Split Gives Jackets 3 of 4 wins vs. Hawaii-Hilo (April 26, 2003)

BILLINGS, MT – Sophomore pitcher Joey Ehnes threw a three-hitter in the second game of a PacWest Conference doubleheader vs. Hawaii-Hilo leading the Montana State-Billings softball team to an 8-1 win and the third of four wins against the league’s second place team.

Ehnes got support from the Yellowjackets offense at MSUB’s Cenex Stadium as freshmen Christy Wankel and Michelle Falsken and sophomore Layne Pavey each hit home runs in the win. The Jackets, who lost the first game 14-2 in five innings, moved their record to 15-16 overall and 6-10 in the PacWest. Hawaii-Hilo drops to 27-18 overall and 12-8 in the PacWest. Ehnes moves to 7-3 on the year with the win. Sophomore pitchers Megan McCrae and Jordan Waverek pitched in game one with McCrae (8-10) suffering the loss. The Yellowjackets fell behind 2-0 in the top of the first inning and had five errors in the game while Hawaii-Hilo banged out 17 hits.

“To win three of four from a team with the reputation of Hawaii-Hilo, we have to be excited,” said head coach Jeff Aumend, who started the program just three years ago. “We’ve played in some close games this year, losing seven one-run games, so we knew we would break out, eventually. We’re on track for a relatively new program.” 

The Yellowjackets travel to Colorado Springs, Colorado on Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2 to battle conference leader and the nation’s fifth-ranked NCAA Division II team, Western New Mexico University.