Lady Jackets Swept at Grand Canyon (2/12/07)
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

PHOENIX, AZ – Grand Canyon swept a non-conference doubleheader from the Montana State-Billings softball team on Monday.  The ‘Lopes pounded out 22 hits in the two games, winning 9-1 and 7-1.  MSUB dropped to 1-3 on the season while Grand Canyon improved to 5-5.  The Yellowjackets will take on Dixie State in a neutral site doubleheader Tuesday in Phoenix.

“It’s been a rollercoaster ride,” said Yellowjacket head coach Kim Lemmens of the season’s opening games.  “We didn’t play well in the first game against Western New Mexico yesterday, but we rallied back in the second game.  I was proud of the kids for fighting and coming back.  Today I thought we would put forward more effort.  We went from hitting.375 in the second game yesterday to going 10-for-46 in today’s games.  In the first game we had 12 fly outs.  We couldn’t get on top of the ball to make them play it.”

In game one, the ‘Lopes jumped on Yellowjacket starter Lisa Moore (Bakersfield, CA), scoring three runs in the bottom of the first.  Moore gave up three hits, three walks, and three earned runs in a third of an inning before being replaced by Rebekah Tsatsa (Eagle, ID).  Tsatsa shut-down the ‘Lopes for two innings, but gave up two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and another four in the sixth to end the game by the eight-run rule.  Tsatsa allowed nine hits and six earned runs in 4 2/3 innings. 

The Jackets’ lone run came on a Terina Stacks (Washougal, WA) home run in the top of the sixth.  Stacks also had a double and was 2-for-3 in the game.  Grand Canyon’s Erica Ritter, Randi Johns, and Jamie Stacy each drove in two RBI.  Ritter was 3-for-4 and scored two runs.  Julie Watt went 2-for-3 and crossed the plate three times.  Megan Niver tossed a four-hitter for the win.

In the second game, Grand Canyon used a five-run third inning to break open a 1-1 game.  Moore went the distance, allowing 10 hits and seven earned runs in six innings.  She walked three and struck out two.  The ‘Lopes Malia Simmons scattered six hits over seven innings while giving up just one earned run.

Tana Holtorf was 2-for-4 with three RBI for Grand Canyon.  Johns went 3-for-4 with a double and drove in a run.  Ritter scored two runs for the third-straight game.  Stacks again accounted for the only Yellowjacket run, driving in Jessica Frank (Great Falls, MT) with an RBI single in the top of the third.  Moore was the only Yellowjacket with multiple hits, going 2-for-3.

“I’m kind of frustrated with the hitting, and we made some mental mistakes in the field that don’t show on the stats,” said Lemmens.  “We weren’t really aggressive on defense.  Physical mistakes we can live with, but mental errors are killing us.  That’s not to take anything away from Grand Canyon. They have an aggressive hitting team.  They make things happen.”