Bismarck, N.D. - The Mayville State baseball team took on Bismarck State College for a double header on the road Tuesday afternoon, opening up their 2025 fall season.
In game one, the Comets built an early lead but couldn't hold off a late Bismarck State rally, falling 7-6. Looking to bounce back in game two, the Comets were able to make a late run in the 6th & 7th innings to get the 4-2 win over the Mystics.
"I have a lot I can say about the day both good and bad but I dpn't want to write the book on us after two games," said head coach Billy Tomblin, who enters his 3rd season as head coach. "We had some moments where we looked like what I see us being, we also had moments that took me back to six months ago.
Game 1: L 6-7
The Comets wasted no time jumping on the Mystics' pitching, plating three runs in the second inning. Cameron Goff got Mayville on the board with an RBI fielder's choice before Marshall Judisch and Tyler Kleinjan each drove in runs to extend the lead. In the third, Goff came through again with a run-scoring single, and Kevin Conway followed in the fourth with a two-run double that pushed the advantage to 6-2.
Bismarck State, however, began to chip away at the deficit. A sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third trimmed the Comet lead, but the turning point came in the fourth inning. With two runners on, the Mystics delivered a game-changing two-run homer to tie the score at 6-6.
The Mystics took the lead for good in the fifth when they hit a solo shot over the wall. Later in the frame, Bismarck hit an RBI single, aided by a defensive miscue, gave the Mystics the lead over the Comets.
Game 2: W 4-2
The Comets struck first in the third inning when Jack McQueen lined an RBI single to score Juan Villarreal, giving Mayville early momentum. Bismarck State answered back in the bottom of the fifth, capitalizing on a Comet error that allowed a Mystic to cross the plate and tie the game at 1-1.
Mayville regained control in the sixth, manufacturing runs the hard way. After pressure on the base paths forced miscues, two runs came home on a wild pitch and a passed ball, pushing the Comets back in front, 3-1. In the seventh, Conway added insurance with a sacrifice fly that plated Kleinjan for a 4-1 lead.
The Mystics made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh when they belted a run-scoring triple, but the Comets' bullpen kept the damage to a minimum and shut the door the rest of the way.
On the mound, starter Aleks Koppel was sharp, striking out six over three scoreless innings while allowing just one hit. Reliever Jake Hutter picked up the win with two solid frames, and Kyler Droog earned the save, closing out the ninth with little trouble.
"We really like this team, we know this team has the ability to be special, we knew it before they even got to campus, but we need them to see it and believe it for it to come to fruition," added Tomblin. "We have three days of practice before our next games, we have a lot to address and a lot to clean up, but we are confident that if we can get them to see it and believe it, then special things are coming."
The Comets will look to carry their momentum forward as they continue non-conference play this weekend as they host Dickinson State at Scott Berry field on Saturday. For full schedule details visit: https://msucomets.com/sports/baseball/schedule.
