Yellowjackets Take Two to Finish Las Vegas Classic (Feb. 7, 2004)
LAS VEGAS, NV – With two shutout victories on
Saturday at the Las Vegas Classic, the Montana State-Billings
softball team finished the first week of the season and the
tournament with a winning record. The Yellowjackets downed
Colorado-Mines, 1-0, in the afternoon, and Pittsburg State (KS),
3-0, in the evening finale. At 4-2, MSU Billings is above .500
for the first time in the program’s short three year history.
In game one, Megan McCrae (1-2) earned her
first win of the season by shutting out Colorado School of Mines.
The Yellowjackets were out-hit 10-1, but found a way to
manufacture a run in the bottom of the second inning and hold on
for the win. Following a Layne Pavey double, Anna Henderson
grounded to third where the Lions’ third baseman misplayed the
ball, allowing Pavey to score from second for the eventual
game-winner. McCrae struck out five and walked two over seven
innings.
In the day’s late game, Joey Ehnes (3-0)
threw a one-hitter to shutout Pittsburg State (KS), which had
scored 13 runs earlier in the day in a blowout of Hawaii-Hilo.
Ehnes took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, where a one-out
bloop single by PSU’s Emily Gastineau ended the no hit bid. Ehnes
struck out nine and walked one in seven innings to remain unbeaten
in three starts.
Ehnes also went 2-for-3 at the plate and
scored two of the Jackets’ three runs. In the bottom of the
third, freshman Anna Henderson – who has four RBI in her first six
collegiate games – drove in Ehnes with an RBI double for what
would turn out to be the winning run. The Yellowjackets added two
insurance runs in the fifth when Aysha Blatter scored on a bases
loaded walk to Theresa Campbell. Ehnes was driven in by a Pavey
double on the next play to provide the final margin of victory.
Ehnes, Pavey and Chrisy Wankel were each 2-for-3 in the game.
Pavey had two doubles.
The Yellowjackets begin PacWest play on
Wednesday at Hawaii-Hilo. The Vulcans were picked to finish
second in the PacWest. MSUB will play double headers in Hilo on
Wednesday and Thursday and follow with double headers at Chaminade
in Honolulu on Saturday and Sunday.
Colorado-Mines 0, Montana State-Billings 1
(at Las Vegas)
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CSM 000 000 0 – 0 10 1
MSUB 010 000 x – 1 1 1
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Pitchers: CSM – Melanie Mahone; MSUB – Megan McCrae
Catchers: CSM – Andi Eichelman; MSUB – Layne Pavey
Win: McCrae; Loss: Mahone
2B – Pavey
R – Pavey
Pittsburg State 0, Montana State-Billings
3 (at Las Vegas)
----------------------------------------
PSU 000 000 0 – 0 1 0
MSUB 001 020 x – 3 7 0
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Pitchers: PSU – Anna Bott, Tiffany Taylor (5); MSUB – Joey Ehnes
Catchers: PSU – Sharell Anderson; MSUB – Melissa DelSignore
Win: Ehnes (3-0); Loss: Bott
2B – Pavey (2)
R – Ehnes (2), Blatter |
