TURLOCK, Calif. – The MSU Billings softball team stunned No. 4 Cal State Monterey Bay in a 3-0 shutout in Game 1, and had a seven-run sixth inning to tie the game, but fell 8-7 against No. 21 Sonoma State in Game 2 of the Tournament of Champions sponsored by the Turlock Convention and Visitors Bureau.
 
In early action at the Cal State Stanislaus sponsored tournament, MSUB finishes Day 1 with a 2-1 record, winning a huge victory in Game 1 over the No. 4 team in the country - Cal State Monterey Bay.
 
Pitcher Jessyka MacDonald (9-5) went the distance. In seven innings, the Billings West High School product faced 27 batters fanning five and allowing just three hits.
 
MSUB had eight hits in the game. Outfielder Bella Rovens was 3-3 and third baseman Kelsey Devlin 2-2 at the plate. Aubrey Conceicao, Emily Osborn, and designated player Cameron Cassinelli also each kicked in a hit.
 
Game 1 - MSU Billings 3, No. 4 Cal State Monterey Bay 0 
 
The Yellowjackets picked up one run in the second and two in the fourth for the 3-0 shutout over the Otters. MSUB first baseman Osborn got things started in the second inning with a single to center field. Cassinelli hit a ground ball to third base, but advanced Osborn to second, setting her up to score as Devlin smacked a single into center driving Osborn in for the run.
 
Conceicao struck a double into center field to start off the fourth inning. Cassinelli followed that up with an RBI single into center bringing in Conceicao giving MSUB the 2-0 lead. MacDonald was sent to first base to pinch run for Cassinelli. Devlin struck her second hit of the game, a single to the infield to put runners on first and second. Leadoff batter Rovens then struck an RBI single bringing in MacDonald for the 3-0 lead after four innings.
 
MacDonald put the lid on the No. 4 Otters in the fifth inning, with three straight pop-ups. The sixth inning was much the same as the MSUB outfield caught its fifth fly ball of the game, MacDonald struck out one, walked the next batter, but caught the fourth batter on another short ball to the outfield.
 
The Otters had two runners in scoring position in the seventh inning, but MacDonald and the defense held strong. A walk, a single, and a fielder's choice put runners on second and third for Monterey Bay. With one out, the Yellowjackets got the next batter out at first halting the runners from advancing and MacDonald capped off her stellar performance with a strikeout to end the game.
 
MSUB's eight team hits were the third most this season against the reigning California Collegiate Athletic Association and three-time All-American pitcher Cori Reinhardt. This is just the second loss of the season for Reinhardt who drops to 15-2 on the year. No. 4 Cal State Monterey Bay is now 25-7 on the season.

"Jessyka pitched another gem of a game keeping Monterey Bay off balance," MSUB head coach Lisa Allen said. "Our offense did what they needed to push runs across while our defense made some amazing plays." 
 
Capping off the historic win for the MSUB softball program, this is also the 100th career victory for MSUB head coach Lisa Allen. Allen was the program's previous assistant coach, but moved to the head coaching slot in the middle of the 2011 season, making 2015 her fourth full year at the helm.
 
Game 2 - No. 21 Sonoma State 8, MSU Billings 7
 
Just short. The Yellowjackets found themselves down 7-0 at the top of the sixth inning, when MSUB locked in at the plate after a pitching change from the Seawolves scoring seven total runs to tie the game.
 
At the top of the order Rovens got on base with MSUB's second hit of the game – a single to second. Cori Gammon advanced her to second. Two more singles, from shortstop Taylor Hoke and catcher Brittney Sanders brought Rovens home for the first MSUB run.
 
A single from Osborn and a hit by pitch sent Cassinelli to first base bringing in Hoke. A walk on Devlin crossed Sanders over home plate pulling MSUB up to three runs in the inning.
 
With the bases loaded and the lead dwindling, Sonoma State made another pitching change, bringing in the team's third pitcher of the game.
 
Given a big opportunity, freshman right fielder Heather Tracy stepped up to the plate. Down by four and with two outs, Tracy made her collegiate home run debut with a grand slam game-tying monster shot straight out over the center field fence.
 
With the game knotted at seven, the Seawolves broke the tie with a sacrifice fly scoring one run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Needing to hold the Yellowackets, Sonoma State re-entered starting pitcher Amanda Llerena (15-5-3). She finished the game, recording her third save of the season with a strikeout, and two groundballs. Gabby Dupree (3-0) who pitched just one third of an inning was credited with the win for Sonoma State.
 
The No. 21 Seawolves scored eight runs on nine hits, while MSUB pushed seven runs across on seven hits.
 
Sanders was 2-3 and Osborn and Cassinelli both 1-2. On the mound, MSUB's Megan Dettling pitched three and two thirds innings facing 23 batters, allowing six runs on six hits, but fanning four. Amanda Roark (1-3) came in to pitch 2 and one third innings, allowing two runs on three hits and was credited with the loss.
 
The win pushes No. 21 Sonoma State to 25-7 on the season.

"We came out a little flat, but found our footing toward the end," Allen said. "We made the adjustment to their new pitcher, highlighted by Heathers grand slam. In the end we came up one run short, but we are happy the team fought back." 

Game 3 - Cal State Stanislaus 1, MSU Billings 9 (6 innings)
 
Senior Jessica Campbell tossed a complete game against host Cal State Stanislaus in Friday night's late game. After two hard-fought contests earlier in the day, the Yellowjackets stepped out onto the field at 9:30 p.m. for Game 3 against the Warriors.
 
Sanders pushed a run across the plate in the top of the first inning, hitting a single through the left side to score lead-off runner Rovens from third, but the Yellowjackets' offense stalled in the next four innings. Cal State Stanislaus scored its single run in the fourth inning when an error by MSUB put a runner on. She scored on a long single to right center.
 
Past midnight in Montana the score was knotted at 1-all when the 'Jackets took control of the game in the fifth inning. MSUB plated six runs on three hits and two costly CSUS fielding errors.
 
After taking a 7-1 advantage into the sixth inning, MSUB added two more runs to end the game on the eight-run mercy rule.
 
Sanders went 3-3 in the game with two RBI's and a run scored. Conceicao was 2-2. Hoke, Devlin, and Tracy all had doubles in the contest where the Yellowjackets outhit the Warriors 11-3.
 
Campbell faced 23 batters allowing three hits and no earned runs. She finished the game with her lowest ERA of the season so far and is now 1-2 on the year.
 
"Jessica Campbell came out and kept the ball low allowing our defense to make plays for her.," Allen said on Game 3 against Stanislaus. "We took some time offensively to make an adjustment, but made it in the end and took the advantage."
 
Cal State Stanislaus is now 10-21 on the season and with the three games on Friday, MSU Billings is an even 15-15.

NEXT UP: Day 2 of the Tournament of Champions continues for MSUB. On Saturday the Yellowjackets play two games. Game 1 against Chico State has a 3:15 p.m. Mountain Time start. Game 2 against Academy of Art is at 7:00 p.m. Mountain Time. Please visit the tournament home page HERE for up-to-date information on times and links to live stats.