DENVER – It was another tough day at the office for the MSU Denver baseball team.
 
Montana State-Billings, just 2-8 coming into the game, rattled the Assembly Athletic Complex for 28 hits, scored in every inning – including at least two runs in all but one frame – and clubbed eight homers for a 25-13 victory on Friday.
 
"They've played some good teams, but they were hitting .261 and had 28 hits and they'd only had six home runs all year and they had eight today," MSU Denver coach Ryan Strain said. "We lost some close games early, but when you're losing, doubt creeps in."
 
After the Yellowjackets scored two in the first inning, MSU Denver bounced back with four in the bottom of the first with a two-run single by Zach Schuler and a two-run homer by Andrew Graham, the first of his two circuit clouts.
 
But Montana State-Billings continued its relentless offensive outburst.
 
MSU Denver got within 13-8 with a four-run fifth that included RBI doubles by Caleb Albaugh and Schuler ahead of Graham's second two-run homer.
 
"We had some good at-bats, and we had some poor ones," Strain said. "Their starter had three starts and a 3.00 ERA – he's pretty good, knows how to pitch. We had some good at-bats, but obviously if you give up 28 hits and 25 runs, you've just got no chance."
 
MSU Denver added five runs in the bottom of the ninth, but dropped to 5-7.
 
"Everybody is frustrated, everybody is angry," Strain said. "We have a lot more talent than this, but a lot of guys are unsure of themselves right now.
 
"You have to keep working, have to keep fighting, have to keep believing in yourself. I know we'll get this thing turned around. I believe in the guys we have. And I'm as shocked as anybody with how we've played."
 
The teams are set to play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at noon. And, as they say, momentum is tomorrow's starting pitcher.
 
"That's the good thing about baseball," Strain said. "It's a new day, the sun's going to come out. Hopefully Reichle (Arcilise) gives us a great start, and we'll put a lineup out there and hopefully they'll battle their tails off, and we'll see what happens."