Yellowjackets Drop Pair of Two Run Games at Western New Mexico (Mar. 12, 2004)
Game #1 Box Score
Game #2 Box Score

SILVER CITY, NM – Entering the weekend having won four of their last five, the MSU Billings Yellowjackets lost twice at Western New Mexico on Friday, falling 5-3 in both games.  The Yellowjackets and Mustangs will face each other again on Saturday.  MSUB fell to 9-20 overall and 0-10 in the PacWest Conference.  WNMU improved to 14-6, 2-0.  Twelve of the Yellowjackets’ 20 losses have come in one- and two-run games.

The Yellowjackets struck first in game one, plating a run in the top of the first inning when Stephanie Cochrun reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Joey Ehnes.  Cochrun accounted for all of the Yellowjackets’ RBI in the game, driving in two more runs in the top of the sixth on her first home run of the season.  Sara Hanley, who had singled, scored on the Cochrun homer.  Cochrun was 1-for-3 in the game. 

The Mustangs scored a run in the fourth to tie the game before plating three in the fifth and one in the sixth to take the lead.  Angela Slaugh, the reigning PacWest pitcher of the year, picked up the win for WNMU.  She allowed five hits and struck out 13 Yellowjackets.  Joey Ehnes took the loss for MSU Billings, falling to 7-11.  She gave up seven hits and five earned runs in six innings of work, striking out four. 

The Yellowjackets were cruising in game two, scoring one run each in the first, second and sixth innings to take a 3-0 lead.  Cami Rainey scored from third base in the first inning when Cochrun reached on an error by the pitcher.  In the second, Megan McCrae doubled and was driven in by a Rainey single.  Hanley gave the Jackets a three run lead when she double and scored on a Layne Pavey RBI single in the top of the sixth.

MSU Billings suffered another late game collapse, allowing the Mustangs five runs in the bottom of the sixth.  The Mustangs’ Stephanie Kirkpatrick sparked the rally with a two-RBI triple.  Megan Gross registered the win, allowing seven hits and two earned runs in six innings.  Slaugh struck out two of three batters in the seventh inning and retired the side for the save.

McCrae went the distance for the Jackets to collect the loss and fall to 1-8 for the year.  She gave up five hits and three earned runs.  Rainey was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.  Pavey was 2-for-3 with an RBI.  McCrae, Hanley and Ehnes were each 1-for-3.