February 14, 2008          

Lady Jackets Drop Season Opener at Leadoff Classic
   Game 1 Box Score

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Montana State Billings softball team lost its opening game of the Schutt Sports Division II Leadoff Classic 8-3 Thursday to Barry University.  The Lady Jackets faced Cal State San Bernardino in the late game but no stats are currently available.  MSUB is set to face Barry University and Cal State San Bernardino again on Friday at the Leadoff Classic in Phoenix.

In the Jackets’ early game against Barry University, Buccaneer’s pitcher Megan Young threw the complete game in earning the win.  Young allowed seven Yellowjacket hits and struck out five batters. 

Both teams were held scoreless until Barry University broke through to score three runs in the bottom of the third inning.  The Buccaneers scored the game-winning run in the fourth inning after Brittany Anderson singled to the shortstop for the RBI.  Barry scored four runs in the fourth and added another in the fifth.

The Lady Jackets’ Stephanie Gosselin (Victoria, BC) scored two runs in the game with one run coming in the fourth and seventh innings, while sophomore Stevie Howard (Prineville, Ore.) also added a run in the seventh.

Gosselin went 2-for-3 in the game with teammates Jenna Haacke (Billings) and Crystal Bentley (Kirkland, Wash.) driving in one RBI apiece.

Rebekah Tsatsa (Eagle, Idaho) pitched 3.2 innings in taking the loss.  Tsatsa gave up seven runs off eight hits before giving way to Lindsey Trenary (Helena) in the fourth inning.  Trenary allowed one run off four hits.

The Buccaneer’s Ashley Likens went 2-for-4 scoring one run and six RBIs.  Anderson was 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs for Barry University.