NAMPA, Idaho – The MSU Billings softball team won both games on the third and final day of the College of Idaho/Northwest Nazarene University Classic. After dropping games against Eastern Oregon and Concordia (Ore.) earlier in the tournament, on Sunday the Yellowjackets won Game 1 11-3 (5 innings) against EOU, and Game 2 against Concordia, 5-3.
 
After losing to Eastern Oregon last night 8-7, today the game was a blowout as the Yellowjackets needed just five innings for an 11-3 win. MSUB outhit the Mountaineers 13-4 and committed no errors in the first game of the day.
 
Game 1: (Eastern Oregon 3, MSUB 11 (5 innings))
 
Jessyka MacDonald pitched her second complete game of the tournament for MSUB. The senior faced 22 batters, striking out eight, while allowing four hits and three earned runs.
 
Taylor Hoke and Emily Osborn were both 3-3 against the Mountaineers. Hoke had two RBI's and scored two runs, while Osborn hit her fifth homerun of the season for another two runs. Aubrey Conceicao and Kelsey Devlin both went 2-3. Conceicao landed a triple and Devlin had two RBI's in the designated player spot.
 
Game 1 was all MSUB as the Yellowjackets had control from start to finish. Down 6-0, Eastern Oregon tried to get things going in the fourth inning. With a runner on and one out, Shelby Baertsch hit a two-run shot to center, but MacDonald struck the next two batters out to end the rally. At the top of the fifth inning, the Mountaineers added one more on a long single to right field, but that would be all.
 
Up 7-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning, MSUB needed four more runs to end the game. Devlin hit a single to right field. Osborn followed that up with her own her single to left. Taylor Doran walked, loading the bases for pinch hitter Cameron Cassinelli. She doubled down the right field line scoring Osborn and Devlin. Lead-off hitter Bella Rovens made it to first on a fielder's choice, but added a RBI giving the Yellowjackets a 10-3 lead. Hali Gruntowicz came in to pinch hit and she made it an eight-run game, bringing in the runner on third.
 
"Jessyka pitched a tremendous game for us," MSUB head coach Lisa Allen said. "The offense adjusted early and continued to hit well through the game allowing us to play only 5 innings. The defense stayed strong behind our pitcher throughout the whole game."
 
Game 2 (MSUB 5, Concordia (Ore.) 3)
 
In Game 2, MSU Billings found themselves down 3-0 heading into the seventh inning, but undaunted the Yellowjackets rallied for a 5-run comeback and behind relief pitcher MacDonald held off the Cavaliers in the final inning for the team's second rematch win of the tournament.
 
On opening day of the tournament MSUB lost 11-10 in extra innings to Concordia. This time the Yellowjackets pulled out a tremendous last inning for the team's second win of the day.
 
Behind four pinch hitters, MSUB landed three hits and pulled five runs across the plate for the win. Devlin walked first for the Yellowjackets. Osborn hit a single to center, advancing Devlin to second. Pinch hitter Amanda Barham came in, slapping a single bunt to the shortstop loading the bases. Cassinelli came in as the second pinch hitter of the inning. She was hit by pitch walking in Devlin from third for the 'Jackets first run of the game. Gruntowicz stepped in as the third pinch hitter and she was also walked brining in the team's second run.
 
Jordyn Roark made her first appearance in the game as the fourth pinch hitter for MSUB. She hit a single up the middle to score runners from second and third. Now down by one, Concordia made a pitching change bringing in Lucy Baldovino for starter Mattie Boucher. At the plate for MSUB, Hoke hit a sac bunt advancing a runner and giving the Yellowjackets a 5-0 lead before a fly ball to center field ended the inning.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Concordia's Destinee Chang reached on an error, but on the next play MSUB was able to get the baserunner and the batter on a double play from Hoke, Conceicao, and Osborn. MacDonald finished out the game with a strikeout on the third batter.  
 
"We had a couple of defensive mistakes and gave up a few more walks then we would like, but we also worked ourselves out of the jam," Allen said. "In the 7th inning our four pinch hitters did exactly what they needed to do and it was motivating and inspiring to see them step in for their team when we needed them. Jessyka came in late in the game to finish the game. She came into a tough situation and shut their offense down."
 
In the circle for MSUB, Megan Dettling pitched five and one third innings allowing three hits and three runs, but striking out two, before MacDonald (4-2) came in pitching one and two thirds innings also finishing with two strikeouts and completing her second win of the day.
 
Jessyka MacDonald is named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day.
 
Montana State University Billings (7-8) is now headed for Great Northwest Athletic Conference competition. The Yellowjackets continue their 9-day, 14-game road trip with doubleheaders at Western Washington on Tuesday and Wednesday before travelling to Saint Martin's for two more doubleheaders against the Saints on Friday and Saturday.
 
"We are extremely proud of how the team played today and came out with the two wins," Allen said. "We are playing as a team and for the team. Next, we look forward to moving onto conference play!"