Double Shutouts Sweep Yellowjackets into First Place

Game 1

Game 2

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -  Montana State Billings (9-3 GNAC, 16-8) won the first skirmish of the softball war against Western Washington (6-4 GNAC, 6-4) with a sweep (3-0, 8-0) Saturday afternoon.   The Yellowjackets took three of the four games on the weekend and held the Vikings scoreless for the last 20 innings of the series.  With the sweep today, the Jackets are in first place in the GNAC.  MSUB makes its home debut, Friday, Mar. 13, against Northwest Nazarene.  The game is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m.

The first game was a pitching duel as only eight hits were surrendered the entire contest.  In the second inning, with two outs, Whitney Whittemore singled down the third base line.  She stole second and then scored off a single by Amanda Goings.

In the fourth inning, Steph Gosselin led off with a solo home run.  In the bottom of the fourth, Western Washington drew four walks to load the bases with two outs.  Rebekah Tsatsa  threw a nasty 2-2 pitch that Karli Baumgartner swung and missed on.

In the fifth inning, Goings singled and was safe at second when the throw from catcher went into the outfield.  Dawn Norcross laid down a perfect bunt and Goings came around and beat the throw home to make it 3-0.

In the sixth inning, WWU had a runner on second with one out.  Tsatsa got a line out and a ground out to end the threat.  The Vikings threatened again in the seventh with a runner on first with one out.  Once again, Tsatsa came through with a strikeout and ground out to get the win.

Goings had a strong day at the plate going 2-for-3, scored a run and drove in a run.  Tsatsa (4-4) threw a very strong game giving up just three hits, walked four and struck out eight.

In the second game, one big inning sparked the way for the Yellowjackets.  In the third inning, Alyssa Frank singled and was forced out at second on a fielder’s choice from Norcross.  Stevie Howard then ripped a single with Norcross moving to third.  Howard stole second followed by a bunt single from Terina Stacks.

With the bases loaded, Shay Oberg laced a shot to right field.  The fielder tried to make a throw and booted the ball.  When the smoke cleared, Oberg was at third and MSUB had a 3-0 lead.  Gosselin then ripped a shot off the right fielder’s glove which scored Oberg and put Gosselin at third.  Kelly  Parsons then lifted the ball high and deep over the fence for a two-run shot.

In the fifth inning, Gosselin pinpointed a double down the left field line.  Following a pop out, Leslie Davis blasted the ball over the wall to make it 8-0.  In the bottom of the fifth, Lisa Moore got a foul out and two strikeouts to finish the game.

At the plate, Montana State Billings had a balance attack with eight players accounting for its nine hits.  Stacks led the way with two hits, the only Jacket to have more than one.  Davis, Oberg and parsons all finished with two RBI’s.  Moore (4-1) threw a one hitter with two walks and three strikeouts to pick up the win.

“We did very well today,” said head coach Anthony Stone.  “To win three out of four games on the road, is a pretty good accomplishment.  Western had a bunch of runners on base in the opener.  Bekah just pitched tough and got out of several jams.  In game two, our bats were rolling.  We were getting some solid hacks at the ball almost every time up.  Lisa was on fire and just owned them.  It will be nice to finally play some games at home.”