Yellowjackets Swept at Grand Canyon 7-1, 12-11

Game Three

Game Four

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Montana State Billings baseball team dropped both games of the final doubleheader at Grand Canyon University Thursday afternoon.  The Antelopes won the opener 7-1 and scored the game winner in the bottom of the seventh for the second time in the series for a 12-11 victory in the nightcap.  With the losses, the Yellowjackets fell to 0-4 on the year, while GCU improved to 10-6.

MSUB’s Jeff Ridgeway led the way with four hits in the doubleheader going 4 for 8 with two runs scored and an RBI.  Jordan Kessler went 3 for 5 with three RBI and two runs scored.  Gavin Tucker led the way for GCU going 3 for 5 with two RBI, three runs scored and a double on the day.

The ‘Lopes scored four runs in the first two innings of the opener off Yellowjacket hurler Ryan Pollock.  The Yellowjackets benefitted from some good early defense behind Pollock as Patch Wirtzberger threw a laser through the cutoff man, first baseman Dusty Noraker, who gunned down Jay Green at the plate to preserve a scoreless game.  GCU got on the board in the inning, however, courtesy of a wild pitch and a passed ball for a 1-0 lead. 

MSUB tied the game at one in the top of the second courtesy of a Jaret Chatwood double to left and a Ty Sobieraj RBI single for a 1-1 score.

Three more runs crossed the plate in the second inning for GCU helped out by two bases loaded hit batsmen and a 4-1 lead.  The Antelopes added three more runs in the fifth as Tucker hit a two RBI single and P.J. Garcia hit an RBI single for a 7-1 lead.

Pollock (0-1) took the loss in the opener going four innings allowing four hits, four runs – three earned, six walks and four strikeouts.

The nightcap was a run marathon as MSUB scored in all but two innings and GCU scored in every inning.  The Jackets jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first as Kessler doubled to right to score the first run.  Noraker later reached on an error for the second run.

After GCU tied the game in the bottom of the first, the Yellowjackets plated five runs in the second, highlighted by a Kessler two RBI single, a costly GCU miscue and a Ben Nelson RBI for a 7-2 lead.

The Lopes added a run in the bottom of the inning, but MSUB answered right back with a run in the third on a single by Chris Stine for an 8-3 lead.  GCU added two runs in the bottom of the third to being its comeback.  Three more runs tied the game at eight through five innings.

The Yellowjackets then regained the lead in the sixth as Chatwood hit a two RBI double. MSUB had a chance at more runs with the bases loaded and one out, but was unable to get anything more across. 

GCU plated three runs in the bottom of the sixth on a two RBI double and a wild pitch for an 11-10 lead heading into the seventh.

The Jackets returned the favor as Matt Schoonover scored on a two out wild pitch to tie the game at 11.

The lone Yellowjacket miscue couldn’t have come at a worse time as it setup the game winning run for GCU.  A throwing error on a stolen base advanced the winning run to third followed by a hit batsman and a RBI single by Trevor Santor for the game winner. 

Kody Kennedy went the first three innings for the Yellowjackets in the no decision as he allowed one hit, five earned runs, seven walks and three strikeouts.  Brian Hutchings (0-1) pitched the final 1.1 innings allowing four hits, four earned runs, three walks and three strikeouts in the losing effort.

The Yellowjackets now head to Dixie State for a four game series beginning Sunday at 12 p.m.  Live stats will be available for the series by accessing Dixie State’s athletic website at http://dixieathletics.com.