March 14, 2008

Softball Sweeps Conference Home Opener from Saint Martin’s

   Box Score Game One
   Box score Game Two 

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings softball team snapped a six-game skid with a doubleheader sweep on Saint Martin’s in the Yellowjackets’ Great Northwest Athletic Conference home opener, 9-6 and 8-5 on Friday afternoon at Cenex Stadium.  With the wins, MSUB improves to 8-15 on the year and 2-4 in conference play, while SMU falls to 11-17 and 3-5 in conference play. 

Saint Martin’s led off game one with a solo home run by Kristine Kaneshiro for a 1-0 lead.  It was Kaneshiro’s second blast of the year. 

The Yellowjackets took the lead in the bottom of the second inning as Leslie Davis began the inning with a double down the right field line and Jessica Frank reached on an error.  Stephanie Gosselin then lined a double to left field scoring two runs for a 2-1 lead. 

The lead didn’t last long as SMU’s Alicia Fuchs blasted a solo shot to left field leveling the score at two.   

SMU blasted its third home run of the game in the top of the fourth as Kristi Sigafoos went yard for a 3-2 lead.  The Saints had a possible scoring opportunity in the sixth inning as two reached base courtesy of walks.  The Yellowjackets got out of the jam as pitcher Lindsey Trenary recorded her sixth strikeout of the game to end the threat. 

The Yellowjackets exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the sixth as the team batted around.  All nine batters reached base with nobody out, highlighted by a two run triple by Davis and a two run home run by Lisa Moore.  In addition, the Saints committed two costly errors in the inning. 

Saint Martin’s made things interesting in the seventh as the Saints scored three runs on a RBI double, RBI single and an error, but didn’t get any closer than 9-6.

Davis led the way for the Jackets going 2 for 3 with a double, triple and two RBI.  Trenary (1-2) picked up her first win of the season, going the distance allowing seven hits, six runs – three earned, three walks and seven strikeouts.

Sigafoos led the Saints in the opener going 2 for 4 with a home run, RBI and a run scored.  Fuchs (4-2) takes the loss in five innings, allowing five hits, six runs – four earned, two walks and three strikeouts.  Fuchs came into the game with a miniscule 1.02 ERA.

In the nightcap, the Jackets got on the board in the bottom of the first inning as Stacks roped a double down the left field line, followed by a single by Jenna Haacke, scoring the first run.  Moments later, Davis roped a double to center for two more RBIs and a 3-0 lead.

Saint Martin’s cut into the deficit in the top of the second on a two out double by Marlaina Irwin.  A great defensive play by the Jackets kept the Saints from scoring any more runs as Danny White roped a single to center, but Irwin was cut down at the plate after a nice relay throw from Schaapveld keeping the score 3-1.

SMU cut the deficit to one with a bloop-single by Danni Ballard in the top of the third for a 3-2 score.  In the fourth inning, the Saints evened the score at three apiece. 

The Yellowjackets answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth on sacrifice bunt by Moore and a two run home run by Shay Oberg for a 6-3 lead.  It was Oberg’s first home run of the season. 

Two runs in the top of the sixth by the Saints cut the deficit to 6-5 as Irwin roped a double down the left field line for two RBI.  The Yellowjacket defense came up with a huge play as SMU had runners at the corner with nobody out.  Danny White tried to steal second and was thrown out as Irwin came home who also was thrown out to end the threat.

Frank led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run, her second of the year for a 7-5 lead.  Later in the inning, the Jackets loaded the bases on three consecutive singles with nobody out.  A wild pitch by SMU reliever Cassy South gave the Jackets an 8-5 lead.

Yellowjacket hurler Rebekah Tsatsa (5-6) picks up the victory, going five innings allowing seven hits, five earned runs, three walks and three strikeouts.  Haacke led the way for the Jackets with a 2 for 2 outing, one run and one RBI.  Brandie Klemm (3-4) takes the loss, going five innings allowing seven hits, seven runs – six earned, three walks and one strikeout. 

The Yellowjackets continue the home stand tomorrow at 12 p.m. with a doubleheader against Western Oregon at Cenex Stadium.