March 2, 2008          
                                                                  

Jackets’ Upset Bid Falls Short Against No. 18 Seattle

   Seattle Box Score  

RICHLAND, Wash. – The Montana State Billings softball team held a 2-0 lead over No. 18 Seattle heading into the sixth inning and could not hold on falling 3-2 on Sunday morning in the final game of the CWU Invitational for both teams.  With the loss, the Yellowjackets finish the tournament at 3-4 and 5-7 overall for the year.  Seattle improves to 12-1 on the year and finished the tournament in second place with a 6-1 record.

The Yellowjackets drew first blood in the second inning as Stephanie Gosselin hit a single up the middle and then advanced to third on a pair of illegal pitches by the Seattle pitcher.  Jenna Haacke doubled to right center scoring Gosselin for a 1-0 lead.

MSUB pushed the lead to 2-0 as Jessica Frank led off the inning with a double.  She later scored on a single by Lisa Moore.  

A single a stolen base, a double and a home run gave Seattle a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning all with two outs.  Yellowjacket hurler Rebekah Tsatsa made quick work of the first two batters in the inning, but the next three did the damage. 

The Jackets didn’t go down quietly in the seventh as Haacke singed and advanced to second a on sacrifice bunt.  However, Kelly Parsons popped out to the shortstop and Terina Stacks grounded out to third to end the game.

Tsatsa (3-2) went the distance again for the Yellowjackets, allowing four hits, three earned runs, two walks and she struck out six.  Haacke led the team going 2 for 3 on the day with a RBI.  The Yellowjackets head to Western Washington Thursday to begin a four game series with the Vikings.