Yellowjackets Sweep GNAC Openerss, 6-5 and 2-0
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The defending Great Northwest Athletic Conference champions picked up in 2010 were they left off in 2009, winning. The Montana State Billings Yellowjackets swept a pair of games from Western Washington in both teams’ GNAC openers, 6-5 in game one and 2-0 in game two.
Kasie Conder rebounded from a rough pair of outings at the Desert Stinger to claim the victory in game one and Lindsey Trenary had another outstanding performance in game two, shutting down the Vikings to pick up her second win of the season.
The Yellowjacket (4-3) offense combined for 15 hits and scored eight runs in the two victories over the Vikings (0-2). Kaycee Hoffman hit her second home run of the season, going 4-for-7 with a run scored and a pair of RBI. Senior Stevie Howard went a combined 3-for-5 with two runs scored an RBI and one walk.
Game 1, 6-5
The Yellowjackets got off to a quick start in the first game as the first three batters of the game reached base safely. Amanda Hood had a shot into left field followed by a single by Howard which had runners at first and second. Head Coach Anthony Stone decided to send Hood and Howard on a double steal of second and third to give the Jackets a scoring opportunity.
Senior Whitney Whittemore then drove in Hood with an RBI single to center field to give the Jackets the early 1-0 lead. The very next batter, Kelly Parsons, drove the ball to center field for a sacrifice fly, which scored Howard from third and capped the two run first inning for the Jackets.
The Vikings were quick to answer, getting a pair of runs on a throwing error by Howard after a double by Rachelle Berry.
MSUB responded again in the third, scoring two runs with two outs in the inning. Howard walked with the two outs, and then advanced to second after Whittemore singled to right field. Parsons then picked up her second RBI when she singled into right field to score Howard. The second run was scored when junior transfer, Kaycee Hoffman, smacked the ball into left field and scored Whittemore.
The Yellowjackets took a commanding 6-2 lead in the top of the fourth when Bobbie Lee hit a sacrifice fly to score Rachel Eisenmann who had reached on an error by the centerfielder. The second run came across the plate when Ashley Moeller scored off of a single by Hood.
The Vikings tried to get back in the game when Meghan Flem hit a three-run home run down the line, which looked to be foul but counted, and cut the Jackets lead to 6-5. Conder took care of the rest, retiring nine of the last ten batters she faced.
Conder (2-3) picked up her second win of the season, tossing seven complete innings, allowing five runs, three earned, on eight hits and fanning three.
The Yellowjackets had three errors in the game, but countered with 10 hits and a pair of walks. MSUB stranded five while the Vikings left six on the bases.
Game 2, 2-0
With Trenary in the circle for the second game, the Yellowjacket defense stiffened and gobbled up every ball that was hit their way, preserving a shutout even with nine Viking hits. Trenary (2-0) earned her second victory, striking out three and giving up no walks.
The Yellowjackets got on the board in the top of the second inning when Hoffman crushed the ball over the fence for a home run and a 1-0 lead.
MSUB struck again in the fifth as Madison Smith singled to right and then Becca Frank walked to move Smith to second. After Lee popped the ball up in foul territory, Hood reached on a fielder’s choice when she tried to lay down a bunt to move Frank over to third but was out.
Howard stepped up to the plate next and sent a pitch into right field for an RBI single that scored Frank and gave the Jackets the 2-0 lead.
MSUB finished the game with two runs on five hits off of Erika Quint, stranding five. The Vikings managed their nine hits but left eight runners aboard and committed one error.
The Yellowjackets and Vikings will make-up their doubleheader from Friday, which were postponed due to rain, on Monday starting at 1 p.m.
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