Yellowjackets Cruise to MSU Billings Invitational Championship (Mar. 20, 2004)
MSU Billings Invitational Stats and Results

BILLINGS, MT – Big offensive games punctuated an unbeaten weekend for the Montana State-Billings softball team as it went 5-0 to win its own invitational tournament.  The Yellowjackets defeated Northern State 10-0 in the championship game behind home runs from Cami Rainey and Joey Ehnes.  MSU Billings outscored its opponents by a combined score of 50-2 over the two days.

In the Jackets’ opening game Saturday, Stephanie Cochrun’s three run homer in the second inning ended a scoreless tie to help MSUB to an 11-0 victory over Valley City State in five innings.  Cochrun was 1-for-2 in the game with four RBI and a run scored.  Theresa Campbell went 3-for-3 with two RBI and a runs scored.  Sara Hanley was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored.  Layne Pavey was 2-for-2 and scored three times.  Pavey led all players with a .615 batting average for the tournament.

Joey Ehnes pitched three innings for the win, striking out seven of the 13 batters she faced.  Jordan Waverek closed out the final two innings, striking out three and allowing just one hit.  Amber Moore and Jamie Lovstad collected the Vikings’ only two hits in the game.

Northern State defeated Dawson CC, 4-1, in the second semifinal game to reach the championship game against the Yellowjackets.  Following a scoreless first inning, the Yellowjackets manufactured four runs in the second to give pitcher Joey Ehnes a comfortable lead. 

A Pavey single scored Campbell from second base.  After loading the bases, the Jackets scored when Aysha Blatter reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Pavey from third.  Two batters later, Anna Henderson singled to center field to plate Christy Wankel and Cochrun.  Henderson was 4-for-4 in the game with two RBI and two runs scored.

MSU Billings put the game out of reach in the fourth inning on home runs from Rainey and Ehnes.  Rainey started the rally with a one-out solo shot over the left-center field fence.  After a Henderson infield single, Ehnes hit a two-run blast to give the Yellowjackets a 7-0 lead.  MSUB tacked on three runs in the sixth to end the game with the eight run rule.

Ehnes was 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored in the game.  On the mound she struck out eight batters in five innings for her tenth win of the season.  She struck out 21 in 13 innings of work during the tournament.  Pavey was 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.  Cochrun was 3-for-4, scoring once and driving in an RBI.  Cochrun batted .571 for the tournament, scoring six times and driving in seven runs. 

Campbell was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.  She batted .533 for the weekend and led all players in slugging percentage (1.000), runs scored (7), hits (8), RBI (11), total bases (15), and home runs (2).  She hit a game-winning three run homer against Northern State on Friday in a 4-1 Yellowjackets win.

MSU Billings next plays at the Easton Tournament of Champions hosted by Cal State-Stanislaus on April 2-4.  The tournament is the largest Division II tournament played in the West Region.  The Yellowjackets are scheduled to face Chico State, Cal State-Dominguez Hills, San Francisco State, and Grand Canyon.  MSUB’s next home games will be April 10 and 11 when the Yellowjackets host Hawaii Pacific in two PacWest Conference doubleheaders.

Click HERE for photos of the Yellowjacket Softball Invitational

Dawson CC 17, Valley City State 1
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DCC                461 42 – 17 16 0
VCSU              100 00 –   1   4 7
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Winning Pitcher: Ashley Fekula
Losing Pitcher: Abbey Kochel

MSU Billings 11, Valley City State 0
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MSUB              042 50 – 11 14 1
VCSU              000 00 –   0   2 1
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Winning Pitcher: Joey Ehnes (9-13)
Losing Pitcher: Brandi Hart

Northern State 4, Dawson CC 1
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DCC                000 000 1 – 1 4 4
NSU                 000 103 x – 4 2 2
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Winning Pitcher: Christie Schulte
Losing Pitcher: Ashley Fekula

MSU Billings 10, Northern State 0
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MSUB              040 303 – 10 14 0
NSU                 000 000 –   0   2 3
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Winning Pitcher: Joey Ehnes (10-13)
Losing Pitcher: Lisa Koehler