Lady Jackets Sweep Word (4/14/07)
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
Game Photos 

BILLINGS, MT – The Montana State-Billings softball team completed a series sweep of Incarnate Word on Saturday, winning the first game 9-0 in six innings and the second 3-1.  The Yellowjackets put the wraps on a successful Senior Day, completing a four-game series sweep of the Cardinals following two wins on Friday.

MSU Billings moved above .500 for the second time this season, improving to 22-20 overall.  They also took over third place in the Heartland Conference standings at 10-5.  MSUB needs Incarnate Word to beat St. Mary’s twice next week to create a two-way tie for second between the Rattlers and Yellowjackets.  The Cardinals dropped to 18-29 overall and 6-12 in the league.  The Yellowjackets have won five-straight against Word dating back to last year’s conference tournament.

In the first game, the Jackets rode a two-hitter from starter Terina Stacks (Washougal, WA).  Behind a pair of seniors, the Jacket offense continued a Cenex Stadium power surge that started Friday.

Stacks struck out four without a walk and scattered two singles over six complete innings.  She improved to 5-4 with the win.  Seniors Jenna McCartney (Hamilton, MT) and Megan Moeller (Ontario, OR) were each perfect at the plate and accounted for six of the team’s nine runs.  McCartney was 3-for-3 with a double and her first home run of the season.  She drove in three RBIs to go with three runs.  Moeller was 2-for-2 with a double and her first home run of the year.  She had one RBI and also scored three runs.

MSUB broke away from a 2-0 lead with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.  The barrage was started by a Moeller double to the fence to start the inning.  The Jackets added three runs in the bottom of the sixth to end the game.  With one out in the sixth, Moeller lofted a solo shot inside the left field foul pole.  After a Lorel Palmer (Ogden, UT) walk, McCartney ended the game with a two-run blast to straight away center.  The Yellowjackets entered the weekend with nine home runs all season, but hit six in the four games against the Cardinals.

MSU Billings appeared as though it would carry the offensive momentum into the second game, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first.  All three runs were unearned.  A two-RBI single from Jenna Haacke (Billings, MT) did most of the damage.  Palmer, Leslie Davis (Federal Way, WA), and Haacke each scored in the inning.

The three-run cushion was enough for Yellowjacket starter Lisa Moore (Bakersfield, CA).  She went the distance, allowing just one hit and one run in seven innings.  Moore struck out five and walked three, improving to 5-5. 

McCartney was 2-for-2 with a double in the game.  On the day, she was 5-for-5 with two doubles and a home run.  Fellow senior Aysha Maddox (Richland, WA) was 2-for-2 with an RBI.  Maddox broke the school career record for games played with Saturday’s games.  She has appeared in 187 games in the last four seasons.

The Cardinals’ Monica Gutierrez gave up seven hits in six innings.  She struck out three and walked three, but was bit by the three first inning unearned runs.  Allison Brit scored the Cards’ only run of the game.  She also stole two bases in the second game and three total for the day, giving her 28 swipes on the season.

Saturday was Senior Day for Maddox, McCartney, Moeller, and Palmer.  The four will have two more home games remaining when the Yellowjackets host University of Great Falls on April 22.  MSUB will play on the road April 20 and 21 at Idaho State.  The Heartland Conference tournament will be April 26-28 in San Antonio.