Jacket Softball Falls Twice at CWU Tourney (3/4/06)
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RICHLAND, WA – The Montana State-Billings softball team lost twice Saturday at the Central Washington Invitational, falling 8-2 to Western Washington and 3-0 to Central Washington.  The pair of defeats dropped the Yellowjackets to 5-13 overall and 2-5 at the tourney.  The Lady Jackets will wrap up the tournament on Sunday with a single game against Seattle University.

Just a day after putting a scare into the top-ranked team in the nation, the Yellowjackets stumbled out of the gates Saturday in the 8-2 loss to Western Washington.  The Vikings put six runs on the board in the bottom of the first inning and coasted to the win.  Yellowjacket starter Terina Stacks (Fr., Washougal, WA) went the distance in the loss, giving up 10 hits and eight runs.  However, four MSU Billings errors led to seven unearned runs as Stacks fell to 0-5 on the year.

Seven different Vikings collected at least one hit in the game.  Amanda Shiflet, Jessica Wilkinson, and Ashley Barber had two hits apiece.  Vikings starter Jackie Quint struck out a career-high 12 batters.  The Yellowjackets scored a run in the sixth and a run in the seventh.  Jenna Haacke (So., Billings, MT) drove in Stephanie Rinehart (Fr., Gig Harbor, WA) in the top of the sixth.  Jessica Frank (So., Great Falls, MT) homered in the top of the seventh, her third of the season.

The Yellowjackets played better defensively in the 3-0 loss to Central Washington, but the offense was unable to move base runners.  Both teams had seven total hits in the game, but the Wildcats had four extra base hits off Yellowjacket starter Lisa Moore (Fr., Bakersfield, CA).  Moore (3-5) struck out six in the game.  Christy Wankel (Sr., Great Falls, MT) and Lorel Palmer (Jr., Ogden, UT) each went 2-for-3 for the Yellowjackets.  The Wildcats’ Martinez was 1-for-2 with a home run.

Following Sunday’s game against Seattle, MSU Billings will return to Billings for the Jackets’ home opener on March 11.  The Yellowjackets will host Dickinson State with the Saturday doubleheader starting at 1:30 p.m. at Cenex Stadium.