BURNABY, B.C. – The MSUB softball team dropped its opening Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader against Simon Fraser University by scores of 4-2 and 10-1 (5 innings) Saturday at Beedie Field.
 
MSU Billings (5-10, 0-2 GNAC) struck first in both games, but Simon Fraser was able to answer as the Yellowjackets opened their conference schedule with two losses.
 
"We played really well defensively in the first game today, we just didn't make the adjustments in the box," MSUB head coach Rebekah Gasner said. "When we don't get a lot of runners on base, we need to be ready to take advantage when they do get on. In Game 2, we came out and scored first, setting us up for a great start. However, we just couldn't answer back after SFU rallied in the first inning. Now we need to learn from what we saw today and move on for our games tomorrow and look to split the series."  
 
Game 1: Simon Fraser 4, MSU Billings 2
 
Sophomore Megan Dettling was 1-for-3 in the first game with both RBIs. The right-handed pitcher hit a home run in the top of the fifth inning scoring Myrissa Prince who had walked.
 
MSU Billings had seven players left on base in the game. The Yellowjackets had runners on base in the first three innings but couldn't string hits together to bring them home. In the fourth inning, MSUB put three runners on. Designated player Kelsey Devlin reached base on an error by the SFU first baseman. MSUB first baseman Cameron Cassinelli hit a double to left field to put runners in scoring position.
 
Katlyn Stringari loaded the bases with a walk, but two consecutive fielder's choices gave SFU an opportunity for the last two outs of the inning.
 
The Yellowjackets had one more runner on base in the seventh inning. Leadoff batter Bella Rovens hit a single to right and Cori Gammon sent her to second with a sacrifice bunt, but MSUB was unable to keep the momentum going.
 
Prince also finished 1-for-3 in the game, Rovens was 1-for-4, and Cassinelli 1-for-2.
 
Dettling (3-4) tossed a complete game in the circle for MSUB scattering six hits and fanning six.
 
Game 2: Simon Fraser 10, MSU Billings 1 (5 Innings)
 
MSUB got on the scoreboard in the first inning with a sacrifice hit from Prince to score Rovens who had doubled and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Gammon.
 
Simon Fraser broke open the game in the second inning with seven runs on seven hits.
 
The Clan kept the pressure on in the fourth inning, tacking on three runs to end the game on the eight-run mercy rule.
 
Rovens was 2-for-3 in the second game. Cassinelli and Jessica Bagnell each had a hit as well.
 
Simon Fraser (12-10, 3-3 GNAC) was led by Stephanie Caron and Rachel Proctor who each had two hits. Proctor and Alex Blaylak struck doubles with Proctor ending the game with three RBIs and Blaylak adding two.
 
In the circle for MSUB, Amanda Roark (0-5) tossed four innings, allowing 10 earned runs on seven hits.  
 
THE BUZZ: Dettling was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day.
 
UP NEXT: Weather permitting, MSU Billings and Simon Fraser will play a second doubleheader on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. Mountain time.