MSUB Softball Falls at Idaho State (4/21/07)
Box Score

POCATELLO, ID – Idaho State scored all of its runs in the first two innings and staved off a Yellowjacket rally to win 7-5 in non-conference softball on Saturday.  Just as it was Friday, Saturday’s second game was rained out.  The Bengals improved to 9-29, dropping the Yellowjackets to 22-22.

Idaho State scored five run in the first inning and two more in the second to jump to a 7-1 lead.  The Bengals loaded the bases with their first three batters of the game.  The five-run inning was highlighted by a two-RBI double by Lindsay Boughton. 

Five of the eight hits allowed by Yellowjacket starter Rebekah Tsatsa (Eagle, ID) came in the first two innings.  The Bengals’ Christine Keeton hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the second to close out ISU’s scoring.  Tsatsa (8-9) scattered three hits over the final four innings as the Jackets tried to climb back into the game.

MSUB made its biggest run with three runs in the top of the fifth.  After an infield single by Lorel Palmer (Ogden, UT), Jenna McCartney (Hamilton, MT) hit one of her two doubles to drive in Palmer from first.  Terina Stacks (Washougal, WA) followed with a double down the left field line to plate McCartney.  Two batters later, an infield single by Jessica Frank (Great Falls, MT) scored Stacks from third base.  The Jackets added a run in the sixth when McCartney’s second double scored Palmer from second with two outs.

MSU Billings pounded out 10 hits, including four doubles, in the loss.  Palmer was 2-for-3 from the leadoff spot and scored a career-high three runs.  McCartney was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two doubles, and Stacks was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two doubles.  Stacks improved her conference-leading batting average to .388.  Frank was 2-for-4.

Boughton and Merissa Jannsen each went 2-for-4 for the Bengals.  Keeton was 1-for-3 and drove in three RBIs.  Leadoff hitter Christine Shollenberger scored two runs.  Boughton went the distance in the circle to improve to 7-16. 

After the long drive back from Pocatello Saturday night, the Yellowjackets will close out the regular season on Sunday with a doubleheader against University of Great Falls at Cenex Stadium.  The first game starts at 3:00 p.m.  It will be Youth Softball Day and all girls wearing their uniforms will be admitted free.  MSU Billings and Great Falls are the only four-year schools in Montana to sponsor college softball.  The Yellowjackets swept a doubleheader from the Argos in Great Falls on March 29. 

Great Falls is coached by Gary Ehnes, father of former Yellowjacket star Joey Ehnes.  Joey, one of the Argos assistants, holds MSUB school pitching records for career ERA (1.80), wins (62), appearances (112), starts (85), complete games (65), innings pitched (607.2), strikeouts (671), opponent batting average (.207), and shutouts (16).  She is also the single-season school record holder for appearances (45), starts (33), complete games (27), innings pitched (245.1), winning percentage (29-11), victories (29), ERA (1.33), shutouts (6), strikeouts (303), and strikeout ratio (8.65).