Lady Jackets Sweep Twin-Bill from Minot State (March 21, 2003)

BILLINGS, MT – The MSU Billings softball used some solid pitching and timely hitting to sweep Minot State, 3-1 and 8-6, in the Yellowjackets’ 2003 home opener at Cenex Stadium.  Megan McCrae struck out seven in the first game to earn her second win of the season.  In game two, six different Yellowjackets scored as MSUB rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the third to win their fifth game of the season.

McCrae was solid on the mound in game one, allowing just three hits and one earned run in the complete-game victory.  She sat down seven Beavers batters while walking just two.  She improved her season ERA to 3.28 in ten starts.

The Yellowjackets scored all three runs in the bottom of the fourth to break a scoreless tie.  Terilee Ehnes led off the inning with a single to center.  Cami Rainey advanced Ehnes to second when Rainey reached on an error.  The Jackets loaded the bases with no outs on catcher Layne Pavey’s single.

Christy Wankel plated Ehnes with an RBI infield single to put the Jackets up 1-0.  After Rainey and Pavey were both thrown out at the plate on fielder’s choice plays at the plate, Michelle Falsken slapped a single down the left field line to score Meghan O’Donnell and Wankel.  The three-run cushion was more than enough for McCrae, who allowed one run in the top of the sixth on back-to-back singles by Minot’s Kristi Keith and Ashlye Bakken.

The offensive fireworks came out in game two as both teams found their swings.  The Jackets took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Joey Ehnes and Falsken scored.  Ehnes led off the inning with a double to right-center.

The Beavers (0-2) answered with a five-run third inning to take a 5-2 lead with Joey Ehnes on the mound.  Ashley Moffatt and Keith opened the floodgates with back-to-back doubles to start the innings.  Ehnes allowed six runs on seven hits in the game, but earned her third win of the year to improve to 3-3.

The Yellowjackets battled back with four runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 6-5 lead.  All four runs were scored with two outs as Terilee Ehnes and Tara McIlravy each grounded out to start the inning.  Stephanie Cochrun started the two-out rally with a double to right.  She then stole third and was driven in by Jordan Waverek’s single to left.  Joey Ehnes helped her own cause by doubling to center to score Waverek and Stephanie Lemon, who had walked.  Ehnes scored from second on Rainey’s single to right to give the Yellowjackets a one-run lead.

Minot tied the game in the top of the sixth with a two-out rally of its own.  The Yellowjackets committed two errors in the inning and Keith scored an unearned run to tie the game. 

A two-run sixth inning sealed the victory for the Yellowjackets, who improve to 5-13 overall.  Falsken’s sacrifice fly scored Joey Ehnes from third base with no outs.  Terilee Ehnes then hit a bloop-single to center to score Rainey from second base, providing the final margin.

MSUB will host the five-team Yellowjacket Invitational on Saturday and Sunday, with five games scheduled for each day.  The Yellowjackets will play two games each day.  Admission is $4.00 for adults and $2.00 for high school students.  Students in grades K-8 are admitted free.

Yellowjacket Invitational Schedule
Saturday, March 22
Minot State vs. Valley City State (8:30 a.m.)
Valley City State vs. Jamestown (10:15 a.m.)
MSU Billings vs. Jamestown (12:15 p.m.)
Dawson CC vs. Minot State (2:00 p.m.)
MSU Billings vs. Dawson CC (4:00 p.m.)

Sunday, March 23
Jamestown vs. Dawson CC (8:30 a.m.)
Minot State vs. Jamestown (10:15 a.m.)
MSU Billings vs. Valley City State (12:15 p.m.)
Dawson CC vs. Valley City State (2:00 p.m.)
MSU Billings vs. Minot State (4:00 p.m.)