Yellowjackets Begin Title Defense at Western Washington

BILLINGS, Mont. – The defending Great Northwest Athletic Conference softball champions begin their title defense in 2010, taking on Western Washington in Bellingham, WA Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 27-28. The Montana State Billings Yellowjacket softball squad begins GNAC play against the Vikings with a pair of doubleheaders that begin at 12 p.m. both days. The Jackets enter conference play with a 2-3 record after the inaugural MSUB Desert Stinger Tournament in Las Vegas, two weeks ago.

This weekend is opening weekend for the Vikings who enter 2010 with hopes of improving on a disappointing season in 2009, which saw season-ending injuries hamper much of the season. The Vikings are looking to the pitching of Sarah McEnroe and Erika Quint to carry them throughout the season. WWU finished the 2009 season 20-26 overall and 16-20 in conference play, for fourth place.

Heading into the weekend, Bobbie Lee leads the team offensively with a .538 batting average after going 7-for-13 with two runs, a double and an RBI in Las Vegas. Kaycee Hoffman, who was named to the all-tournament team at the Desert Stinger, also brings in a hot bat, going 6-of-13 with a double, a home run, three runs scored and a team-leading four RBI, for a .462 average.

Head Coach Anthony Stone looks to his pitching staff to keep the Viking bats quiet, as defending GNAC Freshman of the Year, Kasie Conder, is the probable starter for the first game on Saturday. Conder struggled in Las Vegas, accumulating a 4.50 ERA and a 1-3 record in her four appearances. Conder allowed 15 earned runs in 23.1 innings pitched with 20 strikeouts and nine walks.

Lindsey Trenary brings in a 1-0 record after going 7.2 innings in three appearances, allowing just three hits, no runs and striking out seven. Trenary earned pitcher of the week honors after the Desert Stinger Tournament. Josie Grotbo will enter the circle after tossing 4.1 innings in Las Vegas and allowing six hits and four unearned runs.

As a team, MSUB is hitting .254 with 22 runs on 35 hits, nine doubles and three deep balls. The Jackets have a .384 slugging percentage and .331 on base percentage. MSUB has swiped 11 bags and been caught stealing just twice. Defensively, the Jackets have a .937 fielding percentage, committing four errors in five games.

Last season, the Yellowjackets took seven of the eight games against the Vikings, outscoring WWU 47-17. MSUB starts conference on an eight game road trip traveling to Monmouth, OR to take on preseason co-favorite, Western Oregon, after finishing the pair of doubleheaders in Bellingham.