BILLINGS, Mont. – Softball season is back in full swing, despite the current temperature in Billings suggesting otherwise. After the Montana State University Billings softball team went 2-1 in the Desert Stinger Tournament in Las Vegas last weekend and swept Monday's doubleheader against Hawai'i Pacific, the Yellowjackets head to St. George, Utah for five games in the Courtyard Classic this weekend at Canyons Softball Complex.
 
More than a dozen teams representing three conferences are scheduled to participate and the MSU Billings will see action against University of Hawai'i at Hilo, Fort Lewis College, Western New Mexico University, Dixie State University, and Metropolitan State University Denver from February 7-9. Links for each game can be found by navigating to the MSUB Stretch Internet Portal through the softball schedule page to watch live or follow live statistics.
 
"We will be facing some good competition this weekend at the Dixie State Tournament," said MSUB head coach Jessica Rayman. "It will be good for us to continue to get the live reps in. We have grown a lot as a team just in the first weekend out, so I am excited to see our athletes step up in different situations."
 
FRESHMEN IMPRESSION: With many question marks this season about how the Yellowjackets would replace key graduates, fans breathed a temporary sigh of relief after watching multiple freshman step up to the plate and deliver clutch hits for MSUB in the Desert Stinger Tournament. Cailee Morgan hit lead-off in game one against Hawai'i Pacific and went 3-for-4 with a run batted in. The next day, Morgan helped MSUB sweep a doubleheader against HPU by combining for four hits and a pair of RBI's while playing second base. Morgan leads the team with a .421 batting average and has one triple and one walk in five games.
 
 
REYNOLDS MAKES AN IMPACT: Payton Reynolds immediately boosted the the Yellowjackets offense after spending time at Feather River College and Willamette University. The junior transfer is hitting .400 in five starts and has one home run, one double, and a team leading seven runs batted in. Reynolds has also drawn six walks and leads the team with a .667 on-base percentage.
 
PITCHING PROWESS: Maddy Lincoln and Alyssa Etheridge have trading off starts so far this season for MSUB and both have given the Yellowjackets chances to win. Etheridge leads the duo with a 2.69 ERA and 2-0 record. Etheridge has one complete game and 13.0 innings pitches with six strikeouts and 12 walks. Opponents are hitting just .188 against her. Maddy Lincoln is also 2-0 and has a 4.12 ERA in four appearances and two starts. Lincoln pitched a complete game shutout over Hawai'i Pacific and has 17.0 innings pitched with 15 strikeouts and four walks. Haley Couch also pitched over the weekend for MSUB.
 
 
ALL TOURNAMENT HONORS: Allie Hughes and Payton Reynolds garnered all-tournament awards at the Desert Stinger Tournament for their stellar performances. Reynolds ranked second in the tournament with six RBI's, while batting .375 with a home run and perfect defense in nine chances at third base. Hughes homered twice on Friday, while reaching base in 7 of 11 plate appearances, driving in three, and scoring five runs.
 
Scouting University of Hawai'i at Hilo
Game Day: Thursday, February 7 – 10 a.m. Field 5
2018-19 Record: 1-2, 0-0 PacWest, home, 0-2 away, 1-2 neutral
Head Coach: Callen Perreira (23rd season)
2017-18 Record: 31-15, 19-9 PACWEST, 8-4 home, 4-6 away, 2-2 neutral
 
The Vulcans have the difficult task of replacing star player Bailey Gaspar, one of the best players in school history this season. They do however, have seven returning starters after making the eight-team NCAA West Region Tournament last year. Hawai'i Hilo also signed seven transfers and four freshman and the Vulcans were tabbed to finish fourth in the 10-team conference. Junior utility player Brinell Kaleikini was selected preseason Pacific West Conference Player of the year. Kaleikini played five different positions for the Vulcans in 2018 and hit .361 with 13 doubles, six home runs, and 39 runs batted in.
 
