Yellowjacket Softball Drops Pair of Close Games (Mar. 3, 2005)
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

RICHLAND, WA – Montana State-Billings dropped two 1-0 games on the first day of the Central Washington Invitational Thursday.  The Jackets fell to eighth-ranked Humboldt State in the first game and to host Central Washington in game two to fall to 3-4 overall on the season.

"We're playing great softball," said Yellowjacket coach Jeff Aumend.  "We've lost four games by a total of five runs this year.  We're doing the things we hoped we would be doing at this point of the year.  We just need to turn some of those L's into W's."

In the day’s early game, the Yellowjackets couldn’t find a way to get past eighth-ranked Humboldt State, who defeated MSUB four times last season.  The Yellowjackets suffered their seventh straight loss to the Lumberjacks, who have been one of the top teams in the region for several years. 

Pitcher Joey Ehnes (Sr., Great Falls, MT) was almost untouchable, allowing just three hits and striking out nine in six innings.  She got in trouble in the bottom of the sixth when she walked the first two batters.  Humboldt State’s third batter of the inning, Jessica Padilla, singled to right center to drive in Amy Rothballer for the game’s only run. 

The Yellowjackets managed just four hits against the Lumberjacks’ Tracy Motzny.  Rachel Quarnburg (So., Billing, MT), Jenna Haacke (Fr., Billings, MT), Christy Wankel (Jr., Great Falls, MT) and Layne Pavey (Sr., Spokane, WA) were each 1-for-3 singles.  Motzny retired the side in three of the first four innings, and the Jackets advanced just one runner past second base.  The only time MSU Billings threatened was in the top of the fifth when Wankel singled and advanced to third with one out.  Two fly balls ended the inning.

Ehnes was nearly as effective in the day’s second game, scattering seven hits over six innings with nine strikeouts.  The Wildcats manufactured a run in the bottom of the third when Carla Collins singled and stole second base before being driven in by Annie Becker.  Central’s Sarah Withers went the distance for the victory, striking out six.

The Jackets had six hits in the game, but stranded 10 runners on base.  They had runners on second and third in the top of the fourth inning, but Anna Henderson (Jr., Frenchtown, MT) was thrown out at the plate on a Stephanie Cochrun (Sr., Lake Stevens, WA) ground ball.  In the top of the seventh, the Jackets loaded the bases with two outs, but Haacke grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the game.

Cami Rainey (Sr., Terreton, ID) was 2-for-3 in the game to boost her season average to .308.  Wankel, Pavey, Ehnes and Quarnburg each collected a hit. 

Despite the two losses that dropped her to 3-3, Ehnes lowered her ERA to 1.55.  She has allowed just nine earned runs in 40 2/3 innings with 63 strikeouts.  The other Yellowjackets pitchers have combined for only 7 1/3 innings through the first seven games.

MSU Billings continues the four-day tournament on Friday with two games.  The Jackets face Western Washington at 8:30 a.m. and Western Oregon at 10:45 a.m.  MSUB will play a total of eight games at the tournament, which runs through Sunday.