Softball Hits the Road Once Again

BILLINGS, Mont. -  Montana State Billings should be getting frequent traveler miles.  The Yellowjackets remain on the road taking on Saint Martin’s, Saturday, Feb. 28 and Sunday, Mar. 1 in a pair of GNAC doubleheaders.  The games are scheduled to start at noon on both days.

Montana State Billings is coming off of a split against defending GNAC champion Western Oregon on Feb. 21 and 22. On the 21st, Western Oregon swept the Yellowjackets 3-2 and 2-0 to open the GNAC season.  The following day, the Jackets returned the favor with their own sweep, 6-5 and 10-8.

MSUB is currently 2-2 in the GNAC and 9-7 overall with all of their games coming on the road.  The Jackets opened the season by going 3-1 at the Best of the West Invitational in Turlock, Calif., Feb. 7-8.  One of their victories was over Cal State Dominguez Hills, an NCAA West Regional qualifier in 2008.
Terina Stacks and Rebekah Tsatsa were named to the all-tournament team at the Best of the West.  Tsatsa went 1-1 and gave up 10 hits, four runs, three earned and struck out 21 batters in 16 innings for a 1.69 ERA.  Stacks hit .385 (5-for-13) with a double and a home run, scored two runs and drove in five runs.  She had a slugging percentage of .692 and extended her hitting streak to eight games.
Following a loss to San Francisco State, the Yellowjackets bounced back sweeping a doubleheader from CSU Dominguez Hills on Feb. 11.  Montana State Billings headed south from California to Arizona competing in the Lead Off Classic.  MSUB went 2-3 at the tournament with wins over Western New Mexico and New Mexico Highlands.

Offensively, the Yellowjackets are hitting .263 and scoring over 4.5 runs per game.  Steph Gosselin has one double and five home runs, has scored 14 runs, driven in 15 with a slugging percentage of .635 while hitting .327.  Stacks has hit three doubles, scored 16 runs and driven in 10 with a batting average of .320.

Whitney Whittemore has scored nine runs while hitting .300.  Alyssa Frank has had four doubles and two home runs, scored 10 runs and driven in eight while hitting .278.

On the mound, MSUB has struck out 100 batters and has a 3.46 ERA and is holding their opponents to hitting just .232.  Lisa Moore is 2-0 with 13 strikeouts and a 1.59 ERA in 17 innings.  Rebekah Tsatsa is 2-4 with a 2.45 ERA and a team high 45 strikeouts in 40 and 1/3rd innings.  Kasie Conder is 3-2 with 29 strikeouts while Josie Grotbo is 2-1.

“We have a long road trip, and some very tough games ahead of us.”  Said head coach Anthony Stone.  “It will be important for us to keep our energy and ensure our focus remains on softball and being competitive.  We haven’t hit our stride just yet, so I am looking forward to the time that we finally do.  It should make for some exciting games.”