Scouting Fort Lewis College
Game Day: Thursday, February 7 – 3 p.m. Field 2
2018-19 Record: 3-0, 0-0 RMAC, 0-0 home, 0-0 away, 3-0 neutral
Head Coach: Elle Fracker (third season)
2017-18 Record: 16-38, 10-30 RMAC, 8-12 home, 2-18 away, 6-8 neutral
 
The Skyhawks got off to a hot start to the season in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They defeated Oklahoma Baptist 9-0, then dispatched Eastern New Mexico 3-1, and 7-3 last weekend. Sophomore right-hander Emily Morris picked up two wins in the circle, throwing a combined 9.0 innings and allowed one run (unearned), five hits, and struck out five. Morris was also named RMAC pitcher of the week. Angelique Elemen returns having led the Skyhawks in batting average (.370), hits (54), home runs (11), and runs batted in (33) a year ago. Four pitchers also return from last season's staff. Thursday will be the first ever meeting between the two teams.
 
Scouting University Western New Mexico
Game Day: Friday, February 8 – 10 a.m. Field 5
2018-19 Record: 0-5, 0-0 LONE STAR, 0-0, 0-1 away, 0-4 neutral
Head Coach: Elsa Cocker (second season)
2017-18 Record: 5-44, 3-27 LONE STAR, 4-17 home, 0-18 away, 1-9 neutral
 
The Mustangs put up zero wins in five chances in the Lubbock Christian Tournament but they have managed to generate 27 runs of offense, including 14 runs in a 16-14 loss to Southern Nazarene University. Western New Mexico has struggled mightily on the road and have not won away from Silver City since April 28, 2017. WNMU returns 10, having also added two transfers and six freshmen to the squad as well. Senior Ariana Maldonado was the team's top hitter last season. She batted .357 with 61 hits, 18 doubles, 11 home runs, and 36 runs driven in. Lyanna Waddell returns at starting pitcher after appearing in 39 games last season. Waddell was 4-23 with an 8.28 ERA and 15 complete games.
 
Scouting Dixie State University
Game Day: Friday, February 10 – 12:30 p.m. Field 5
2018-19 Record: 0-0, 0-0 PacWest
Head Coach: Randy Simkins (11^th season)
2017-18 Record: 42-10, 22-8 RMAC, 22-6 home, 14-4 away, 6-0 neutral
 
After rained out games against Hawai'i at Hilo and Central Washington last week, the Trailblazers are set to open the season at the Courtyard Classic. Last season, DSU won 20 straight games to start the year and finished with a loss in the NCAA West Super Regionals 4-3 to No. 2 Chico State. This year, Dixie State has been projected to finish first in the 13 team PacWest. The Trailblazers returned nine starters from 2018, led by All-American Cambrie Hazel and All-Region honorees Bailey Gaffin and Jessica Gonzalez.
 
Hazel earned six PacWest weekly awards and was named PacWest pitcher of the week four times as a freshman. Hazel tossed five no-hitters and one perfect game. She held a 20-4 record and 1.79 ERA with 142 strikeouts. Gaffin hit .342 last season with 53 hits, 45 RBI, 12 doubles, and three home runs. Other preseason honors were awarded to Brenna Cornwall and Kori Gahn.
 
Scouting Metropolitan State University Denver
Game Day: Saturday, February 9 – 10:00 a.m. Field 1
2018-19 Record: 1-4, 0-0 RMAC, 1-4 home, 0-0 away, 0-0 neutral
Head Coach: Annie Van Wetzinga (sixth season)
2017-18 Record: 34-23, 28-12 RMAC, 21-3 home, 7-11 away, 6-9 neutral
 
The Roadrunners closed out five opening weekend games with an 8-0 six inning win over University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. Metro State lost its three top power threats from last season but there are a few strong candidates to fill the offensive void, including RMAC freshman of the year Koryna Wright. Wright hit .331 with five home runs and 32 runs batted in. Alyssa Richter returns as a solid hitting shortstop and Jasmine Wessel hit .311 for the Roadrunners as a freshman. Last season MSU Billings won two of three games against Metro State.