One Up, One Down for Jackets on Day Two of Las Vegas Classic (Feb. 6, 2004)

LAS VEGAS, NV – Montana State-Billings split two games for the second straight day at the Las Vegas Classic softball tournament, losing the morning game to 12^th-ranked Barry, 7-0, and defeating Vanguard in the afternoon, 4-2. 

Megan McCrae (0-2) took the loss against Barry, giving up five runs in five innings of work.  Stephanie Cochrun relieved McCrae with two out and two on in the sixth to get the Jackets out of the inning.  She also pitched the seventh, retiring three straight batters.  The Buccaneers, who improved to 5-0 with the win, were led by Maile Keeney’s three-run homer in the top of the third. 

Joey Ehnes went the distance in game two, picking up her second win in as many starts.  She struck out seven while allowing just one earned run.  The Yellowjackets used a three-run second inning to pull away.  Christy Wankel doubled to open the second and was driven in by Aysha Blatter two batters later.  Stephanie Cochrun, who had singled earlier in the inning, scored on a passed ball for the Jackets’ second run.  Anna Henderson then drove in Blatter with an RBI single.  Henderson picked up her second RBI of the game in the fourth inning when her sacrifice fly plated Ehnes.  Blatter and Sara Hanley went 2-for-3 at the plate.

The Yellowjackets, now 2-2 overall, will face Colorado School of Mines and Pittsburg State (Kansas) on Saturday to wrap up the Las Vegas tournament.  They open PacWest play next week in Hawaii.

Barry 7, MSU Billings 0 (2/6/04 at Las Vegas)
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Barry    004 012 0 – 7 11 1
MSUB  000 000 0 – 0  3  2
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Pitchers: Barry – Bennett, Backe (6); MSUB: McCrae, Cochrun (6)
Catchers: Barry – Radda; MSUB: Pavey
Win: Bennet (3-0); Loss: McCrae (0-2) 

MSU Billings 4, Vanguard 2 (2/6/04 at Las Vegas)
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MSUB  030 100 0 –  4 10 1
Van        011 000 0 – 2  2  3
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Pitchers: MSUB – Ehnes; Van – Jen Olvena, Jen Ryder (4)
Catchers: MSUB – DelSignore; Van – Heather Durham
Win: Ehnes (2-0); Loss: Olvena (0-1)