Jacket Softball Splits Pair (2/17/06)

PHOENIX, AZ – The Montana State-Billings softball team bounced back from a 12-5 loss to Adams State on Friday to defeat New Mexico Highlands 9-1 in bracket play at the Schutt Sports/Division II Leadoff Classic.  The Yellowjackets are now 3-7 to start the season.

After falling behind 4-0 to Adams State on a first inning grand slam, the Yellowjackets fought back to take a 5-4 lead in the fourth inning.  Rachel Quarnburg (Jr., Billings, MT) and Jessica Frank (So., Great Falls, MT) each homered during the Jackets’ rally.  Adams State answered with a run in the fifth, four runs in the sixth, and three in the seventh to win going away. 

Quarnburg was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.  Cari Dunlap (Jr., Billings, MT) was also 2-for-3 and scored two runs.  Frank continued her hot hitting to start the season, going 3-for-3 with a run and four RBI.  Terina Stacks (Fr., Washougal, WA) took the loss, giving up eight runs in 5 2/3 innings of relief.  She replaced Lisa Moore (Fr., Bakersfield, CA) who allowed four runs in an inning and a third.

In the night’s bracket play game, the Jackets used a six-run fifth inning to blitz New Mexico Highlands by the eight-run rule.  Rebekah Tsatsa (Fr., Eagle, ID) went the distance for the victory, giving up four hits and striking out three. 

A Quarnburg two-run home run following an Anna Henderson (Sr., Frenchtown, MT) single started the damage in the fifth inning.  Christy Wankel (Sr., Great Falls, MT) singled in Jenna Haacke (So., Billings, MT), and Aysha Maddox (Jr., Richland, WA) hit a three RBI single to end the game.  Scoring on Maddox’s single were Wankel, Dunlap, and Megan Moeller (Jr., Ontario, OR).  Haacke was 3-for-3 and hit a solo home run in the third.  Wankel went 2-for-3.

The tournament will conclude on Saturday with the final rounds of bracket play.  The Yellowjackets will play at 12:30 p.m.