Yellowjackets Sweep Crusaders to Break Record

Game 1

Game 2

NAMPA, Idaho-  Montana State Billings (29-7 GNAC, 38-12) set a school record as they swept Northwest Nazarene (5-29 GNAC, 8-39) 4-1 and 8-5 on the softball field Saturday afternoon.  The Yellowjackets have now broken the school record for wins in a season, which had been 36 in 2005.  The sweep also guaranteed that the Jackets will have at least a one game lead in the GNAC heading into the final weekend of the regular season.

In game one, Montana State Billings started off in its first at-bat.  Terina Stacks led off with a triple to right center field.  Northwest Nazarene recorded a fly out and a ground out.  Bekah Tsatsa then singled to the right side to score Stacks.

In the third inning, the Yellowjackets got things going with two outs.  Tsatsa singled to the left side and was replaced by pinch runner Amanda Goings.  Goings stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch on the third strike to Shay Oberg.  Kelly Parsons singled down the right field line to score Goings.

In the sixth inning, Whitney Whittemore reached first on an error by the right fielder.  Bobbie Lee laid down a bunt single and Whittemore moved to third on another error.  Stacks dropped a single into left field to score Whittemore and Lee.

In the seventh inning, the Crusaders scored a run with one out to break up the shutout bid.  Kasie Conder then got a ground out and strikeout to end the game.

For MSUB, Stacks was 2-for-3, scored a run and drove in two runs while Tsatsa and Parsons had two hits each.  Conder (16-3) gave up four hits, one run which was unearned, walked one and struck out 11 for the win.  It was her third straight start with at least 10 strikeouts.

In game two, the third inning was a hot inning for both teams.  With one out, Stevie Howard drew a walk.  Following a fly out, Leslie Davis singled to left field.  Steph Gosselin came up and crushed a double to left center field to score both runners.

In the bottom of the third, Jael Henthorn and Arielle Chao both drew walks.  Another walk, this one to Vanessa Shaw loaded the bases.  Chelsey Anderson singled to center field to score Henthorn.  NNU tied it up as a walk to Kristin Refsland pushed Chao across the plate.

MSUB scored a run in the fourth inning to go back up 3-2.  In the fourth, the Jackets tried to get some breathing room.  With one out, Gosselin walked and then came home as Tsatsa pounded the ball over the fence in dead center field.  Jenna VanEykeren singled and Bobbie Lee dropped in a single as well.

Dawn Norcross came in to pinch hit and singled through the left side.  VanEykeren got caught in a rundown which allowed Lee to move to third.  Norcross stole second and she and Lee were driven in by a single from Amanda Hood.

In the bottom of the fifth, Northwest Nazarene showed they were not quite ready to surrender.  NNU used three hits to score three runs.  That made it 7-5 in favor of MSUB.

In the sixth inning, Davis singled and stole second.  Tsatsa singled to left field to score Davis and make it 8-5.  The Yellowjackets retired the side in the sixth and seventh innings to end the game.

Tsatsa was 2-for-3 and drove in three runs while Howard went 3-for-3.  Gosselin and Hood both drove in two runs.  Lisa Moore (10-2) gave up three hits, three runs, walked five and struck out four batters.  Conder set down the side in the seventh to pick up her school record third save of the season.

“We did what we had to do this weekend,” said head coach Anthony Stone.  “This was a long and brutal weekend with six games in three day.  I’m very pleased to come away with five wins.  We battled through some injuries and end of the season tiredness.  Next weekend is a big weekend as we play Central Washington for the conference championship.”