Yellowjackets Off To California for NCAA West Region Championships

BILLINGS, Mont.-  Montana State Billings will be making a return trip to California for the NCAA Division II Softball West Region Championships, May 8-10.  The Yellowjackets, who are seeded fifth, will travel to Arcata to take on No. 4 seed, Cal State Stanislaus, Friday, May 8 at 1:30 p.m.  MSUB went to Carson, Calif., for its first trip to regionals in 2005.

Cal State Stanislaus (30-18) will be making its fourth straight appearance and fifth overall.  The Warriors are led by All-CCAA first team selection Meghan Franksen.  She has 10 doubles, three triples and eight home runs, scored 29 runs, driven in 36 runs and is batting .351.  On the mound, Jessica Gaumnitz is 16-7 with 121 strikeouts and a 1.74 ERA in 165 innings.

MSUB (39-15) is led offensively by a pair of All-GNAC first team selections in Steph Gosselin and Terina Stacks.  Gosselin has 11 doubles and 13 home runs, scored 41 runs, driven in 43 runs, stolen 14 bases and is hitting .379.  Stacks has 10 doubles, two triples and six home runs, scored 38 runs, driven in 34 and is batting .385.

On the mound, the Yellowjackets have a pair of All-GNAC performers.  Kasie Conder, who made first team, is 16-3 with 145 strikeouts and a 1.54 ERA in 122 and 2/3rd innings.  Lisa Moore, who made second team, is 11-3 with 104 strikeouts and a 2.52 ERA in 100 innings.

Following the conclusion of the MSUB-CSUS game, No. 1 seed Humboldt State will take on No. 8 seed Sonoma State.  Humboldt State (37-18) is the defending West Region and NCAA Division II National champions.  The Jacks are making their 17th straight appearance and 19th overall.  Sonoma State (34-23) will be making their third appearance.

The other side of the West Region bracket is in St. George, Utah and is hosted by the No. 2 seed, Dixie State.  The other three teams are Cal State Monterey Bay, Hawaii Pacific and UC San Diego.  The winners of the two brackets will meet in a super regional on May 15-16.  The super regional is a best of three series with the winner heading to the College World Series in Salem, Virginia on May 21-25.

NCAA WEST REGION SCHEDULE – ARCATA, CALIF.

Friday, May 8

Game 1 – 1:30 p.m. – Cal State Stanislaus vs. Montana State Billings
Game 2 – 4:00 p.m. - Humboldt State vs. Sonoma State

Saturday, May 9

Game 3 – 11:00 a.m. – winner of GM 1 vs. winner of GM 2
Game 4 – 1:30 p.m. – loser of GM 1 vs. loser of GM 2*
Game 5 – 4:00 p.m. – winner of GM 4 vs. loser of GM 3*

Sunday, May 10
Game 6 – 11:00 a.m. – winner of GM 3 vs. winner of GM 5
Game 7 – Necessary only if the winner of GM 5 wins GM 6

Double-Elimination Format
* – Losing team is eliminated from tournament

NCAA WEST REGION SCHEDULE – ST. GEORGE, UTAH.

Friday, May 8

Game 1 – Hawaii Pacific vs. UC San Diego
Game 2 – Cal State Monterey Bay vs. Dixie State

Saturday, May 9

Game 3 – winner of GM 1 vs. winner of GM 2
Game 4 – loser of GM 1 vs. loser of GM 2*
Game 5 – winner of GM 4 vs. loser of GM 3*

Sunday, May 10
Game 6 – winner of GM 3 vs. winner of GM 5
Game 7 – Necessary only if the winner of GM 5 wins GM 6

Double-Elimination Format
* – Losing team is eliminated from tournament