Jackets Sweep Hawks in Home Opener (3/11/06)
Box Score 1
Box Score 2
Game Photos

BILLINGS, MT – The Montana State-Billings softball team made the most of its early season stop at Cenex Stadium Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader from Dickinson State, 6-1 and 8-4.  The games were the first at home this season for the Yellowjackets, who improved to 7-14.  They won’t play in Billings again until April 7 when they host Oklahoma Panhandle State.  Between now and then the Lady Jackets will play 16 in a row on the road.

In Saturday’s first game, the Jackets provided starter Lisa Moore (Fr., Bakersfield, CA) with all the run support she would need in the first inning.  Following an Anna Henderson (Sr., Frenchtown, MT) double to the fence, Jenna Haacke (So., Billings, MT) hit her fifth home run of the season.  The Jackets added a run in the second when a Jenna McCartney (Jr., Victor, MT) triple plated Ashley Powell (Fr., Missoula, MT) from second base.

Moore went the distance for the win, striking out eight and walking one.  She scattered six hits over seven innings to improve to 4-6 on the season.  MSU Billings added three insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.  Another Henderson double started the rally.  She was driven in by a Haacke single.  Two batters later Jessica Frank (So., Great Falls, MT) hit her fourth home run of the season.

Haacke was 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI and a pair of runs scored.  Henderson was 3-for-3 with two doubles and two runs.  McCartney also went 2-for-3 with an RBI.  DSU’s Alyssa Baker took the loss, allowing 10 hits and six earned runs.  Tiffany Saatzer went 3-for-4 for the Blue Hawks.

The Yellowjackets had their hands full early in game number two.  Dickinson State scored two runs in the top of the first off Yellowjacket starter Rebekah Tsatsa (Fr., Eagle, ID).  Both runs came on a Leah Glasgow home run. 

The Yellowjackets answered with four runs in the bottom of the first.  A bases loaded bunt single by Christy Wankel (Sr., Great Falls, MT) started the scoring, plating leadoff hitter Crystal Bentley (Fr., Bothell, WA).  A Megan Moeller (Jr., Ontario, OR) double down the leftfield line drove in Wankel and Haacke for two runs.  Moeller then stole home when Stephanie Rinehart (Fr., Gig Harbor, WA) drew a throw to first.

The Blue Hawks tied the game in the top of the second with two more runs.  Both runs were scored on Yellowjacket errors during a failed pickoff play at third base.  MSU Billings added a run in the third when Frank singled to drive in Wankel, who had led off the inning with a double.  The Jackets broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth with three runs.

Lorel Palmer (Jr., Ogden, UT) started the Jackets’ scoring in the fourth, racing home on a wild pitch.  She had reached third after pinch running for McCartney, who led off the inning with a walk.  Another Wankel double plated Bentley, and a Frank groundout to shortstop brought in Stephanie Gosselin (Fr., Brentwood Bay, BC).

Tsatsa got into trouble in the top half of the fifth inning, loading the bases with one out.  She was relieved by Terina Stacks (Fr., Washougal, WA), who used a strike out and a ground out to get out of the inning.  Tsatsa earned the win, allowing three hits and four runs in 4 1/3 innings.  Stacks picked up her second save of the year, striking out three without allowing a hit in 2 2/3.

Wankel was 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI.  Frank and Moeller also had a pair of RBI each for the Yellowjackets.  The Blue Hawks scored their four runs on just three hits.  Glasgow drove in two RBI on her home run.

The Yellowjackets next play March 18 and 19 when they travel to Colorado to face University of Colorado-Colorado Springs in two non-conference doubleheaders.  They will open Heartland Conference play on March 29 at Western New Mexico.