BILLINGS, Mont. – The MSUB softball team has been away from competition since Valentine's Day, but the Yellowjackets return to play in a big way with 12 games in eight days. MSU Billings kicks off its annual spring break trip with a four game Great Northwest Athletic Conference series at Simon Fraser.
 
The Yellowjackets are scheduled to open their series against the Clan on Saturday, Mar. 5, but weather may be a factor in day and start times. Any changes made will be posted on the MSUB Softball Facebook page and MSUB Softball on Twitter.
 
Montana State University Billings (5-8) opened the season at the 2016 Desert Stinger tournament in Las Vegas with a win over No. 19 Sonoma State 9-8. The Yellowjackets finished the tournament with a 2-3 record. MSUB then traveled to Dixie State where the 'Jackets played a three game series, taking one game against the No. 2 Red Storm 4-1. MSUB finished up the opening season trip with five games at the Dixie State tournament, ending with another 2-3 record.
 
The Yellowjackets have had two and a half weeks to work on different aspects of their game, but everyone is ready to begin their conference slate this week at Simon Fraser.
 
DETTLING DETERMINED IN SOPHOMORE SEASON: Megan Dettling has made nine appearances for the Yellowjackets in the circle and holds an overall record of 4-2. She has four complete games under her belt in her second season with MSUB and leads the team with a 4.30 ERA. She has 31 strikeouts in 41 and 2/3 innings pitched. Dettling has also been to the plate in 10 games, and is 6-23 with five RBI's and hit her first collegiate home run at the Dixie State tournament.
 
CASSINELLI COMES ON STRONG: Another sophomore, Cameron Cassinelli is making waves on the team. The left-handed first baseman is holding down a team-leading .355 at the plate with 11 hits, including four home runs and 13 RBI's for the Yellowjackets. She also has six walks and a slugging percentage of .742.
 
SENIOR LEADERSHIP: Senior Cori Gammon has been a steadying presence for the Yellowjackets. The outfielder has had a hit in all but two games for MSUB. She has a team-high 14 hits in 13 games on a .333 batting average with a .636 slugging percentage. In 31 chances in the outfield she has not recorded an error for a 100.0 percent fielding average.
 
LEADING FROM THE FRONT: Junior Bella Rovens is batting .308 in the lead-off spot for MSUB with 12 hits and seven RBI's. She has 15 total bases for the Yellowjackets and a team-leading seven walks.
 
DEVLIN'S DOUBLES: Junior Kelsey Devlin has started 11 games in the early season for MSUB. She is batting .333 and has 11 hits, including four doubles and two home runs. Devlin has 21 total bases and a .636 slugging percentage.
 
ESTRADA EXCELLING: Junior Ryland Estrada has started eight games for the Yellowjackets. The transfer is batting .348 and has eight hits with two triples and four RBI's.
 
Last season the Yellowjackets finished with a 14-8 record in the GNAC. MSU Billings entered last season's conference tournament the third seed, but swept through, not dropping a game to earn the GNAC tournament title and the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
 
The 2016 GNAC tournament is scheduled for Apr. 28-30.
 
Simon Fraser University the Clan
Saturday, March 5 – 2 PM MTN – DOUBLEHEADER
Sunday, March 6 – 1 PM MTN – DOUBLEHEADER
Beedie Field, Burnaby, B.C.
2016 Record: 10-10, 1-3 GNAC
Head Coach: Mike Renney, 26th season
2015 GNAC Finish: 17-30, 5-19 GNAC (6th)
 
Simon Fraser was picked to finish seventh in the preseason coaches' poll conference after finishing sixth last season with a 5-19 record in the GNAC.
 
Like MSUB, Simon Fraser opened its season with two tournaments. At both the Northwest Cup in Montevallo, Ala., and at the Falcon Frenzy in Oregon the Clan came away with a 3-2 record.
 
The Clan opened up its conference schedule with a four game series against Western Washington in Bellingham where SFU ended the weekend 1-3.
 
In 20 games, the Clan are batting .306. Six players are hitting above .300 led by Taylor Lundrigan at .391 and Nicole Ratel at .375.
 
Lundrigan leads the conference in hits per game at 1.35. Teammate Taylor Gillis is second in the GNAC with 1.30. Gillis and Lundrigan are also atop of league in runs scored (1.15, .95).
 
Lundrigan has six doubles, two triples, and four home runs while Ratel has eight doubles and three home runs.
 
In the circle for SFU, Alia Stachoski has a 5-3 overall record. The sophomore right-handed pitcher carries a 4.32 ERA on 47 innings. Stachoski has recorded 50 strikeouts and leads the conference and has the most appearances in the GNAC with 13. Junior Tori Belton is 4-4 overall with a 5.68 ERA. Belton has tossed 40 and 2/3 innings and recorded 23 strikeouts.
 
The Series: (16-8, Away 8-3) MSU Billings has double the amount of wins over losses in its series with Simon Fraser (16-8). The Yellowjackets are 8-3 in Burnaby and have won the last seven of eight games against the Clan.
 
Last Season: MSU Billings won three of its four games against the Clan last season at home. MSU Billings won the four games last year 32 runs to 13.