TURLOCK, Calif. – Maddy Lincoln pitched a seven inning shutout and Morgan Quimby delivered clutch hitting to help Montana State University Billings defeat No. 13 Chico State 2-0 in the Tournament of Champions Saturday afternoon.
 
The Yellowjackets broke up a 0-0 deadlock in the fourth inning when Payton Reynolds scored on a Quimby sacrifice fly to right field. MSUB then made it 2-0 in the fifth after Rylan Austin doubled to right field to score Cailee Morgan from third. Lincoln held off the usually potent Chico State offense the rest of the way to earn her fifth career shutout. It was the first time since February, 2016 MSU Billings has defeated a ranked opponent (No. 2 Dixie State University).
 
"The game against Chico State was an all-around team win," commented head coach Jessica Rayman. "Maddy Lincoln was locked in and determined to shut them down and really played awesome. We played solid defense and bounced back quickly when we did make mistakes."
Prior to the upset of Chico State, the Yellowjackets suffered a 3-2 loss to California State University San Bernardino in game one. The Coyotes pushed single runs across in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings to edge out MSUB by a run. The Yellowjackets posted seven hits but left seven runners on-base in the game.
 
MSU Billings (9-18, 2-8 GNAC) is 1-3 in the tournament of champions and 1-5 in games played this week. The team finishes the weekend with a game against Academy of Art Sunday at 11:30 a.m. Cal State San Bernardino (17-9) improved to 2-1 in Turlock while Chico State (20-8) fell to 2-1.
 
Game 1 – MSU Billings 2, Cal State San Bernardino 3
 
The game remained scoreless through four innings, but the Coyotes struck with one run in the top of the fifth after a brief two out rally. With the bases empty, Diana Gomez walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A dropped ball in centerfield by Jolene House enabled Samantha Vacko to reach second base and Gomez to score for a 1-0 advantage.
 
Cal State San Bernardino began the sixth inning with three singles by Morgan Ratliff, Sydney Kreimann, and Claudia Lopez. Ratliff scored from second on Lopez's pinch hit punch to right field.
 
The Yellowjackets came back to tie the game 2-2 in their half of the sixth. Reynolds doubled down the third base line after Allie Hughes singled. Morgan Quimby then doubled to right field to score both.
 
'Jacket starting pitcher Alyssa Etheridge issued a leadoff walk to start the seventh and the Coyotes advanced Gomez into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Jenna Shay popped out to third base but a throwing error on a ball hit to Sydney Pollard cost MSUB a run.
 
"We played hard against San Bernardino, but their defense was the difference in the game," mentioned Rayman. "Errors hurt us, but we competed well. Alyssa (Etheridge) threw a great game for us and I see her getting more confident with each outing."
 
Etheridge (4-6) took the loss for MSUB, but allowed only one earned run, three hits, walked three, and struck out four over 7.0 innings pitched. Amanda Ramirez (8-5) was the winning pitcher for the Coyotes after working the final 3.0 innings. She surrendered two earned runs, six hits, walked zero, and struck out one.
 
MSU Billings received hits from seven of nine hitters in the lineup. Quimby and Reynolds recorded doubles and Quimby had two runs batted in. Claudia Lopez had one run batted in for Cal State San Bernardino. The Coyotes left five on base compared to seven for MSUB.
 
The Yellowjackets have lost to Cal State San Bernardino in the tournament of champions two straight seasons after a 1-0 loss in Turlock last March. MSUB fell to 3-6 in the all-time series against the Coyotes.
 
Game 2 – MSU Billings 2, California State Chico 0
 
Lincoln dueled Chico State's Naomi Monahan for the first four scoreless innings of game two but it was Lincoln who prevailed in the end.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Reynolds led off with a double to left field. Madison Kelly advanced Reynolds to third with a skillful sacrifice bunt and Quimby hit a fly ball to right field to score Reynolds on the tag.
 
Leading 1-0 in the fifth, Morgan drew a walk and advanced two bases on a pair of wild pitches thrown by Sam Murlock, who had just entered the game for the Wildcats. After a ground out by House, Austin drove a double to right field to easily score Morgan from third.
Chico State sent five hitters to the plate in both the sixth and seventh innings, but stranded a total of four as they failed to score a run.
 
"We were having quality at bats and put the ball in play hard," Rayman said. "Morgan Quimby stepped up in clutch situations for us and it has been fun to watch her progress at the plate. All around it was an encouraging day of softball for us and I couldn't be more proud of the way our team bounced back."


Lincoln (4-9) went 7.0 innings and gave up zero runs, three hits, walked four, and struck out one while facing 29 batters. Lincoln pitched admirably the last time MSUB faced a ranked opponent, but ended up in a 2-1 loss to No. 17 Dixie State on February 9 after going 8.0 innings and giving up one earned run on four hits.
 
MSU Billings broke a three game losing streak to Chico State with the win on Saturday and improved to 4-5 all-time against the Wildcats in games dating back to 2004. They avenged a 9-0 run-rule shortened loss to the Wildcats in Las Vegas last season.

THE BUZZ: Maddy Lincoln was named St. Vincent Healthcare player of the game for MSUB. Lincoln earned her second shutout victory of the season in the circle…MSUB plays Academy of Art in the final game of the Tournament of Champions Sunday at 11:30 p.m. to cap off seven games played this week. Next weekend the team will be in Portland, Oregon to face Great Northwest Athletic Conference foe Concordia University in a four game set.