Yellowjacket Softball Falls at Colorado Springs (3/19/06)
Box Score

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – The Montana State-Billings softball team dropped its third-straight game on Sunday, falling 7-1 at University of Colorado-Colorado Springs.  The Mountain Lions won their tenth game in a row to improve to 16-1.  The Yellowjackets fell to 7-17. 

The Mountain Lions broke open a scoreless game with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.  The inning was sparked by a three-run home run by the Lions’ Sarah Cleland.  Cleland, who drove in five runs in the game, was responsible for all five game-winning RBIs in the three-game sweep of the Yellowjackets.

The Yellowjacket offense managed just three hits off Mountain Lions starter Amanda Ritchie, who went the distance to improve to 8-1.  Jessica Frank’s (So., Great Falls, MT) solo home run in the top of the fourth inning accounted for the only Yellowjacket scoring.  Aysha Maddox (Jr., Richland, WA) and Jenna McCartney (Jr., Victor, MT) each singled for MSUB.  The Jackets also threatened in the fifth inning when Cari Dunlap (Jr., Billings, MT) had a two-run home run robbed by Brittni Carlson, who made the catch reaching over the left field fence.

The Jackets’ Lisa Moore (Fr., Bakersfield, CA) took the loss to fall to 4-8.  She gave up 13 UCCS hits and six earned runs.  MSU Billings made three errors in the game.

The second game of the scheduled doubleheader was cancelled because of snow and lightening.  The Yellowjackets were leading 8-1 with the bases loaded in the top of the fifth inning when the game was called.  Wankel, Maddox, and Dunlap had homered for the Yellowjackets.  Five innings must be completed for a game to be counted as an official contest. 

The Yellowjackets open Heartland Conference play with doubleheaders on March 29 and 30 at Western New Mexico.  Those games will be part of a 12-game road trip to New Mexico and Texas.  The Jackets’ next home games will be April 7 against Oklahoma Panhandle State.