conference play next weekend at Saint Martin’s.  The home opener for MSUB is scheduled for Tues., Mar. 25 at 12 p.m. against Colorado Christian at Pirtz Field.