Yellowjackets Lose Heartbreaker on Second Day of NCAA West Region Softball Championships

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ARCATA, Calif.-  Montana State Billings (39-17) suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Humboldt State (38-19), Saturday.  The Jacks are the defending NCAA Division II National Champions.  MSUB has concluded the 2009 season.

The game was a pitching duel throughout the contest.  In the third inning, MSUB had runners at first and second with no outs.  Humboldt State came up with two great catches and a ground out to get out of the inning.  In the bottom of the third, the Jacks had a runner on second with two outs.

Natalie Galletly ripped a shot to left field.  Dawn Norcross made a beautiful over the shoulder catch to end the inning.  HSU threatened with runners at the corners with one out in the fourth inning.  MSUB then forced the Jacks to hit into a double play to end the inning.

In the sixth inning, Leslie Davis drew a walk and was replaced by Amanda Goings on the bases.  Steph Gosselin then blasted her 14th home run of the season.  That blast tied the GNAC record set in 2006 by Brandi Harrison (Humboldt State) and Mallory Holtman (Central Washington).

Humboldt State mounted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh.  Lindsay Warren doubled to right center field and moved to third on a wild pitch.  Ashley Oltjenbruns doubled down the left field line to score Warren.

A ground out moved Oltjenbruns to third.  Geneva Perrine hit a pop fly that was dropped by the Yellowjacket infield.  The Jacks grounded out to move Perrine to second.  Marissa Slattery singled to left field and her ball was misplayed.  That error allowed both runners to score and end the contest.

For MSUB, Kelly Parsons had two hits while Gosselin drove in two runs.  Kasie Conder (16-4) gave up eight hits, three runs, one of them earned, walked two and struck out six batters.

For Humboldt State, Nikki Ketteringham, Slattery and Warren had two hits each.  Gracie Perez (19-8) gave up four hits, two runs, walked one batter and struck out five.

“The pressure was on Humboldt and they responded,” MSU Billings head coach Anthony Stone said. “All season long we have been telling our pitchers just to keep us in the game.  Kasie did everything she could to win.  We, as a team, did everything possible to win but it just didn’t fall our way.”

Photos by Humboldt State Photography Services and Montana State Billings Media Relations Office