Jackets Host Lincoln to End Regular Season (4/19/06)

BILLINGS, MT – After earning the four-game upset sweep over then No. 1 ranked St. Edward’s, the Montana State-Billings softball team will conclude its regular season against Lincoln University April 21 and 22.  Friday’s doubleheader will begin at 3:00 p.m., while Saturday’s game is scheduled for noon.  Saturday’s game also represents Senior Day for the Yellowjackets.

The Lady Jackets are on an eight-game winning streak and have improved to 16-28 overall and 9-11 in the Heartland Conference standings.  Leading the way for the Jackets is sophomore Jenna Haacke (Billings, MT).  Haacke is batting a .310 and has scored17 runs off 39 hits, leads the team with 10 home runs and has driven in 19 RBI.  Senior Christy Wankel (Great Falls, MT) is also batting a .310 and has earned 14 runs off 40 hits, five doubles, one triple, six home runs and has 22 RBI.  Hurler Lisa Moore (Fr., Bakersfield, CA), is 7-12 on the season with a 4.09 ERA.  Moore has allowed 87 runs off 122 hits, striking out 92 in 116 innings of work.  Terina Stacks (Fr., Washougal, WA) went 2-0 against the Hilltoppers in last week’s victories and has a posted ERA of 3.97.  Stacks has given up 72 runs off 106 hits and has struck out 68 batters.

The Lincoln University Blue Tigers are 6-28 overall and 3-17 against Heartland Conference opponents.  The Tigers posted their three conference wins against Oklahoma Panhandle, St. Mary’s and Western New Mexico.  Lesley Osborne leads the team with a .333 batting average and has scored 19 runs off 29 hits.  Osborne has hit four doubles, three home runs, and has driven in 13 RBI.  Ashley Prenger has been dangerous at on base stealing seven bases off eight attempts.  The Blue Tigers have just two pitchers with Tracy Reyland earning all six of the teams wins.  Reyland has an ERA of 4.93 and has given up 101 runs off 166 hits and has struck out 60 batters.

The Lady Jackets have clinched the fifth spot in the Heartland Conference standings and will travel to San Antonio, Texas April 27-29 to compete in the 2006 Conference Tournament hosted by St. Mary’s.  Joining the Yellowjackets and host team Rattlers will be, Western New Mexico, Incarnate Word, and St. Edward’s.