Luehr’s Tenth Inning Homer Gives Jackets Split (Apr. 24, 2004)
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

BILLINGS, MT – Caitlin Luehr’s pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the tenth inning gave MSU Billings a doubleheader split with visiting BYU-Hawaii on Saturday.  The Yellowjackets won the first game, 2-0 on Luehr’s shot.  BYU-Hawaii came back to take game two, 4-0.  The Jackets are 21-28 overall and 4-14 in the PacWest.  The Seasiders are 12-17, 4-6.

#16 Caitlin Luehr

Luehr, a freshman from Kalispell, Mont., pinch-hit for Megan McCrae with one out in the bottom of the tenth inning of a scoreless game.  Luehr sent Echo Hatch’s 0-2 offering over the left-centerfield fence for her first home run and just her fourth hit of the season.  The hit also scored Layne Pavey, who had reached on a fielder’s choice to lead off the inning.  Stephanie Cochrun was placed on second base to start the inning according to international tie-breaker rules.  She was thrown out at the plate by Seasiders’ leftfielder Mandy Kirkham.

The game made it to the tenth inning on the arms of two of the top pitchers in the Pacific West Conference.  Yellowjacket hurler Joey Ehnes earned her eighteenth win of the season by scattering four hits over ten innings and striking out 12.  The Seasiders’ Hatch was nearly as effective, giving up six hits and striking out five in 9 1/3 innings. 

MSU Billings came within feet of winning the game on three earlier occasions.  Theresa Campbell, Layne Pavey and Christy Wankel all hit balls over the leftfield fence that were just outside the foul pole.  Hatch then retired each of them to get out of trouble.  The Jackets’ Sara Hanley was the only player in the game with multiple hits, going 2-for-4.

After pitching 10 innings in the first game, Ehnes started the second game and gave up two runs in the first inning.  BYUH’s Chynna Wilcox reached on an error and scored on a Teresa Rushton double.  Rushton then scored on a single by Amanda Nino.

McCrae relieved Ehnes in the second inning, striking out six and allowing three hits and two runs in five innings.  Her only mistake was a 2-2 pitch to Brooke Hilton that was sent over the centerfield fence for a two-run homer.  It was the first home run for any Seasider this season. 

The Yellowjackets threatened in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with one out.  Pavey flied out to left and Luehr struck out swinging to end the threat.  Stephanie Cochrun pitched the seventh for the Jackets, retiring three of the four batters she faced. 

MSU Billings threatened again in the bottom of the seventh, with Hanley’s two-out double moving Cami Rainey to third.  But cleanup hitter Theresa Campbell struck out to end the game. 

BYUH’s Lisa Hansen pitched seven innings for the win, allowing six hits and striking out five.  Nino went 2-for-3 at the plate.  Hilton was 2-for-2 with two RBI. 

Hanley was 2-for-4 again to go 4-for-8 for the day.  Cochrun was 1-for-2 with a walk.

The Yellowjackets and Seasiders will take Sunday off before meeting for another conference doubleheader on Monday with games at noon and 2:00 p.m.  Sodexho will serve a barbeque lunch at the noon game.  Six dollars will buy one adult admission and one barbeque lunch.