Yellowjackets Push Winning Streak to Six Straight

Game 1

Game 2

LACEY, Wash. -  Montana State Billings (6-2 GNAC, 13-7)  had a roller coaster day winning two from Saint Martin’s (0-8 GNAC, 1-12) Sunday afternoon.  The Yellowjackets won the first 14-0 and then hung on for a 4-3 win in the nightcap to push their winning streak to six games.  MSUB remain on the road, Friday, Mar. 6 taking on Western Washington.  The double header is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m.

In the first game, for the third straight time against SMU, Montana State Billings struck pay dirt its first time up.  Terina Stacks led off with a shot over the left field wall.  Crystal Bentley walked and moved to third on a single from Steph Gosselin.  Bentley was picked off at third followed by a walk to Bekah Tsatsa.

A wild pitch advanced both runners.  Leslie Davis ripped a single to right field.  Gosselin scored and Tsatsa was thrown out at home.  That throw moved Davis to second.  Alyssa Frank singled through the left side to score Davis.  Frank stole second and then scored off a single up the middle by Whitney Whittemore.

MSUB scored one in each of the next two innings to make it 6-0.  The Yellowjackets then broke the game open in the fifth.  They used an error and five hits to score eight runs to put the game out of reach.

For Montana State Billings, they pounded out 16 hits in 30 at-bats.  Gosselin led the charge by going 4-for-4 and scoring two runs.  Dawn Norcross went 3-for-4, scored two runs and had a solo home run in the second.  Davis ended up 2-for-4, scored two runs and drove in three while Frank had two hits.  Kasie Conder (4-2) threw a three hitter with five strikeouts recording a putout and an assist.

In game two, MSUB scored in the first inning for the sixth straight game.  Stacks led off with a single up the middle and moved to third on a single by Shay Oberg.  Oberg attempted to steal second and was caught in a rundown.  She delayed enough to allow Stacks to score from third.

Saint Martin’s countered in the bottom of the first.  With two outs, a single and two walks loaded the bases for the Saints.  A wild pitch allowed Kristine Kaneshiro to score.  The Jackets got a fly out to right field to end the inning.

In the top of the second, Jenna VanEykeren singled and moved to second on a single by Amanda Goings.  Whittemore laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance both runners.  Norcross singled through the left side to score VanEykeren and move Goings to third.

Stevie Howard then laid down a bunt in front of the plate.  The catcher fielded the ball and attempted to make a play on Goings.  Her throw sailed into the outfield allowing both Goings and Norcross to score.  In the bottom of the second, a failed pickoff allowed the Saints to score a run.

In the fifth inning, SMU attempted to mount a comeback.  Kaneshiro doubled and then scored off a single by Kelsey McGladrey.  Following a single from Lisa Holombo, the Saints third straight hit, MSUB went to the bullpen.

Lisa Moore came in and got a ground out and then walked a batter.  She got Holly Morris to fly out to left field to end the inning.  After giving up a leadoff single in the sixth, Moore settled down and got six straight outs to end the game.

At the plate, Montana State Billings had seven players get one hit each.  Josie Grotbo (3-1) gave up six hits, three runs, walked four and struck out three batters in four and one-third innings for the win.  Moore gave up just one hit in two and two-third innings for her first save of the season.