Yellowjackets Swept at BYU-Hawaii (February 24, 2003)

LAIE, HI – The MSU Billings women’s softball team lost two PacWest Conference games Monday, falling to BYU-Hawaii 3-2 and 3-2.  The Yellowjackets dropped to 1-7 overall and 1-5 in the PacWest.  The Seasiders improved to 7-4, 4-0.

The Yellowjackets put two runs on the board in the top of the first inning of game one and led until the bottom of the seventh when they gave up two runs.  Megan McCrae pitched 6 1/3 innings, striking out six and allowing six hits. 

Michelle Falsken reached on a walk in the top of the first and was driven home by a Sara Hanley triple.  Theresa Campbell hit safely behind Hanley to give the Jackets a 2-0 lead in the first.  The Seasiders put together a run in the bottom half of the inning before McCrae threw five scoreless innings.

The Seasiders rallied in the bottom of the seventh.  Emily Lister drove in Crystal Elton to tie the game at 2-2.  Michelle Gibson followed with the game-winning hit, driving in Laura Nelson, who had reached on an error.  Lisa Hansen recorded her fifth win for the Seasiders.

The Yellowjackets fell behind early in game two, but again led by one going into the bottom half of the seventh.  BYU-Hawaii took an early lead, scoring one run in the second inning.  MSUB tied the game in the top of the fifth when Hanley drove in Stephanie Cochrun.  In the top of the seventh, the Jackets’ Christy Wankel scored on Hanley’s single to tie the game at 2-2.  Hanley was 2-for-3 with two RBI. 

Elton led off the bottom of the seventh with a double to centerfield.  Stephanie Grigg bunted for a base hit that moved Elton to third.  Nelson then walked to load the bases with no outs.  Yellowjackets pitcher Joey Ehnes struck out Lister for one out.  Gibson followed with a groundball to third baseman Michelle Falsken, who overthrew catcher Layne Pavey in an attempt to force out Elton at home.

Ehnes allowed eight hits and four walks in 6 1/3 innings for the loss.  She struck out 2.  Echo Hatch went the distance for the win, allowing nine Yellowjacket hits and striking out three.

The Yellowjackets and Seasiders will play another double-header on Tuesday beginning at 1:00 p.m. HST.  It will be the final two games in Hawaii for the Yellowjackets, who will travel to Richland, Wash., for the Central Washington Invitational next weekend.