Yellowjacket Softball Splits for First Win (2/12/06)
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PHOENIX, AZ – The Montana State-Billings softball team spit two games at the Grand Canyon tournament to earn its first win of the season Sunday.  After losing 12-0 to Cal State-Dominguez Hills in the morning, the Yellowjackets downed host Grand Canyon University 5-2 in the late game.  The Yellowjackets are 1-3 overall.

Rebekah Tsatsa (Fr., Eagle, ID) gave up 14 hits and nine earned runs in the five-inning loss to CSU-Dominguez Hills.  The Toros scored three runs in the first inning, five in the third, and four in the fourth.  Five of their 14 hits went for extra bases.  MSU Billings managed just three hits with Jenna Haacke (So., Billings, MT), Christy Wankel (Sr., Great Falls, MT) and Cari Dunlap (Jr., Billings, MT) each singling.  Haacke is batting .333 through the first four games of the season.

The Yellowjackets rebounded in the day’s late game behind a strong pitching performance by freshman Lisa Moore (Bakersfield, CA).  She went the distance for her first collegiate victory, scattering six hits and two runs over seven innings.  Trailing 2-0 after the second, the Yellowjackets scored a pair of runs in each of the third and fourth innings.  Aysha Maddox (Jr., Richland, WA) hit a two-run triple in the top of the third inning to score Jenna McCartney (Jr., Victor, MT) and Moore.  Seven different players accounted for the Yellowjackets’ seven hits in the game.  McCartney, Moore, and Rachel Quarnburg (Jr., Billings, MT) each drove in runs.

The Yellowjackets will wrap up the Grand Canyon tourney with a doubleheader against former conference foe Hawaii-Hilo on Monday.  The Jackets will remain in Phoenix for the Triple Crown Leadoff Classic that starts Thursday.