TURLOCK, Calif. – MSU Billings softball dropped a heart-breaker against UC San Diego 5-4, but was able to counter Cal State East Bay with a big sixth inning for a 6-4 victory during Day 2 of the 15th Annual Tournament of Champions presented by the City of Turlock and hosted by Stanislaus State Saturday.
"Today was a very positive day for us overall," MSUB head coach Rebekah Gasner said. "Amanda had a great outing on the mound, and our defense was able to keep UC San Diego and Cal State East Bay to 5 and 4 runs each. In the first game, we were able to jump ahead and take the lead early, however, UC San Diego was able to put the pressure on and come up with a few extra clutch hits in the top of the seventh inning. Despit our loss in the first game, we were able to bounce back quickly for our second game and string hits together with runners on base. Today we played Yellowjacket softball and battled two very respectable teams. Our energy was high and we came out with a purpose."
Game 1: UCSD 5, MSUB 4 The Yellowjackets held the lead against UC San Diego into the sixth inning, 4-3.
The Tritons got onto the scoreboard first at the top of the second inning with a sacrifice fly from Taylor Abeyta that scored Lauren Sanders.
MSU Billings responded with back-to-back home runs. Second baseman
Myrissa Prince connected for her fifth home run of the season to tie the game 2-2. Following Prince at the plate, third baseman
Kelsey Devlin launched another home run over the center field fence, her sixth of the season, to give the Yellowjackets the lead 3-2.
UCSD's Sam Glantz hit a 2-RBI home run in the top of the sixth inning to put the Triton back on top.
The 'Jackets matched UC San Diego with two runs in the bottom of the inning.
Heather Tracy singled and advanced to third base on a passed ball.
Cameron Cassinelli reached first base on an infield error and Tracy went to third to put two runners on.
Alyssa Yaeger was sent in to pinch run for Cassinelli. During designated player
Nicole Tiffany's at-bat, a wild pitch sent Tracy across home plate to tie the game and Yaeger advanced to second.
Tiffany kept Yaeger going with a fly out to right field. A RBI single from Devlin pushed Yaeger across home plate for the lead back 4-3.
The Tritons were able to move ahead at the top of the seventh inning scoring two runs on four hits. UCSD struck four singles, including big RBI hits from pinch hitters Caitlyn Weisner and Emily Sklencar.
MSUB was unable to mount a response at the bottom of the inning, falling just short in the game.
Devlin was 2-for-3 with 2 of MSUB's 3 RBI on her home run and single in the sixth inning. Tracy, Tiffany, Prince, and catcher
Haley Rowe all recorded a hit in the game.
UCSD had seven hits and left five runners on base. The Yellowjackets finished with six hits and stranded four runners. MSUB recorded three errors while UC San Diego tallied one.
Lexi Edwards (10-5) earned the win for UCSD tossing the complete game, scattering six hits, allowing three earned runs, and fanning three.
For MSUB,
Amanda Roark went the distance, scattering seven hits, allowing five earned runs, and fanning two.
Game 2: CSUEB 4, MSUB 6 Cal State East Bay was ahead 4-1 through the top of the sixth inning before a big 5-run, 4-hit bottom of the inning put the Yellowjackets ahead. The MSUB pitcher and defense held the Pioneers from scoring any runs in the seventh inning for the 'Jackets first win at the 2016 TOC.
Cal State East Bay's (13-19) Gabby Gonzalez had a big day at the plate against the Yellowjackets. She hit a solo home run in the first inning, drew a RBI walk in the second inning, and struck a RBI single in the top of the fourth inning for 3 RBI.
Montana State University Billings (10-22) scored its first run in the bottom of the first inning.
Cori Gammon singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from
Bella Rovens, moved to third base on a wild pitch, and then crossed home plate on a passed ball.
At the top of the order for MSUB, Gammon led-off the sixth inning with a double down the left field line. With her speed, a single from Rovens pushed Gammon across home plate for a run. Tracy was safe at first on a fielding error by the pitcher. Cassinelli drew her second intentional walk of the game to load the bases.
Tiffany plated two runs on a long single into center field that brought in Rovens and Tracy to tie the score at four. Prince moved runners to second and third base on a ball to the infield. Next up, Devlin earned her third and fourth RBI of the day with the third hit of the inning for MSUB, a driving single up the middle for the lead at 6-4.
After a pitching change, MSUB wasn't able to add to the total, but the defense held strong at the top of the inning for the win.
Gammon was 2-for-3 in the game with two runs. Rovens was 1-for-2 with a run scored and a RBI. Cassinelli had a hit and run scored.
Tiffany and Devlin were both 1-for-3 with 2 RBI each.
Tatiana Beilstein (4-10) tossed 5 and 1/3 innings for Cal State East Bay, scattering six with six earned runs.
Roark (3-11) came in to pitch in relief for
Megan Dettling, tossing 5 and 1/3 innings, scattering seven with one earned run for the win.
THE BUZZ: The win halts a four-game skid from MSUB…senior
Amanda Roark tossed the complete 7 innings in Game 1 and then 5 and 1/3 innings in the second game for the Yellowjackets…St Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day, Devlin finished the day 3-for-6 with 4 RBI…with 10 home runs on the season Cassinelli was intentionally walked twice during the game against Cal State East Bay.
UP NEXT: MSU Billings finishes the Tournament of Champions Sunday with another pair of games taking on Dominican at 10:00 AM Pacific time, followed by No. 3 Humboldt State at 3:00 PM Pacific time. Links to live stats can be found
here.
"Tomorrow we will look to close out the TOC with Dominican and long-time rival Humboldt State," Gasner said. "As long as we continue to fight in all seven innings, it will be another positive day for MSUB softball."
