March 15, 2008

Softball Sweeps Conference Home Opener from Saint Martin’s

   Box Score Game One
   Box score Game Two 

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings softball team extended its winning streak to four games with 2-1 and 6-4 victories over Western Oregon Saturday afternoon at Cenex Stadium.  With the wins, MSUB improves to 10-15 on the year and 4-4 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, while WOU falls to 10-7 and 3-3 in conference play.    

The Wolves took the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first as lead-off hitter Tyler Sutherland took the second Rebekah Tsatsa offering deep for her second home run of the season.  WOU loaded the bases in the second courtesy of a walk, infield single and an error.  But Tsatsa and the Yellowjackets got out of the jam with a pop out and a big strikeout. 

The Yellowjackets tied the game in the bottom of the second as Mandy Schaapveld hit a pop-bunt back to the pitcher who dropped the ball, allowing Terina Stacks to score. 

A solo home run in the bottom of the fourth put the Yellowjackets up 2-1 as Stacks belted her second round-tripper of the season.

WOU put two on in the top of the sixth with one out courtesy of a pair of singles to center.  Tsatsa got a pop out and had a strikeout, just like in the second inning, to end the threat. 

The Wolves went down in order in the seventh, falling 2-1. 

MSUB was led by Stacks who had two of the team’s three hits in the game.  She had the solo home run and scored on the other run.  WOU had seven hits in the game by seven different players.  Tsatsa (6-6) earns the victory as she allowed one earned run, seven hits, one walk and four strikeouts.

The leadoff home run by Sutherland was the only run of the game for WOU.  Katie Fleer (4-2) takes the loss for WOU as she went six innings, allowed three hits, two runs, one earned two walks and had seven strikeouts.

The nightcap started eerily similar to the first game as WOU hit a home run in the first inning.  Trina Dorn belted her first home run of the season as the Wolves jumped out to a 1-0 lead.  Jessica Hallmark belted the second home of the game for the Wolves in the second inning, also a solo shot for a 2-0 lead. 

MSUB got on the board in the bottom of the third as Crystal Bentley hit a RBI bloop-single to center cutting the deficit to 2-1.  Moments later, the Jackets tied it up on a RBI double by Jenna Haacke to tie the game at two.

The Wolves regained the lead in the top of the fourth with another solo home run by Amanda Fleer for a 3-2 lead.  It was the third solo home run by WOU in the game and the fourth of the day.  Jacket head coach Tony Stone made a call to the bullpen in favor of Lisa Moore. 

The lead was short lived as Stacks went deep again for her second home run of the day and the third of the season, tying the game at three.  WOU also went to the bullpen after the home run as Christina Cooke entered the game.  Moments later, Stephanie Gosselin hit a two run home run giving MSUB a 5-3 lead.  It was Gosselin’s first home run of the season.  WOU went to the bullpen again for Ashley Sellers and the Jackets increased the lead to 6-3 on a wild pitch.

Hallmark belted her second home run of the game in the sixth inning cutting the deficit to 6-4.  It was the fourth home run of the game for the Wolves.

WOU had one last chance in the top of the seventh as MSUB got two quick outs.  Sutherland lined a single to left field, bringing the tying run to the plate, but a routine grounder to the shortstop ended the game.

For the game, Stacks game up big again for the Yellowjackets as she was 1 for 3 in this game with a home run.  Gosselin also was 1 for 3 with a two run blast.  Moore (2-5) takes the win in relief, while Cooke (2-4) takes the loss only pitching to one batter.

On the day, there were eight home runs hit between the two teams, three by MSUB and five by WOU, including six home runs combined in the nightcap.