Madison, S.D. – The Comets Baseball team opened up their conference play Friday afternoon in the first two games of the four game series.

Game 1: L 12-2

The Comets would get on the board first when Marcus Hughes led off the game with a single to right field. Chris Shopbell later doubled down the left field line, scoring Hughes.

With two outs, Zachary Evanochko reached first on an error which allowed Shopbell to score. Comets up 2-0.

The Trojans would strike back in the bottom of the first with a solo home run.

Mayville State would struggle in the bottom of the second as Dakota State would score 7 runs on 6 hits and 1 error.

The Comets entered the top of the third trailing 8-2 and would not score the rest of the game.

The Trojans would tack on four more runs, taking the game 12-2.

Gregor Farquharson would start on the mound for the Comets. He would pitch 4 innings, give up 10 runs on 11 hits, 7 of them were earned.

Brady Robinson would close the game out for the last two innings.

Marcus Hughes went 1-3 with 1 run
Anthony Villanueva went 1-3 with a 2B
Chris Shopbell went 1-3 with 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 2B
 
Game 2: L 11-1
 
The first run of the game wouldn't come until the bottom of the second when the Trojans hit a solo home run.
 
Dakota State would put another run across the plate in the bottom of the third while the Comet bats struggled to get going.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, the Trojans would extend their lead as they scored 3 runs on 3 hits.
 
Mayville State would manage to score in the top of the 6^th when Carson Lundmark led the inning off with a solo shot to right field.
 
The Trojans would add three more runs in the sixth, 1 more in the seventh and 2 more in the ninth to take the win 11-1.
 
Austin McClure started on the mound for the Comets. He pitched 5 complete innings giving up 5 runs on 11 scattered hits and striking out 3.
 
Ryan Froemke and Caiden Schwehr would end the game with an inning a piece.
 
Carson Lundmark went 2-4 with 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 HR

Hughes (2B) and Villanueva both would be the only two other hits of the game.
 
"Tough way to start conference play, being on the receiving end of a good old fashion butt kicking," said head coach Billy Tomblin. "Our lack of success in terms of wins and loses is not concerning to me, the way we play the game, our mental approach to the game, our preparation.. it's just flat out bad right now and that's what is truly concerning,"

The Comets will be back in action tomorrow against Dakota State for game 3 and 4 of the four game conference series. Game times have been moved up one hour to 11:00am and 1:30pm. 

For full schedule details visit: https://msucomets.com/sports/baseball/schedule