SEASIDE, Calif. – In the bottom of the 12^th inning, MSU Billings falls to Sonoma State 5-4 in the NCAA west sub-region game. The Yellowjackets were one strike away from clinching a spot in the championship, but a walk-off single sends a run across for the Seawolves.
 
In what will be called a classic game, MSU Billings and Sonoma State played through 12 innings in the NCAA west sub-region tournament game, winner advancing to the championship. Pitchers for both teams were outstanding in the game. Jessyka MacDonald for MSUB went 11 2/3 innings for the Yellowjackets today facing 48 batters in the box, scattering nine hits while only allowing three earned runs and fanning eight.
 
MSU Billings outhit the Seawolves 13-10, but the 'Jackets left 13 runners on base to Sonoma's seven, and couldn't push across the extra run when needed.
 
Bella Rovens was 4-6 today while Cori Gammon was 3-4 with two doubles. Emily Osborn and Aubrey Conceicao both had two hits apiece. Both of Osborn's hits were solo home runs and Conceicao came up clutch for MSUB with her hits coming in the eighth and tenth innings for the 'Jackets.
 
Montana State University Billings (30-22) will play again later today. The 'Jackets will face the winner of the CSU Monterey Bay and Humboldt State game at 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
 
Sonoma State (41-19) broke the scoring drought in the third inning. With one runner on, leadoff Ancia Purdy struck a home run over the right field fence. Mayleen Mazon followed that up with a solo shot over the same right field line to put Sonoma State up 3-0 at the bottom of the third inning.
 
The Yellowjackets tied the game up in the sixth and seventh innings. Rovens started it off for MSUB with her second hit of the game and the second hit for the team into the gap in center field. Gammon came up with a double for the 'Jackets putting runners on second and third base for MSUB. Taylor Hoke hit a deep ball into the outfield for a sacrifice fly and the Yellowjackets were on the board with a run.
 
In the seventh, Osborn started the inning off with a home run over center field. Right fielder Heather Tracy followed that up with another single shot over the right field fence to tie the game. Back at the top of the order for MSUB, Rovens came up with a single and left fielder Gammon struck a stand-up double to put runners on second and third for the Yellowjackets. Hoke completed the loaded bases as she went to first on a walk, but MSUB couldn't tack on another run leaving the score tied at three heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.
 
The Seawolves' Holli Brown singled to put the game-winning run on first, but three outs from the MSUB defense ended the seventh sending the game into extra innings.
 
Through four more innings the game remained at a stalemate. Both teams had their chances to score. The Yellowjackets put at least one runner on base in the 8^th-11^th innings.
 
In the 12^th inning, senior first baseman Osborn came up clutch for her team again. On a 0-1 count, Osborn unleashed a laser solo shot over the right field fence for her second home run of the game and her 14^th of the season giving MSUB a 4-3 lead.
 
Ahead by one, the 'Jackets needed to hold the Seawolves for the win. MSUB shut down the first two batters on a groundout bunt down the right field line and a popup to first base, but after a dropped foul fly that would have ended the game and with two strikes on the batter, MSUB pitcher MacDonald called for an injury timeout. The senior pushed through the next two batters, but after two singles and a walk to load the bases, she had to retire bringing in Amanda Roark for the 'Jackets. On the next two at bats, Sonoma advanced runners on a hit by pitch and a single for the walk-off victory.

In the circle for Sonoma, Amanda Llerena tossed the complete 12 innings. She scattered 13 hits, but fanned 15 in facing 52 batters at the plate. Purdy was 3-6 for Sonoma State including a home run and two RBI's. 
 
Next up for MSUB, the Yellowjackets will face the winner of the Humboldt State vs. Cal State Monterey Bay game happening now in a loser-out situation. If MSUB wins tonight's game, the 'Jackets will advance to the championship tomorrow. If the Yellowjackets lose tonight, their season comes to a close in Seaside.
 
(All Times in Pacific Time)
 
Saturday, May 9, 2015 
11:00 AM - Game 3: MSU Billings (30–21) v Sonoma State (40–19)
1:30 PM - Game 4: Humboldt State (41–18) v CSUMB (47–11)  Loser eliminated
6:00 PM - Game 5: MSU Billings v Game 4 HSU/CSUMB  Loser eliminated
 
Sunday, May 10, 2015 
12:00 PM - Game 6: Game 3 Winner v Game 5 Winner
2:30 PM - Game 7*: Repeat Game 6
 
Notes: This is the third time Sonoma and MSUB have met this year with Sonoma getting the upper hand in each game this season by a single run. This is Emily Osborn's 14^th home run of the season, one shy of the MSUB all-time record. This is the second career home run for Heather Tracy and the second time the right fielder has tied a game against Sonoma State. The freshman's first career home run was in the second game this season against Sonoma when she hit a grand slam in the sixth inning for MSUB to tie the game at seven. While this is not the longest game of all-time for the MSUB softball team, it is the second-longest. The all-time record being set in a game against Incarnate Word in 2007 that lasted through 13 innings.