Two Big Innings Doom Yellowjackets, 13-5

Box Score

GREELEY, Colo. – 10 runs in two innings doomed the Montana State Billings baseball team in a 13-5 loss at Division I Northern Colorado Friday afternoon in the first game of a three-game weekend series.  With the loss, the Yellowjackets fell to 8-18 on the year, while the Bears improved to 5-15.

"We hit pretty well for the most part with 11 hits and five runs, but we didn't drive guys in," head coach Chris Brown said. "We need to do a better job of getting guys in. Patch (Wirtzberger) Brian (Dukart) and Ryan (Dennehy) did a good job from the plate today."

The Bears got on the board in the bottom of the first as Seth Budde hit a sacrifice fly to right to score leadoff hitter Tyler Borzileri who opened the inning with a four-pitch walk and was moved to third on a double from Jarod Berggren for a 1-0 lead.

MSUB starting pitcher, Kody Kennedy (3-2), got out of a jam in the third as the Bears loaded the bases with one out, but Kennedy retired the next two batters to get out of the inning unscathed. 

UNC broke open the game in the fourth as it plated four runs in the frame for a 5-0 lead.  The Bears got things started with a double down the left field line and a three run double by Mark Shannon highlighted the frame as he later scored on a wild pitch.

Kennedy went three innings, allowing five hits, five earned runs, five walks and two strikeouts.

Six more runs scored in the fifth inning for UNC as Shannon, once again, came up with a big three run score.  He belted his third home run of the season to right for an 11-0 lead.

The Bears added two more runs in the seventh, but the Yellowjackets showed life in the ninth as they plated four runs in their final at bat, following a single run in the eighth. The Jackets got things started in the frame with a Dusty Noraker single, followed by a Patch Wirtzberger single and a Ty Sobieraj walk to load the bases with nobody out.

Ryan Dennehy doubled down the right field line, scoring two runs, followed by a Brian Dukart RBI single and a fielding error by UNC to score the final two runs for MSUB – all with nobody out.  The Jackets went down in order from there to end the game.

Wirtzberger went 3 for 3 for the Jackets with a run scored, while Dukart was 3 for 4 with a RBI and Dennehy went 2 for 5 with two runs scored and two RBI to lead the team offensively.

Borzileri was 3 for 4 with three runs scored and three RBI for UNC and Shannon went 2 for 4 with two runs scored and a game-high six RBI.

Joe Sawicki (2-2) earns the victory as he went seven shutout innings allowing six hits, one walk and he fanned four.  MSUB used six pitchers in the game and five after the third inning.

The two teams will be back in action tomorrow at 12 p.m. for the second game in the three-game set.