Lady Jackets Sign Pitcher, Catcher (Apr. 22, 2005)

BILLINGS, MT – Montana State-Billings softball coach Jeff Aumend announced Friday that a pitcher from California and a catcher from Washington have signed national letters of intent to play for the Yellowjackets next year.  The Jackets, currently ranked third in the NCAA West Region, graduate nine seniors this spring—including all-region pitcher Joey Ehnes and all-region catcher Layne Pavey.

Lisa Moore is a 5-foot-7 pitcher from Bakersfield, Calif.  She will graduate in June from Liberty High School where she has lettered four years.  She is currently 7-3 with a 0.68 ERA for Liberty.  A two-time team captain, Moore earned league MVP and second team all-area honors as a junior after leading her team to the league championship.  She was all-area honorable mention as a freshman and sophomore.

Jackie Purser is a 5-10 catcher from Spokane, Wash.  She will graduate in June from Mt. Spokane High School where she was a three-year letter winner.  A team captain this season, Purser earned third team all-league honors as a sophomore and second team honors as a junior.  Following her junior season she had a .352 career batting average, .573 career slugging percentage, and .425 career on base percentage.  She is expected to establish several offensive school records by the end of her senior campaign.

“With us graduating an all-region pitcher and an all-region catcher, it was extremely important for us to find people who could fill their shoes,” said Aumend.  “Lisa Moore is a hard rise ball thrower, much like Joey Ehnes.  Jackie Purser has a rifle for an arm as a catcher and she hits for power.  Both are big acquisitions for our program.”