Jackets Swept by Wolves, 10-6 and 3-0

Game One

Game Two

MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Montana State Billings softball team dropped a pair of Great Northwest Athletic Conference games to Western Oregon University on Sunday afternoon at WOU Softball Field, 10-6 and 3-0. The losses drop the Yellowjackets to 6-7 on the season and 4-4 in GNAC play, also dropping the series to the Wolves, three games to one.

“It’s disappointing to leave here with a 1-3 record,” said head coach Anthony Stone. “We need to return home and continue to work hard on improving our game and get ready for our upcoming home games against Northwest Nazarene.”

The Yellowjackets jumped on the Wolves early in game one, staking a five run lead after getting three in the second and a pair of runs in the third. Becca Frank scored the first run of the game after pinch running for Rachel Eisenmann, coming around to score after Madison Smith hit an RBI single up the middle. Kelly Parsons then took the ball deep for a pair of runs and finish the scoring in the second.

In the third, Stevie Howard would score off of a single by Kaycee Hoffman and would later score herself after Frank singled to right.

Lindsey Trenary seemed to be coasting to her fifth victory, giving up just one through the first three, but the Wolves tacked on five runs in the fourth with a grand slam to claim a 6-5 edge. Josie Grotbo was then brought in after Trenary went 4 2/3 innings allowing seven runs, five earned, on 11 hits.

Western Oregon would add one run in the fifth and three more in the sixth, taking the first by the four run margin.
                                    
Trenary suffered her first loss of the season, dropping to 4-1 on the year. As a team, MSUB had six runs on nine hits but had a season-high five errors defensively. Grotbo threw 1 1/3 innings allowing three runs, none earned.

In the second game, MSUB was unable to strike up any type of offense, getting only three hits as Lessard shut down the Yellowjackets with a complete game three-hitter, striking out eight and walking five.

The Wolves scored single runs in the second, third and fifth innings. Kasie Conder allowed two of those runs on four hits in four complete innings pitched. She dropped to 2-6 on the season with the loss. Grotbo again came on in relief, allowing the final run, throwing two complete innings with two hits, walking one and striking out one.
The Yellowjackets will return home this week for their home opener with a double header against Northwest Nazarene on Friday, Mar. 12, with the first game at 1 p.m. The Crusaders and Jackets will have another double dip on Saturday with the first pitch again at 1 p.m.