March 12, 2008

Yellowjacket Comeback Falls Short as Mary Sweeps Twinbill

   Box Score Game One
   Box score Game Two 

BILLINGS, Mont. – Seventh-inning runs by the University of Mary sparked a sweep of the Montana State Billings softball team on Wednesday afternoon in the Yellowjackets’ home opener.  The Marauders won both games by the score of 4-3.  With the losses, the Yellowjackets fall to 6-15 on the year, while Mary improves to 11-12.   

The Yellowjackets came from behind in the first game to tie in the sixth, but gave up a run in the seventh for a 4-3 defeat.  In the nightcap, the Jackets had a 3-2 lead going into the seventh, but gave up a two run homer. 

The Marauders got on the board in the top of the second inning of the first game as Dre Brunskill led off the inning with a single and later scored on a single by Michelle Meza.  Brunskill was helped out on the base paths by an error by the Yellowjackets.  Nine-hole hitter Sara Naglosky roped a single to left field scoring Danielle Lunn who reached on the error for a 2-0 lead.

The Jackets got on the board in the bottom of the second courtesy of good heads up base running and two errors by Mary.  Stephanie Gosselin reached first on an error by the catcher and advanced to second as Mary was caught napping getting the ball back to the pitcher.  Later, she scored on a throwing error by the first baseman cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Mary increased its lead in the top of the fifth with a RBI double by Samantha Antolin for a 3-1 score.  

MSUB cut into the deficit with more smart base running in the fifth.  Jessica Frank hit a single up the middle and then stole second as Marauder hurler Ashley Watson wasn’t looking.  Frank later scored on a sacrifice fly by Crystal Bentley for a 3-2 score. 

The Marauders had a good scoring opportunity in the top of the sixth with a leadoff single, followed by some small ball with a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch moved the runner to third.  Yellowjacket hurler Rebekah Tsata got out of the jam with a flyout and a strikeout. 

The Jackets evened the score in the bottom of the sixth as Terina Stacks led off the inning with a double.  Leslie Davis reached on an error.   Jenna Haacke hit a RBI fielder’s choice, scoring Davis for a 3-3 game. 

Mary retook the lead in the top of the seventh with a leadoff single by Meghan Ward and later scored on a wild pitch for a 4-3 lead.   

The Yellowjackets had one last chance in the bottom of the inning.  Frank led off the inning with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt but were unable to get anything across falling 4-3. 

For the game, the Yellowjackets were led by Frank who went 2 for 3 and a run scored.  Tsatsa (4-6) takes the loss allowing four runs – two earned, three walks and had two strikeouts.  Mary was led by Naglosky who went 2 for 3 with a RBI.  Watson (5-4) picks up the victory, allowing six hits, three runs – one earned and had three strikeouts. 

The Yellowjackets took the early lead in the bottom of the first inning as Frank went deep for a 1-0 lead and her first home run of the season. 

Mary evened the score in the top of the fourth as Rosie Gonzales roped a RBI single down the left field line scoring Lunn who doubled to leadoff the inning for a 1-1 score.  Moments later, Ward lined a singled to center field scoring the second run of the inning for a 2-1 lead.

The Jackets tied the game in the bottom of the sixth as Stacks led off the inning with a single and later scored on a RBI single by Leslie Davis for a 2-2 score.  Crystal Bentley belted a RBI single to center field giving MSUB its first lead of the day at 3-2. 

Mary had the answer in the seventh with a two run home run by Antolin giving the Marauders a 4-3 lead.  It was Antolin’s second home run of the season. 

Like the first game, the Yellowjackets had one last chance in the bottom of the seventh inning.  Gosselin led off the inning with a hard single up the middle.  The Marauders made a call to the bullpen as Jessica Phelps relieved Brenda Langston to close the game.  Phelps retired the next three batters to win 4-3.

Stacks and Frank each had two hits in the game and each scored a run to lead the Yellowjackets.  Lisa Moore (1-5) takes the loss, allowing eight hits four earned runs, three walks and two strikeouts.  Langston (4-1) picks up the victory for the Marauders, going six innings allowing nine hits, three earned runs, two walks and four strikeouts.  Phelps picks up her first save of the season.