Mountain Lions Take Two from Lady Jackets (3/18/06)
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – One big inning in each game combined with solid pitching gave University of Colorado-Colorado Springs a doubleheader sweep of the Montana State-Billings softball team on Saturday.  The Mountain Lions rallied for a 4-2 win in the early game then cruised to a 10-2 victory in game two, improving to 15-1.  The Yellowjackets dropped to 7-16.  The same teams will meet on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. at Mountain Lion Field.

The Yellowjackets took a 1-0 lead in the first game when Jessica Frank (So., Great Falls, MT) singled to drive in leadoff hitter Crystal Bentley (Fr., Bothell, WA) in the top of the first.  MSU Billings held that lead until the bottom of the fourth when the Mountain Lions’ Sarah Cleland hit a three-run home run.  The Lions added another run in the inning on a sacrifice fly for a 4-1 advantage.

MSU Billings cut into the lead with a run in the top of the sixth when Christy Wankel (Jr., Great Falls, MT) hit her third home run of the season.  However, Wankel represented one of just two runners the Yellowjackets managed to get on base over the final two innings.  The Lions’ Amanda Ritchie struck out the side in the top of the seventh to close out the complete game victory. 

Ritchie scattered five hits and four runs over seven innings to improve to 7-1.  The five hits she allowed were to five different Yellowjackets, and Wankel’s homer was the only extra base hit of the game.  The Yellowjackets’ Lisa Moore (Fr., Bakersfield, CA) took the loss, falling to 4-7.  She allowed five hits and four earned runs in six innings of work. 

The momentum of the Mountain Lions’ come-from-behind win carried into the second game.  UCCS put six runs on the board in the bottom of the first inning against Yellowjacket starter Terina Stacks (Fr., Washougal, WA).  The Lions added two more in the bottom of the second and cruised to win by the eight run rule in five innings.

The Lions’ Kym Cade used the generous run support to earn her third victory of the season.  She allowed seven hits and two runs in five innings.  Eight different players scored for UCCS and seven different players drove in at least one RBI.  Sonio Reyes provided the biggest offensive punch for the Mountain Lions with a three-run home run in the bottom of the first.

Stacks took the loss to drop to 0-6.  She gave up nine hits and nine runs in two innings.  Rebekah Tsatsa (Fr., Eagle, ID) pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, allowing a hit and a run.  Offensively the Yellowjackets were led by Wankel and Cari Dunlap (Jr., Billings, MT) who each had two hits.  Wankel doubled in the top of the first to drive in Anna Henderson (Sr., Frenchtown, MT) from third.  The Jackets’ second run came in the top of the second when Megan Moeller (Jr., Ontario, OR) doubled to right to plate Aysha Maddox (Jr., Richland, WA).

Following Sunday’s double-dip at UCCS, the Yellowjackets embark on a 12-game road swing to open Heartland Conference play.  The trip will begin with games at Western New Mexico on March 29 and 30.  It will also include eight games in San Antonio, four against Incarnate Word and four against St. Mary’s.  MSU Billings next plays at home on April 7 when the Yellowjackets host Oklahoma Panhandle State in their conference home opener.