Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3

TURLOCK, Calif. – The Montana State University Billings softball team went 2-1 Saturday during the second day of the Tournament of Champions hosted by California State University, Stanislaus. The Yellowjackets started the day off by downing 11^th-ranked Cal State, Chico 5-1 before falling 1-0 to the host Warriors. MSUB bounced back in the night-cap with a 9-1 victory in five innings over Dominican University of California.
 
Following Saturday's 2-1 record, MSUB improves to 23-7 for the season and will advance into the tournament's Bronze Bracket after finishing third in “Pool D.” The 'Jackets will take on San Francisco State University at 2:30 p.m. Pacific time with the winner of that game going on to take on the winner of a game between Notre Dame de Namur and the third-seed from “Pool C.”
 
Due to the inclement weather in the area on Saturday, several games were pushed back until Sunday morning and will help to determine the other opponent in the Notre Dame de Namur game.
 
MSUB - 5 vs. #11 Cal State, Chico – 1
 
The Yellowjackets started their Saturday off in fine form by knocking off the 11^th-ranked Wildcats of Cal State Chico 5-1 in their first game of the day.
 
“In the first game against Chico State, our offense did a good job of stringing some hits together at the end to give us some insurance runs,” first year head coach Lisa Allen said. “(Amanda) Todd did a great job in the circle to keep Chico off balance.”
 
The Wildcats claimed the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning, but MSUB found the answer in the next inning, pushing Brittney Soares and Nicole Wilkerson across the dish off the bat of Rose Harrington who knocked a single to deep right field.
 
Up 2-1 heading into the seventh inning, MSUB went out and tacked on some insurance runs to give them some breathing room over the nationally-ranked Wildcats. Emily Osborn drove in Bobbie Lee and Meg Harasymczuk with a double to right-centerfield before Jenna VanEykeren drove in Osborn with a double of her own, this time to the other end of the field.
 
The Yellowjackets gave Chico State nothing to work with in the bottom of the inning as hurler Amanda Todd (5-1) recorded two the last three outs with K's. Todd pitched the complete game to record five strikeouts to secure the win.
 
Jessica McDermott suffered the loss in just over an inning of work to move to 7-4 for the season.
 
Cal State, Stanislaus - 1 vs. MSUB – 0
 
Saturday's second was postponed several hours due to rain in the area, and when the Yellowjackets finally got to hit the field against the Warriors of California State University, Stanislaus (14-30), they struggled to find the hot bats that could propel them to victory.
 
“In our second game against Stanislaus, Kasie (Conder) pitched a great game,” Allen stated. “Unfortunately, our offense didn't make an adjustment and just hit too many pop fly outs.”
 
CSUS registered the game's lone run in the opening inning, and then held the Yellowjackets' typically hot bats at bay for the remainder of the six and a half innings.
 
The Warriors out-hit the Yellowjackets 9-5 in the contest with MSUB's Kasie Conder (5-1) suffering her first loss of the season. Conder was still able to strike out seven batters while Natalie Rendon (5-12) recorded the win for CSUS.
 
MSUB – 9 vs. Dominican University of California – 1 (5 Innings)
 
In Saturday's final game, the Yellowjackets attempted to return back to their usual form, and did so by overcoming the exhaustion that was surely setting in after one of their longest days this season.
 
“In the final game of the day against Dominican, (Annaleisha Parsley) pitched a good game and our offense came on strong,” said Allen. “(Annaleisha) helped herself out with a couple big hits and (Becca Frank) came up big for the team with a bases loaded triple.”
 
While Dominican edged out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning off a Jill Rizo single to left field that scored Leslie Mesa, MSUB would not be denied for a second time in a row and the Yellowjackets stung last, eight-run ruling the Penguins in five innings.
 
The Yellowjackets buzzed back to life despite the long day to score four runs in the second inning and another five in the fifth.
 
In the second inning, Annaleisha Parsley, Taylor Hoke and Wilkerson loaded the bases with base hits to set up Becca Frank with a prime opportunity. Frank capitalized with a triple to deep left field and then scored a few pitches later off a wild pitch.
 
Up 4-1 and wanting to end Saturday with a statement, the Yellowjackets posted the needed five more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to end the game early. Rose Harrington, Osborn, VanEykeren, Parsley and Hoke all scored with Samantha Church providing the necessary contact to drive in Hoke and end the game with just two outs registered.