PUEBLO, Colo.- The University of Sioux Falls Baseball team started a new season with a pair of losses, but looked good in the first game on Friday, an 8-5 setback to Montana State Billings. On Saturday, the Cougars fell, 5-0, to Colorado State – Pueblo.
 
MSU Billings Yellowjackets (Friday)-
In the second inning against the Yellowjackets on Friday, the Cougars were able to get a leadoff man on base when Ryan Bernardy was hit with a pitch. Next batter up, Zane Butts sent a pitch deep to the right-center gap, good for an RBI-triple. Jared Binsfield was able to score Butts on an RBI groundout to short, giving USF an early 2-0 lead.
 
In his next AB, Butts reached second on a fielding error by the second baseman, and scored Brennan Albert delivered a two-out, RBI-triple to extend the Cougars' lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning.
 
The Yellowjackets were able to get onto the board in the top of the sixth inning with an RBI-single, but USF answered back with an RBI bunt single in the bottom half of the inning to push the lead back to three runs (4-1).
 
Both teams got a run scored in the seventh inning, with MSUB scoring on an RBI-double. In the bottom of the seventh, Sioux Falls worked back-to-back leadoff walks from Connor King and Grant Lung, with King scoring on a single by Butts as USF led, 5-2.
 
The Yellowjackets were able to do damage in the eighth inning and take the lead. MSUB had a leadoff walk, followed by a single and RBI-double. With two runners in scoring position, the Yellowjackets' Provost hit a three-run HR to take a 6-5 lead over the Cougars.
 
MSUB added two insurance runs in the ninth for their eventual 8-5 victory.
 
Despite surrendering seven hits,  starter Matt Graham had a solid one-run outing of six innings. Graham also totaled nine strikeouts against the Yellowjackets. Leading the Cougars offense was Butts who went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs. Jackson Olson (0-1) took the loss.
 
Colorado State – Pueblo ThunderWolves (Saturday)-
The ThunderWolves were able to start the scoring early, scoring a run on an RBI-double in the first inning.
 
The Cougars had a tough time breaking into the rhythm of CSUP starter Cole Martin, who threw 3.2 innings of perfect baseball before allowing a walk to Alex Robinson. It took 4.2 innings to breakup the early no-hit bid, with Albert sending a pitch through the left side for the first hit of the game for USF.
 
After a pair of singles in the home half of the sixth inning, a triple cleared the bases, and led to a third run on a single, giving the ThunderWolves a 4-0 lead. CSUP added one more run in the seventh on an RBI-single.
 
The Cougars threatened in the ninth to end the shutout bid, with Lung hitting a two-out triple but was stranded.
 
Starter Andrew Maslowski (0-1) had a good outing, despite being credited the loss. He allowed only three runs on seven hits in 5.1 innings of action. Maslowski struck out two ThunderWolves. Lung and Albert led the offense, going 1-for-3.
 
What's Next-
The Cougars will be in action again on Sunday with a rematch against MSU Billings. That game is set for noon.