Yellowjacket Softball Drops Extra-Inning Heartbreaker to Grand Canyon, 7-5

Box Score

PHOENIX, Ariz.. – The Lead-Off Classic ended on a sour note for the Montana State Billings softball team as it dropped a 7-5, eight-inning, heartbreaker to Grand Canyon Sunday morning.  With the loss, the Yellowjackets fall to 7-5 overall, while Grand Canyon improved to 11-3.

The ‘Lopes jumped on the board in the second inning courtesy of a pair of defensive miscues by MSUB, including scoring the run on an error by Yellowjacket hurler Kasie Conder.

MSUB scored the equalizer in its final at bat and final out as Stephanie Gosselin and Crystal Bentley singled followed by Bentley advancing to third on an error.  Moments later, Terina Stacks singled through the left side for the game tying run.  MSUB left two on base in the inning which sent the game to International style extra-innings with a runner starting on second base. 

Grand Canyon scored six runs on six hits in the inning as it went ahead 7-1 going into the bottom of the inning.  MSUB responded with four runs of its own in the eighth, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the six runs by the ‘Lopes in the top half.  The Yellowjackets had three RBI singles and a RBI fielder’s choice for the runs in the inning.

Conder (3-1) went the distance for MSUB, allowing seven hits, seven runs-five earned, no walks and five strikeouts.  Stacks led the Yellowjackets offensively going 3 for 5 with a RBI as MSUB pounded out 12 hits by eight different players.  However, three errors leading to the two decisive runs proved costly for MSUB.
The Yellowjackets begin conference play Sat., Feb. 21, at Western Oregon with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. Pacific time.  The series will conclude with a doubleheader Feb. 22 at 12 p.m.

MSUB opens the home portion of the schedule Fri., Mar. 13 versus Northwest Nazarene at 1 p.m. at Cenex Stadium.