Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Montana State University Billings softball team scored 22 total points and blasted five home runs Friday afternoon to open their 2012 campaign 2-0 on the first day of the Third-Annual Desert Stinger Partnered with Rip-It.
 
In the Yellowjackets season-opener, MSUB picked up right where they left off at the end of the 2011 season as they defeated Metropolitan State University 11-3 in six innings. In the opening-day's night-cap, the Yellowjackets were able to come battle a difficult Grand Canyon University team and come away with the 11-10 win.
 
“The girls had 2 great team wins today,” said first year head coach Lisa Allen. “They came out a little nervous, which is to be expected on the first day, but once they started swinging the bat they got into a groove. The defense did an amazing job of backing our pitchers up all day and made not only the routine plays, but some amazing ones as well.”
 
In the game against Metro State, the Roadrunners edged out to an early, 3-0 lead in the second inning, but the Yellowjackets made sure to sting last as the bats came alive with MSUB scoring seven runs that included two home runs.
 
With Emily Osborn and Nicole Colpron both on base, lone four-year senior and Las Vegas native Jenna VanEykeren evened the score with a three-run tater over the left-center field fence.
 
Becca Frank would find her way home off a pair of stolen bases to put the Yellowjackets up 4-3 just before Meg Harasymczuk, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference's 2011 Newcomer of the Year, ripped a three-run homer of her own.
 
MSUB would score again in the fourth off a tater by Osborn then twice more in the fifth inning as Bobbie Lee and Samantha Church were each batted in by Rose Harrington.
 
The game came to an end an inning early when catcher Nicole Wilkerson ripped a walk-off home run, the Yellowjackets' fourth of the game, in the sixth inning to put MSUB up by eight (11-3) and a successful first outing for MSUB.
 
Annaleisha Parsley earned the win in the circle for the Yellowjackets while Brittany Moss suffered the loss for the Roadrunners.
 
“Annaleisha did a fabulous job pitching against Metro State and keeping their team to just three runs,” Allen stated. “Our bats really came alive in the second inning and we continued to be solid on offense throughout the game especially the home runs by Jenna, Meg, Emily and Nicole.”
 
The second game was not so lopsided as the Yellowjackets faced an extremely tough Grand Canyon team that beat MSUB 7-1 a year ago. This year, it was MSUB's chance to show it is a different season.
 
Trying to hold onto the momentum from the first game, MSUB raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, but their bats would go cold for a bit as the Antelopes were able to establish a 7-3 advantage over the second and third innings. Grand Canyon scored two runs in the second and five more in the third inning off four hits that included Lauren Regester hitting one of her two home runs.
 
The Yellowjackets may have been down, but they were never fully out of the game as they slowly chipped away at the lead over the next four innings scoring a run in the bottom of the third, four in the fourth, two in the fifth and one run in the sixth inning to take their 11-10 lead. Eight different Yellowjackets scored in the game with Harasymczuk scoring a trio of runs.
 
Mary Grace Bywater came into the game in relief of starter Amanda Todd to record her first win of the season while Mary Christman suffered the loss for Grand Canyon.
 
“(Amanda) Todd and Mary Grace did a great job in the second game working together to hold on for the win,” said Allen. “It was nice to see Mary Grace stay poised and finish the game on a strong note.”
 
Osborn led the way on offense for the Yellowjackets as she went 3-5 at the plate over the two games, scoring two runs and registering three RBIs. Harazymczuk, VanEykeren and Harrington all had four RBIs.
 
The Yellowjackets will look to continue where they left off on Friday with another pair of games Saturday afternoon. At 2 p.m., MSUB will face California State University San Bernardino followed by Chadron State University at 4:30 p.m. The Coyotes of CSU San Bernardino began the season with a preseason national ranking of 15^th but have dropped out of the most recent poll as they are 3-3 on the young season. Chardon State is currently 0-2 following the opening day of the Desert Stinger.