Jimmies shutdown pen leads the way in 7-3 win over Mayville

Sep. 27—JAMESTOWN — After a nerve-wracking first inning, the University of Jamestown pitchers were able to lock down, only giving up four hits and recording nine strikeouts. That helped the Jimmies get a 7-3 win over Mayville State University on Monday, Sept. 26, at Jack Brown Stadium.

"We attacked the strike zone all night long," Jimmies head coach Tom Hager said. "Our guys came after their hitters and did a heck of a job of getting ahead in the counts. You gotta give our bullpens credit to put up eight straight innings of zeros, you can only do that if you attack, attack, attack and that's exactly what we did tonight."

The Comets (1-1) took advantage of Jimmies starter Payson Mills inability to find the strike zone in the top of the first as they scored three runs on two hits. In that first inning, Mills threw eight strikes on 22 pitches.

The Jimmies (3-1) immediately punched back as Chase Burke led off the bottom of the first with a solo shot into the ivy in right-center field to cut the deficit to 3-1.

The Jimmies turned to the long ball again in the bottom of the second as Jordan Singleton hit a missile over the wall in right field to tie the game up at three. The Jimmies weren't done as Reece McKenzie grounded to shortstop Ricky Marquez whose throw couldn't be fielded by the first baseman, allowing Alex Alva to hustle home and push the Jimmies out in front 4-3.

"When I hit it, I thought it was out," Singleton said. "I lost it in the sun though but couldn't go anywhere, (Kendall Yackley) was standing at the bag, (so) I had to stand and watch."

In the bottom of the fourth, the Jimmies added on when Xander Orejudos hit a single up the middle to score Ben Patton and stretch the lead out to 5-3.

The Comets had a chance to cut into the lead in the top of the sixth as they had a runner on second with nobody out but Jimmies pitcher Trei Hough was able to strand the runner.

The Jimmies weren't done as they added a two spot in the sixth to stretch the lead out to 7-3.

In the seventh inning, the Jimmies turned an inning-ending double play and erupted as they walked to the dugout.

"It was our first one of the year," Orejudos said. "Every double play, every time you can get two outs on one play, it's exciting. Especially the first one of the year, a little emotions come out."

The Jimmies are back in action at 5 p.m. on Sept. 28, when they host Dickinson State.

MSU 3, UJ 7

MSU: 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 3 6 3

UJ: 1 3 0 1 0 2 0 0 X — 7 8 1

WP: Luke Zimmer (1-0) LP: Braxton Greenberg (0-1) SV: Hayden Brown (2)

Scoring Plays:

First inning:

MSU: Alan Larocque 2 RBI double, Carson Lundmark, Anthony Villaneuva score

MSU: Marcus Hughes RBI single, Tyler Ferrera scores

UJ: Chase Burke solo HR

Second inning:

UJ: Jordan Singleton 2 RBI HR, Yackley scores

UJ: Reece McKenzie reaches on an error, Alex Alva scores, unearned

Fourth inning:

UJ: Xander Orejudos RBI single, Ben Patton scores

Sixth inning:

UJ: McKenzie sacrifice fly, Troy Berg scores, unearned

UJ: Orejudos singles to left, Chase Burke scores, unearned