Jackets Score Late for Icy Win (Mar. 13, 2005)
Box Score

BILLINGS, MT – How fast can a pitchers’ duel turn into a blowout?  It was about as fast as spring turned back to winter for the Montana State-Billings softball on Sunday as the Yellowjackets pulled away late for a 9-1 win over Dickinson State.  The win improved MSU Billings to 13-5 on the season while Dickinson was playing its first game of the year.

With wind chill temps in the 20s and a pre-game snow shower, the Jackets and Blue Hawks weathered the storm and settled into a pitching battle between MSUB’s Joey Ehnes and DSU’s Erin Brinkman.  The pair combined for 15 strikeouts in the game and until the bottom of the fifth inning didn’t allow a run.

The Yellowjackets broke the scoreless tie by manufacturing two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.  Anna Henderson (Jr., Frenchtown, MT) led off with an infield single.  After Ehnes (Sr., Great Falls, MT) reached on an error, Stephanie Cochrun (Sr., Lake Stevens, WA) sacrificed to advance both runners.  Rachel Quarnburg (So., Billings, MT) laced a single up the middle to drive in Henderson and Ehnes for a 2-0 lead.

The Blue Hawks answered with a run in the top of the sixth.  Tiffany Saatzer led off with a single through the right side and advanced to second on a passed ball.  After Nicole Rutledge sacrificed Saatzer to third, Christie Fox singled to left to drive in the Hawks’ only run.

The wheels fell off for Brinkman in the bottom of the sixth as the Yellowjackets’ bats caught fire.  Christy Wankel (Jr., Great Falls, MT) led off with a double to left and was promptly driven in by Theresa Campbell’s laser home run over the left field fence.  For Campbell (Sr., Great Falls, MT) it was her third homer of the season.

With a comfortable 4-1 lead the Jackets quickly hammered out five runs to end the game on the eight-run rule.  Layne Pavey (Sr., Spokane, WA) doubled to left center and scored on a Sara Hanley (Sr., Kalispell, MT) single.  Hanley scored two batters later when Ehnes singled down the left field line.  Quarnburg ended the game on the next at bat with a deep shot over the right field fence, scoring Ehnes and Henderson.

Ehnes struck out 10 while scattering three hits over six innings.  She was also 1-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and a pair of runs.  Quarnburg continued her hot hitting, going 2-for-4 with a run and five RBI.  She has been red hot during the first third of the season, batting .500 with a team-leading 16 RBI.  Her home run on Sunday was her second of the season.

Eight of the nine Yellowjacket batters hit safely as they pounded out 10 hits.  Cochrun was 1-for-3, Wankel was 1-for-2 with a run, Campbell was 2-for-2 with a run and two RBI, Pavey was 1-for-3 with a run, Hanley was 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI, and Henderson was 1-for-2 with a pair of runs.

For the Blue Hawks, Saatzer, Fox and Erica Lopez each singled.  Saatzer was 1-for-3 with a run, and Fox was 1-for-3 with an RBI.

The Yellowjackets now have a long break before opening Pacific West Conference play at Hawaii Pacific on March 25.  MSUB will play eight games in Hawaii and catch the Easton Tournament of Champions in California on the way home.  The Jackets next play at Cenex Stadium on April 5 when they host Chaminade.

Click HERE for photos of the Yellowjackets vs. the Blue Hawks