Lady Jackets Open CWI with Wins (3/1/07)
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

RICHLAND, WA – The Montana State-Billings softball team got off to a strong start at the Central Washington Invitational on Thursday.  The Yellowjackets beat Northwest Nazarene 12-2 in five innings in their tournament-opening game.  In the day’s final game, the Jackets downed Western Oregon 7-4.  After starting the season 1-7, MSUB improved to 6-8.

“The hitting went well,” said Yellowjacket head coach Kim Lemmens.  “We got people on base and had some opportunities to do some different things.  We just hit the ball solid.  We’re starting to get more of a set lineup, and everybody is starting to settle into their roles.  There is some confidence building, which is great.  It’s becoming a total team effort.”

In the Jackets’ first game, Northwest Nazarene (0-2) used a pair of unearned runs in the top of the second for a 2-0 lead.  The Jackets answered with three runs in the bottom half of the second and didn’t slow down until the game ended by the eight-run rule.  MSUB scored four runs in the bottom of the third and five in the bottom of the fourth. 

The Yellowjackets’ season-high 12 runs were aided by seven Crusader errors.  NNU pitcher Dana Shipley gave up eight hits and a dozen runs in five innings, but only two of the runs were earned.  MSUB’s Rebekah Tsatsa (Eagle, ID) tossed a one-hitter for the win, striking out seven.  She improved to 2-3.

Offensively, Terina Stacks (Washougal, WA) continued her early season tear, going 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs.  Senior Aysha Maddox (Richland, WA), playing in her hometown for the final time of her career this weekend, was 2-for-3 and scored two runs.  Leslie Davis (Federal Way, WA) went 1-for-2 and scored three runs.

“Terina is definitely on fire,” said Lemmens.  “She’s doing a great job.  She’s very disciplined in the batter’s box.  Even when she gets out, she’s hitting the ball solid.”

In the night game, the Jackets defeated Western Oregon (0-7) for the second time this season.  MSUB came from behind to beat the Wolves 11-8 on February 16 in Phoenix.  In that first meeting, the Yellowjackets needed a seven-run sixth inning to pull out the win.  On Thursday, the Jackets needed a five-run fifth inning to pull out the win.

MSUB took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when Maddox led off with a single and was later scored on an RBI single by Davis.  Two innings later, the Wolves posted three runs on Yellowjacket starter Lisa Moore (Bakersfield, CA).  Moore (2-3) left the game after giving up a run in the bottom of the fifth, but earned the victory courtesy of the Jackets’ five-run top half of the fifth.  Moore gave up four hits, four walks, and four earned runs in four innings.  She was relieved by Lindsey Trenary (Helena, MT), who went three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while fanning three.

Maddox started the Jackets’ rally in the fifth inning with a leadoff double.  She eventually scored on a Jessica Frank (Great Falls, MT) double to right field.  Also scoring in the inning were Steph Gosselin (Victoria, BC), Frank, Davis, Jenna McCartney (Hamilton, MT).  MSUB added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on back-to-back doubles by Megan Moeller (Ontario, OR) and Stacks.

Maddox reached base five times in the game and scored two runs.  She was 2-for-2 with a double at the plate and walked three times.  Gosselin was 2-for-5 with a double and a run.  Frank went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored.  Moeller was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.  Lorel Palmer (Ogden, UT) went 2-for-5 and drove in a run.

The Yellowjackets continue play at the tournament on Friday, facing Western Washington (5-4) at 1:30 p.m. PST and host Central Washington (4-3) at 4:00 p.m. PST.  The tournament will provide MSUB a good barometer for where they stack up in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, which they will join next season.  Every team the Jackets face this weekend is from the GNAC.  MSUB will take on St. Martin’s and Seattle University on Saturday.