MSU Billings Shuts Out Competition on First Day of Yellowjacket Invitational (March 22, 2003)

BILLINGS, MT – The MSU Billings softball team registered two dominating performances on the first day of its own Yellowjacket Invitational, shutting out Jamestown 8-0 and Dawson CC 4-0.  The Jackets improved to 6-13 with the win over Jamestown in the morning’s third game.  The game against DCC will not count toward their regular season record.

After sweeping two games from Minot State on Friday afternoon, the Yellowjackets routed Jamestown College in the noon game of the tournament.  MSUB used strong pitching and a powerful offense to win via the eight-run rule in the fifth.  Designated hitter Theresa Campbell doubled twice in the game, driving in four runs.  In the bottom of the third, Campbell slapped a double down the right field line, scoring Sara Hanley and Joey Ehnes.  That hit put the Yellowjackets up 3-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, MSUB tagged the Jimmies Emily Eichman for five runs.  Catcher Layne Pavey homered over the centerfield wall to lead off the inning.  Campbell’s double off the wall a few batters later plated Hanley and Michelle Falsken to blow the game open.

Megan McCrae pitched five scoreless innings for the Yellowjackets, striking out three and allowing just one Jimmies hit to earn her third win of the season.  Eichman picked up the loss after giving up nine hits and eight runs.  Jamestown fell to 11-3 with the loss.

Campbell was 2-for-2 in the game with four RBI.  Hanley was also 2-for-2, driving in two runs and scoring twice.  The Jimmies’ Shayla Cantrell singled for Jamestown’s only hit of the game.

The Yellowjackets rounded out their unbeaten day behind a 12-strikeout performance from sophomore pitcher Joey Ehnes.  Ehnes allowed only three hits and walked one over seven innings of work as she shut down a Buccaneers’ offense that had scored 13 runs and homered four times in its previous game.

MSUB broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third when Stephanie Cochrun singled to center, driving in Pavey from third.  The Yellowjackets added three insurance runs in the fifth and two more in the top of the seventh to finish as the only team in the tournament with an unbeaten record on the opening day.

In the fifth, Cochrun’s second RBI single to center scored Meghan O’Donnell from second base.  Falken followed with a double to the wall in left center to knock in Cochrun and Joey Ehnes, giving the Yellowjackets a comfortable 4-0 lead.  Falsken and Hanley each scored in the top of the seventh to provide the final margin.  Campbell pinch hit to drive in Falsken for her fifth RBI of the day.  Ann Thompson drove in Hanley for the final run of the game. 

The Jackets will put their four-game winning streak on the line Sunday against Valley City State and Minot State.  The Jackets and Vikings will square off at 12:15 p.m.  MSUB and Minot will play the final game of the tournament at 4:00 p.m.  All games will be played at Cenex Stadium on the campus of MSU Billings.

Saturday’s Results
Minot State 15, Valley City State 2
Minot’s Kristi Keith was 3-for-4 with three RBI and four runs scored.  She led of the game by taking a 3-1 pitch over the centerfield wall.  Jacki Hansel hit a three-run homer for the Beavers, who scored 11 runs in the sixth inning.
Jamestown College 4, Valley City State 2
Jamestown’s Shayla Cantrell went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.  The Jimmies’ Lindsey Wilson was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
MSU Billings 8, Jamestown College 0
See above
Dawson CC 13, Minot State 4
Kaila Fowler hit two home runs for the Buccaneers, the second of which landed on the hill behind the leftfield fence for the second longest home run in two seasons at Cenex Stadium.  Fowler was 2-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored.  Chelsea Rathie went 4-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored.
MSU Billings 6, Dawson CC 0
See above

Sunday’s Schedule (at Cenex Stadium)
Jamestown vs. Dawson CC, 8:30 a.m.
Minot State vs. Jamestown, 10:15 a.m.
MSU Billings vs. Valley City State, 12:15 p.m.
Dawson CC vs. Valley City State, 2:00 p.m.
MSU Billings vs. Minot State, 4:00 p.m.