PORTLAND, Ore. – A pair of gutsy pitching performances and consistent, timely hitting by the Montana State University Billings softball team lifted the Yellowjackets to a doubleheader sweep of Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent Concordia University Tuesday afternoon at Porter Park.
 
Freshman left-hander Maddy Lincoln threw a 182-pitch complete game, and won an 11-pitch battle against reigning GNAC Player of the Year Meghan Luebbert in the bottom of the seventh to strand the tying runs on base in a 14-12 victory in the opener.
 
Junior Megan Dettling, who homered as part of the big first game offensively, took the ball and struck out a career-high eight Cavaliers in a complete game for a dramatic 7-5 win in the nightcap. 
 
Bella Rovens went 4-for-7 with a home run, six RBIs, and three runs scored, and Cameron Cassinelli was 3-for-8 with a home run and three RBIs in the doubleheader. "We are getting momentum going, and our pitching staff and defense are starting to play well," Rayman commented. "The team is doing a good job of making the end result what we want it to be, and we are excited about that. We have good momentum going into tomorrow and Saint Martin's this weekend."

The 'Jackets improved to 8-11 on the season and 4-2 in conference play, and have won six of their last nine games overall. The 'Cavs dropped to 7-8 with the loss, and are 0-2 in GNAC competition. Luebbert was 3-for-7 with six RBIs in the doubleheader for CU.

"Bella was a huge leader for us offensively today, and did a good job of setting the tone," Rayman commented on the senior. "We had her swing away today, and she stepped up and got the job done. She's so consistent, and she's a threat because of her speed."
 
Game 1 – MSU Billings 14, Concordia 12

 
Pinch-hitter Sam Rice roped a two-out double into the corner in right field in the bottom of the seventh, scoring one run and putting runners on second and third with the 'Cavs trailing 14-12. The big hit set the stage for the epic battle between Lincoln and Luebbert, which Rovens helped win by chasing down the deep fly ball in right center to end the game.

"Maddy kept her composure in that last at-bat, and she always steps up when it's needed," Rayman said. "She continued to fight until she won that at-bat. She does a good job putting the ball where she wants to, and when she's determined, she's knows she's going to win battles."

Eight of the 12 runs that Lincoln allowed were earned, and she matched her season high with seven strikeouts while also walking seven in the complete game.
 
MSUB took advantage of a first-inning error, as Rovens moved to third base after singling to lead off the game. Kelsey Devlin came through with a sacrifice fly, making the score 1-0.
 
Another 'Cavs error set the table in a seven-run second inning, as the 'Jackets took command of the game. All of MSUB's runs came with two outs, as Rovens drove in two with a single, Tracy had an RBI-single, and Cassinelli completed the rally with a no-doubter over the right-field fence to make it 8-0.
 
Concordia began its game-long theme of battling back immediately, snagging back three runs in the bottom of the inning. Kelsie Merritt and Luebbert drew bases-loaded walks, and Mckenzie Smith got her big day started with an RBI-single to cut the deficit down to 8-3. 

Dettling accounted for three of the next four runs scored by the 'Jackets, providing an RBI-single in the third and ripping a two-run home run in the fifth. By then, MSUB had a 12-4 lead in hand, and was three outs away from ending the game early with a run-rule victory.
 
The Cavaliers once again proved resilient however, loading the bases with a walk and two singles in the bottom of the fifth. Smith delivered a big two-out, two-run double, and CU kept itself alive with a three-run frame.
 
CU reliever Tori Muir cruised through the top of the sixth to get her team back to the batter's box, where the Cavaliers yet again put together a rally. Two errors in the inning by MSUB set the stage for three unearned runs to cross the plate, and the Yellowjackets' advantage slipped to just 12-10 entering the final inning.
 
Again rallying with two outs, MSUB plated a pair of vital insurance runs on singles by Dettling and Myrissa Prince in the top of the seventh. The big hits proved to help seal the victory, providing just enough of an advantage to withstand CU's final push at the plate.
 
Dettling matched her career-high with four RBIs in the game, as did Rovens with three. Amanda Barham was 2-for-4 with three runs scored, and Devlin drew a career-high three walks in the opener.
 
Smith wound up 3-for-5 with three RBIs, and Jessica Johnson also had three hits in the opening game.
 

Game 2 – MSU Billings 7, Concordia 5 

The 'Cavs again refused to go quietly in the seventh, as Johnson lined a one-out single into center field to make the score 7-4 and bring the tying run to the plate with runners on the corners. Merritt followed with a two-out base hit to left to bring the 'Cavs within two, but a flyout by Rylleigh Zbaraschuk ended the game and left Luebbert looming on deck.
 
Dettling went the distance, allowing five runs on six hits with eight strikeouts and nine walks while throwing 169 pitches.
 
The 'Jackets took the lead in the first courtesy of a double by Devlin and a miscue in right field. After an RBI-single by Amanda Barham in the top of the second to flip the lineup over, Rovens ripped her first home run of the year over the fence in left-center to open up a 5-0 edge.
 
Dettling had three strikeouts through her first three innings of work, keeping CU's offense at bay and putting zeroes on the scoreboard. The 'Cavs showed signs of life in the fourth however, with a pair of walks and a single loading the bases. Coming up in another big spot, Luebbert delivered as she cleared the bases with a three-run double to make the score 5-3.
 
An RBI-double by Cassinelli helped the 'Jackets scratch a run back in the top of the fifth, and Dettling retired the next five batters with a pair of strikeouts. The junior gave up a two-out single to Luebbert in the bottom of the sixth, but calmly retired the next batter to push her team three outs from the doubleheader sweep.
 
Devlin tacked on a run in the seventh with her sixth homer of the year, and Cassinelli nearly had her second of the game as she crushed a line drive off the top of the wall two batters later. For the second time on Tuesday, the late scoring boost helped provide MSUB with enough of a cushion to withstand the seventh-inning rally by the 'Cavs.
 
Mattie Boucher matched Dettling with a complete game for CU, striking out three and walking four while allowing seven runs on nine hits.
 
THE BUZZ: Rovens was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…the home run was the 22nd of Cassinelli's career, moving her into sole possession of eighth on the all-time MSUB list…the triple for Barham was the first of her career…Tracy's hitting streak reached 19 games with hits in both games Tuesday…Rovens moved into a tie for 10th all-time in the GNAC in walks with 73 in her career…Devlin's home run was the 24th of her career, moving her to No. 5 in MSUB history.
 
COMING UP: The series will be completed Wednesday afternoon, with another 1 p.m. Mountain time doubleheader scheduled at Porter Park. Live video and live statistics will be available online through MSUB's Stretch Internet portal here.