Lady Jackets Earn Split at Easton Tournament of Champions (Apr. 2, 2004)
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

MODESTO, CA – A rare bunt single by a Yellowjacket power hitter provided the winning run that gave MSU Billings a two-game split on day one of the Easton Tournament of Champions on Friday.  Slugger Theresa Campbell dropped a bunt single down the third base line in the bottom of the eighth inning to plate Sara Hanley from third for the winning run in a 4-3 victory over Chico State.  The Jackets dropped their late game, 7-3, to the West Region’s ninth-ranked team, Cal State-Dominguez Hills. 

“We had a pretty good day overall,” said Yellowjacket head coach Jeff Aumend.  “Our flight out of Billings was delayed, so we were literally changing into our uniforms in the parking lot 20 minutes before our first game.  We played well enough to win, so I guess it worked out.”

The Yellowjackets broke open a scoreless tie with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning against Chico State.  Campbell drew a walk to lead off the inning and was followed by an Aysha Blatter RBI triple.  In the next at bat, Christy Wankel grounded to the second baseman and Blatter was gunned down at the plate on the fielder’s choice. 

Wankel advanced to third on a wild pitch and a passed ball before pitcher Joey Ehnes singled to left center to score Wankel.  Anna Henderson, who had walked, advanced to third on Ehnes’s single.  Hanley followed with an RBI single to center to plate Henderson.  Following a Chico State pitching change, Stephanie Cochrun grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.

The Wildcats erased the Jackets’ lead in the top of the sixth, scoring three runs to force extra innings.  Using international tiebreaker rules, Hanley was placed on second base to start the Jackets’ half of the eighth.  She advanced to third on a Cochrun groundout to the pitcher before Campbell’s unlikely bunt produced the winning run.

Ehnes was 2-for-3 with an RBI.  She struck out five in eight innings of work on the mound to improve to 11-13 for the season.  Hanley, Cochrun, Campbell and Blatter each picked up one hit, while Hanley, Campbell and Blatter drove in one RBI apiece.

MSU Billings fell behind quickly in the nightcap against CSU-Dominguez Hills.  The No. 9 Toros scored three runs in the second inning and two more in the third, and Valerie Long went the distance for the win, striking out 10 Yellowjackets.  MSU Billings managed a run in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings.  Starter Megan McCrae took the loss, giving up seven hits and five runs in three innings.  Cochrun pitched three innings in relief, allowing two hits and two runs.

Cami Rainey was 2-for-4 at the plate for the Yellowjackets with an RBI and a run scored.  Hanley went 1-for-2 with an RBI triple.  Henderson had an RBI on a groundout to second base in the seventh inning.  Layne Pavey was 1-for-2 with a run scored, and Jordan Waverek was 1-for-1 and scored a run. 

The Yellowjackets continue play at the ETOC on Saturday morning with an 11:15 a.m. game against San Francisco State.  They will play again at 1:30 p.m. against Grand Canyon, which is ranked tenth in the West Region.  Sunday’s games are bracket elimination games with seeding based on round robin play.

Note:  The Yellowjackets return to Cenex Stadium for two Pacific West Conference doubleheaders with Hawaii Pacific on April 10 and 11.  The start time for Saturday’s double dip is 3:00 p.m.  Easter Sunday’s scheduled noon start has been moved back to 1:30 p.m.