Jacket Softball Drops Two to Hawaii-Hilo (2/13/06)
Box Score 1             Box Score 2

PHOENIX, AZ – The Montana State-Billings softball team’s rocky start continued Monday with two losses to Hawaii-Hilo.  The doubleheader followed a two-day tournament hosted by Grand Canyon University.  Both MSU Billings and Hawaii-Hilo were 1-3 at that tournament. 

With Monday’s games, MSU Billings is 1-5 overall on the season.  On Friday and Saturday at the GCU tourney the Jackets dropped two games to Cal State-Dominguez Hills and split two games with Grand Canyon.  Hawaii-Hilo, the Jackets’ former rival in the PacWest Conference, improved to 3-3.

The Vulcans’ bats were sizzling in the morning game Monday, pounding out 13 hits in the 13-2 win.  Yellowjacket starter Lisa Moore (Fr., Bakersfield, CA) went 4 1/3 innings, giving up 12 hits and 12 earned runs.  Jackie Purser (Fr., Mead, WA) was 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in both Yellowjacket runs, one in the first and one in the fifth.  Rachel Quarnburg (Jr., Billings, MT) was 1-for-1 with two walks and a run scored. 

MSU Billings jumped to a 3-1 lead in the afternoon game, but the Jackets still couldn’t contain the Vulcans’ offense in a 7-3 loss.  MSU Billings starter Terina Stacks (Fr., Washougal, WA) tossed five innings, allowing 10 hits and four earned runs.  Quarnburg was 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in the top of the third inning, driving in Lorel Palmer (Jr., Ogden, UT) and Anna Henderson (Sr., Frenchtown, MT).

The Yellowjackets will remain in Phoenix for the Triple Crown Leadoff Classic.  They have Tuesday and Wednesday off before starting play on Thursday.  MSU Billings will face Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and Cal State-Dominguez Hills on Thursday.  On Friday the Jackets meet Adams State.  Tournament bracket play will be held Saturday.  Following the Triple Crown tourney, MSU Billings doesn’t play again until March 2 when they travel to the Central Washington Invitational.