Lady Jackets Shutout by Hilltoppers (3/24/07)
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

AUSTIN, TX-  The Montana State-Billings softball team dropped both ends of a Heartland Conference doubleheader Saturday against league-leader St. Edward’s University.  The Jackets were shutout twice falling 1-0 in game one and 3-0 in the late game. The losses drop the Yellowjackets to 15-18 overall and 6-3 in league play, while the Toppers improved to 29-14 and 9-1 in the Heartland Conference.

Both teams were held at zeros until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Hilltoppers’ Jennifer Hollas doubled to right center field and then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Rebecca Ray.  Kaleigh Courville singled to bring Hollas across the plate for the lone run of the game.  The Lady Jackets could not answer back in the seventh to give the Hilltoppers the 1-0 win.

Lindsey Trenary (Helena, MT) took the loss for the Jackets to fall to 1-3 on the season.  Trenary allowed one run off six hits in six innings pitched.  She struck out three in the effort.  The Jackets managed just four hits in the game.

Jennifer Bishop moved to 12-7 with the win scattering just four hits in seven innings of work.  Bishop stuck out five and walked one.  Hollas scored for the Hilltoppers and went 1-for-3 at the plate.  Courville picked up an RBI going 0-for-3.

In game two the Hilltoppers struck first again to lead off the third inning with a Mandy Phillips home run over the left field fence.  Karen Varteressian singled through the left side and then stole second.  Varteressian advanced to third on a Yellowjacket wild pitch and then scored on Kristen Lozano’s single through the left side.

St. Edward’s scored an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth as Hollas hit a double to left center to plate pinch runner Jamie Zilverberg.

Rebekah Tsatsa (Eagle, ID) allowed three runs off seven hits in 4 1/3 innings in taking the loss for the Yellowjackets.  Tsatsa walked six and struck out one.  Trenary came in to relieve Tsatsa in the fifth inning to shut out the Toppers allowing no runs and no hits in 1 2/3 innings.  Terina Stacks (Washougal, WA), Jenna Haacke (Billings, MT), and Tsatsa each had a hit in the game.

Courtney Francis pitched the complete game shutout to move to 13-4 on the season.  Francis allowed just four hits and struck out five.  Varteressian went 1-for-3 with a home run with Hollas going 2-for-3 with one RBI.

The Lady Jackets and Hilltoppers square off again in Heartland Conference action Sunday in Austin.  The doubleheader is set for 10:00 a.m. CST.  The Yellowjackets play University of Great Falls in Great Falls for a doubleheader Wednesday, March 28 with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. MST.