BILLINGS, Mont. -- The Montana State University Billings' softball team made a 22-hour drive to northern California for a pair of doubleheaders and the Tournament of Champions.
THE SERIES
* The Yellowjackets have lost all three meetings against Cal State-Monterey Bay all-time.
* MSU Billings and CSUMB have met twice at the Tournament of Champions.
* Montana State Billings and Cal State-Stanislaus have split the four all-time meetings.
* MSUB is 1-1 against CSU-Stanislaus in the Tournament of Champions.
* MSU Billings and the Academy of Art meet for only the second time.
* The Yellowjackets defeated Academy of Art, 4-0, in the Desert Stinger on Feb. 12, 2010.
* Humboldt State has won 13 of the 15 all-time matchups with Montana State Billings.
* The Yellowjackets lost a 7-6 decision to Humboldt at the 2010 Tournament of Champions.
* All five meetings between MSUB and Cal State-San Bernadino were on a neutral field.
* Montana State Billings and CSUSB have met in the past two Tournament of Champions.
* All four meetings between MSUB and Cal State-Chico were on a neutral field.
* Montana State Billings and Chico have met in the past two Tournament of Champions.
LEADING OFF
• The Yellowjackets appear in the tournament for the fourth straight season, and sixth time overall.
• MSUB has advanced to their bracket's championship game three times, and has an overall record of 15-18 at the tournament.
• MSU Billings plays in the state of California for the fifth straight year, and eighth year in the program's history.
• The Yellowjackets are 22-28 in the Golden State in program history.
• Montana State Billings ended its 2012 season in California in the NCAA Div. II West Regionals.
ABOUT THE OTTERS
Cal State-Monterey Bay enters the weekend losing three of the past four games, including a win in its last contest a 5-3 victory at Cal State-Chico. The Otters are 9-12 away from home, but are 10-4 at the Otter Sports Complex. They opened the season No. 17 in the NCAA Division II Top 25 poll, but are currently unranked. CSUMB ended last season in the NCAA Div. II West Regionals that it hosted. The Otters won 46 games in 2012, including a 12-4 decision over MSU Billings to open the Regionals. Cori Reinhardt leads the 2013 team with a .455 batting average and a 2.45 earned run average.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS
Cal State-Stanislaus, the host of the 12th annual Tournament of Champions, rides an eight game losing streak into its meeting with Montana State Billings. The Yellowjackets and CSUS meet in a doubleheader a day before the Tournament of Champions. MSUB and the Warriors have met the past two seasons in the Tournament of Champions. The Yellowjackets won the 2011 matchup, 2-1, but fell last year, 1-0. This season, CSU-Stanislaus is currently eighth in the CCAA in batting average (.249) and ninth in ERA (4.96). Lauren Limig has a team-high .333 batting average, and Randee Hindman has a 4.15 ERA.
ABOUT THE URBAN KNIGHTS
The Academy of Art has dropped nine of its last 10 contests, but face Chaminade at home Monday before traveling to the Tournament of Champions. The Knights are 6-17 away from Mission Blue Field in Brisbane, Calif. The Academy of Art has a team batting average of .260, and a 4.91 ERA. Haily MacDonald is third in the PacWest with four triples this season. Kimberly Dauer is eighth in the conference with 56 strikeouts. MacDonald has a team-best .368 batting average, and Kristin Valdivia has a 2.42 ERA. The Yellowjackets won the only previous meeting between the schools in 2010.
ABOUT THE COYOTES
The Yellowjackets and Cal State-San Bernadino meet for the third time in the past four years. It's the third time the schools have met in the Tournament of Champions. MSUB picked up a 3-1 win over CSUSB last season at the tournament, after dropping a 4-3 decision at the Desert Stinger. The Coyotes are 4-16 away from home this season, and recently broke a 12-game losing streak with a split against Dixie State last Monday. CSUSB enters the tournament winning three of its last five. Britney Butler leads the CCAA with a .512 batting average. Alyssa Flores is third with 36 RBI. Monica Cartwright has a 5.18 ERA.
ABOUT THE WILDCATS
Cal State-Chico is having a great season and currently sitting fourth in the CCAA standings. The Wildcats were picked fifth in the conference preseason poll, but sit only two games out of second place. Chico State enter the Tournament of Champions coming off of a 5-3 loss against Cal State-Monterey Bay, but it had won the previous seven games. The Wildcats' 4.68 ERA is fourth in the conference. Alex Molina leads the pitching with a 2.09 ERA. She has won 11 of her 14 appearances on the mound this season. Emily McEnaney has a team-best 3.47 batting average. MSUB beat Chico, 5-1, last year at the Tournament of Champions.
ABOUT THE LUMBERJACKS
Humboldt State and Montana State Billings meet for the second time this season. The Yellowjackets won their first game of the season over HSU, 13-5, at the Desert Stinger. Humboldt State started the season 3-5, but have reeled off 25 wins in its last 29 games. HSU has won 16 games in a row entering the Tournament of Champions. The Lumberjacks have a two-game lead for first place in the CCAA standings currently. Humboldt was picked sixth in the conference preseason poll, but are currently ranked 14th in NCAA Div. II. Hannah Williams is second in the CCAA with 37 RBI and fourth with eighth home runs.
GOING, GOING, BACK, BACK TO CALI, CALI
Montana State University Billings' softball is headed to California this week for the 12th annual Tournament of Champions presented by Mizuno. The Yellowjackets appear in the tournament for the fourth straight season, and sixth time overall. MSUB has advanced to their bracket's championship game three times, and has an overall record of 15-18 at the tournament. MSU Billings plays in the state of California for the fifth straight year, and eighth year in the program's history. The Yellowjackets are 22-28 in the Golden State in program history. Montana State Billings ended its 2012 season in California in the NCAA Div. II West Regionals.
