Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Montana State University Billings softball team tied a tournament team record for most home runs Saturday as they split their pair of games with California State University – San Bernardino and Chadron State College on the second day of the 2012 Desert Stinger Partnered with Rip-It.
 
The Yellowjackets dropped their first game of the day 3-4 to Cal State – San Bernardino but then came back in their second game with a vengeance, out-scoring Chadron 12-4 to improve to 3-1 on the young season. The mark is already an improvement from last season when MSUB went 2-3 over the course of the three days.
 
“Overall we had a good day today,” head coach Lisa Allen stated. “Jessyka MacDonald and Kasie Conder did what they needed to against San Bernardino in order for our team to win, but unfortunately we just could not get the timely hit to put us in front. Offensively we weren't as aggressive as the previous day.”
 
In the first game of the day, Taylor Hoke struck first for MSUB when she led off with a home run, but the lead would not last long as CSU San Bernardino would score four unanswered runs in the next two innings to go up 4-1 off of six hits and a Yellowjacket error.
 
The Yellowjackets appeared to be in prime position to make another comeback, as they did the day before, as senior Jenna Van Eykeren homered for the second time this weekend. Becca Frank also scored, but that would be as close as MSUB would be able to come as the final two and a half innings passed scoreless.
 
Jessyka MacDonald accepted the loss for MSUB while Courtney Wilhelms registered the win in the circle for the Coyotes.
 
The second game saw some new faces added to the Yellowjacket lineup, and a renewed aggressiveness at the plate and on the bases. Three more MSUB home runs brought the Yellowjackets' total up to 10 over the four-game span, a mark that ties the Desert Stinger team record for home runs scored over the entire weekend set by Augustana College last year.
 
Meg Harasymczuk registered her third home run of the tournament in the first inning, also scoring Rose Harrington in the process, just before Osborn tallied her second tater of the weekend to put MSUB up 3-0.
 
The Eagles were able to pull back to within one run in the bottom of the inning, but the Yellowjackets would not be denied again as they continued to apply pressure, scoring two runs in the second, fourth and seventh innings and then another three in the sixth.
 
Brittney Soares scored three times while Samantha Church, Osborn and Harrington all scored two runs. Centerfielder Bobbie Lee had a game-high four RBIs as she went 3-for-5 with a run scored.
 
Jessica Campbell pitched a complete game en route to recording her first win of the season while Aryn Grywusiewicz suffered the loss for Chadron.
 
“It was nice to see the team bounce back quick from the earlier loss,” said Allen. “We started six underclassmen for the Chadron State game and by the end of that game there were eight underclassmen on the field. It was great to see them step up and play the way they did as well as get a glance at what is to come for Yellowjacket softball and Jessica Campbell did an amazing job in the circle keeping Chadron off the bases.”
 
The Yellowjackets have one more game on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. against Dixie State College to end their time in Vegas.