LAS VEGAS – Behind a walk-off grand slam from pinch-hitter Hali Gruntowicz, the MSU Billings softball team won its last game in Las Vegas with a 10-0 decision over Texas Permian Basin. In an earlier game, the Yellowjackets fell 3-1 to CSU Dominguez for their last game of the Sixth Annual Desert Stinger.
 
Game 1 (CSU Dominguez Hills, 3, MSUB, 1)
 
The Toros picked up two runs in the first inning when Kaci McGinnis hit a single into left field bringing in two runs.
 
MSU Billings was able to cut that lead to one in the second inning with a solo home run from Emily Osborn – her second of the tournament.
 
The scoreboard contained zeros again until the seventh inning when CSUDH's Alexandra Mootry hit her own solo home run for the 3-1 lead. In the seventh, MSUB gave themselves a chance to tie with two runners on, but the Toros defense prevailed, leaving the Yellowjacket players stranded to end the game.
 
"Our pitching staff gave up a few walks, but they responded well by coming back and holding them to three runs," MSUB head coach Lisa Allen said. "The defense played very well behind them. Our offense didn't make the adjustment to their pitcher and we struggled throughout the game."
 
MSUB had seven hits in thirty-one at bats, while leaving 10 players on base. Jessica Campbell (0-1) picked up the loss for MSUB, pitching three solid innings, fanning three hits, while allowing two runs.
 
Game 2 (MSUB 10, UTPB, 0)
 
The Yellowjackets responded in game 2 on the day with an offensive show. MSUB made 10 hits and scored 10 runs in five and a half innings for the win.
 
Hali Gruntowicz hit a walk-off grand slam in her only at-bat of the game as Montana State University Billings (3-3) defeated Texas Permian Basin 10-0 behind a six-hit shutout from Amanda Roark (1-0).
 
Left-fielder Cori Gammon hit her first homerun of the season in the second inning scoring two runs. Aubrey Conceicao was 1-2 with a double. Kelsey Devlin was 2-2 with a double and a RBI. Shortstop Jordyn Roark went 2-3 with a RBI and scored a run.
 
"We are proud of how our offense made a hitting adjustment in the first inning," Allen said. "We saw three different pitchers in the game and adjusted to each one of them. Amanda Roark pitched an amazing game, keeping the ball low and getting good results. We switched nearly the entire lineup in the 4th inning and they did a fabulous job on defense and at the plate, highlighted by Hali Gruntowicz hitting a pinch hit walk off grand slam."
 
With the win, MSUB finishes 3-3 for the weekend. Next, the Yellowjackets are on their way to No. 3 Dixie State for three games. The team plays one game on Tuesday, followed by a double-header on Wednesday, both days have a 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time start.
 
"We are happy the team learned from our first game of the day and made the adjustment immediately," Allen commented on Sunday's games. "Our defense remains strong and the pitching staff held the teams to three runs on the day. If we can continue to do that as a pitching staff we will do very well."
 
MSUB finished with a 2-3 overall record in the tournament, 19^{th ,}in the tournament. Senior Taylor Hoke was named to the all-tournament team. Hoke was named as an infielder on the all-tournament team after hitting three home runs and batting 9-for-17 (.529). She also made just one error in 20 chances at short.
 
After opening the season with a whirlwind six games in three days, Coach Allen is satisfied with how the team looks at the start of the season. "We are very pleased with how the team looks right now. We learned several different things this weekend and are proud we are using what we learned to our advantage in every game after that."