TURLOCK, Calif. – On Day 2 at the Tournament of Champions hosted by Cal State Stanislaus, the MSUB softball team dropped a rough game 9-1 (5 innings) against Chico State, but won Game 2 against Academy of Art 3-1 in the nightcap on Saturday at the Pedretti Sports Complex.
 
The good news for MSU Billings is the team's overall tournament record of 3-2 is good enough to make the Yellowjackets the No. 1 seed out of Pool B, advancing the team for the first time in program history to the championship bracket, giving MSUB a shot to play for the title. Montana State University Billings has a game set-up tomorrow against the No. 1 seed from Pool C, Humboldt State, Sunday at 1:15 p.m. Mountain Time.
 
Game 1, MSUB 1, Chico State 9 (5 innings)
 
MSU Billings came out flat in Game 1 against Chico State. The Yellowjackets couldn't get the bats going, or hold steady on defense as the Wildcats made quick work of MSUB in five innings.
 
Chico State (20-9) ruled the batter's box, outhitting MSUB 12-2, and the Yellowjackets didn't help themselves on defense, committing three errors as four of the Wildcats runs were unearned in the game.
 
"We were missing energy and made a few mistakes," MSUB head coach Lisa Allen said on the first game of the day. "In Game 2 we switched it around and came out more energetic."
 
Catcher Brittney Sanders and second baseman Aubrey Conceicao had the two hits in the game for the Yellowjackets. MSUB's single run was in the first inning from lead-off batter Bella Rovens. She led the game with a walk, advancing to second on a groundout. Taylor Hoke sent Rovens to third and making it to first on an error by the Chico State shortstop. Sanders earned the RBI as she swung the bat next, sending Rovens home, but Chico State made a big double-play on first and second to clear the bases.
 
The Wildcats picked up three runs in the first and two in the second for a 5-1 advantage. Added to that, Chico State plated one run in the fourth and added three in the fifth to end the game ahead by eight runs. The Wildcats are now 20-9 on the season.
 
Mary Grace Bywater (2-3) earned the start and picked up the loss in the circle for MSUB. She pitched four and one third innings for the Yellowjackets, allowing 11 hits and fanning two. Megan Dettling came into the game in relief, but pitched less than a third as a double from Chico State's Emily McEnaney drove in runs eight and nine for the Wildcats.
 
Game 2, MSUB 3, Academy of Art 1
 
Game 2 on the day was a much more even affair. The Yellowjackets had seven hits and the Urban Knights six in the late game on Saturday. Both teams had their chances as MSUB stranded nine, and AAU six, but the Yellowjackets came out on top with timely hits and some solid defense behind their pitchers.
 
In the first inning, Rovens struck a single to the infield to start it off. She advanced to second on a passed ball, setting up a sac bunt from Cori Gammon sending Rovens to third. On the next at bat, Rovens came home unearned, but put MSUB up 1-0.
 
Rovens earned a RBI in the second inning when her second single of the game brought in Cameron Cassinelli from third after Cassinelli walked and advanced on a wild pitch and a fielder's choice.
 
The Yellowjackets' insurance run came from Cassinelli in the sixth inning with a RBI single scoring Conceicao.
 
In Game 2, Conceicao was 3-3. Rovens finished 2-4 with a run and a RBI. Cassinelli finished 1-2, also with a run and RBI.
 
The Yellowjackets cleaned up their fielding errors from Game 1, finishing error-free in the nightcap.
 
In the circle, today's St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day Amanda Roark (2-3) started the game for MSUB. Roark pitched five and two thirds innings, allowing just one run on four hits, finishing her time on the mound with a season-low 1.24 game ERA. Jessyka MacDonald came in to pitch for one and two thirds inning to pick up her second save of the year. MacDonald limited the Urban Knights to two hits and no additional runs.
 
With the win, MSUB is now 16-16 on the season. Academy of Art falls to 16-20.
 
Tomorrow, MSU Billings enters bracket play. The Yellowjackets finish pool play as the No. 1 seed out of Pool B and head to the Championship bracket, setting up a date tomorrow with the No. 1 seed out of Pool C, regional rival Humboldt State. MSUB has advanced to its championship bracket three times during its previous seven tournament appearances, but this is the first time the Yellowjackets have come out of pool play as the No. 1 seed and into the Gold Bracket for a chance to play in the tournament's championship title game.
 
"We are very excited with how the team has performed thus far," Coach Allen said. "We look to continue that tomorrow against Humboldt."
 
Montana State University Billings opened its season with a 6-3 win over then No. 19 Humboldt State at the sixth annual Desert Stinger tournament in Las Vegas. MSUB had a home run each from Hoke and Osborn. Dettling made her collegiate debut pitching two and a third innings, not allowing a run or a hit and fanning four as she picked up the win in the circle for MSUB.
 
For more details, and up-to-date live stats links, please visit the tournament home page HERE.