Lady Jackets Upset #7 SIUE, Fall again to CSUDH (2/16/06)
(box scores not yet available)

PHOENIX, AZ – Freshman Lisa Moore (Bakersfield, CA) struck out 13 to lead the Montana State-Billings softball team to a 7-2 upset of seventh-ranked Southern Illinois-Edwardsville at the Schutt Sports/Division II Leadoff Classic on Thursday.  In the day’s late game the Yellowjackets lost to Cal State-Dominguez Hills for the third time in the last week, 8-4.

Against SIUE, Christy Wankel (Sr., Great Falls, MT) hit a grand slam in the top of the seventh inning to break open a one-run game and give the Jackets their second win of the season.  MSU Billings (2-6) fell behind 2-1 in the fourth inning, but took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth on RBI base hits from Rachel Quarnburg (Jr., Billings, MT) and Aysha Maddox (Jr., Richland, WA).  Wankel hit her second homer of the season in the top of the seventh, driving in Lorel Palmer (Jr., Ogden, UT), Quarnburg, and Jenna Haacke (So., Billings, MT).

Moore (2-2) went to work in the bottom of the seventh with a five-run cushion and proceeded to strike out the side.  She only allowed three hits in the game, and her 13 strikeouts were just two short of the single game school record of 15 set by Joey Ehnes.  Palmer was 1-for-2 for the Yellowjackets and reached base three times.  Wankel was 2-for-4, and Quarnburg was 2-for-3 with an RBI.  The Cougars, who were ranked seventh in the nation in the NFCA preseason poll, were led by Jodie Ohlau who went 1-for-3 with a home run.

In the nightcap CSU-Dominguez Hills continued its hot play against the Jackets.  The two teams met twice last weekend at the Grand Canyon tournament in Phoenix with the Toros winning by a combined score of 14-0.  After falling behind 3-0 on Thursday, the Yellowjackets rallied for four runs in the bottom of the second inning.  Maddox drove in Haacke to start the rally, then Jessica Frank (So., Great Falls, MT) hit a three-run home run, plating Terina Stacks (Fr., Washougal, WA) and Maddox.  The Toros answered with two runs in the top of the fifth and three more in the sixth.

Stacks (0-2) went the distance for the Jackets, giving up six hits and striking out four in seven innings.  Maddox and Frank were each 2-for-3 at the plate for the Yellowjackets.

“Terina pitched great against Dominguez Hills,” said Yellowjacket head coach Sean McGary.  “She pitched well enough for us to win, but we had some costly errors.  It was a tough loss, but if we play the way we have been we’ll be fine.  The positive thing with Lisa’s performance (against SIUE) was that she didn’t have her rise ball working and she still threw well.  She had to go to her drop and screw ball.  I’m really pleased with the way those two freshmen are playing.”

The Yellowjackets face Adams State on Friday in pool play.  Adams State lost to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville Thursday afternoon, 7-5.  Bracket play will take place late Friday and Saturday based on the pool play results.