LAS VEGAS-The Montana State University Billings Softball team spilt a pair of games in the second day of action from the Desert Stinger tournament. MSUB (3-1) defeated Dominican University 7-4 and the lost their first game of the year to West Texas A&M University 10-2 in the night cap.
 
Game 1- MSUB 7, Oklahoma Christian  
 
Starting a little sluggish or nervous for the second day in a row, MSUB gave up two runs in the first inning off of two doubles from the Penguins. The Yellowjackts would cut the lead in half 2-1 in the second inning with a double from Britzy Hockett scoring Sydney Norwood who reached on a double two batters before.
 
Two scoreless innings followed until both teams were able to put up two runs in the fifth inning. McKenzie Schumacher hit a two run home run for DU's two runs on the inning.

Hockett started things off for MSUB drawing a walk. Two batters later, Morgan Quimby singled to center field advancing Hockett.
 
Allie Hughes came up huge with a double to left center field scoring Hockett and moving Quimby to third. Payton Reynolds followed with a sacrifice RBI to right field allowing Quimby to cross home plate and make the score 4-3 in favor of DU.
 
MSUB erupted in the sixth inning for four total runs on four hits. Quimby and Hughes both highlighted the inning with back-to-back two RBI doubles giving MSUB the 7-4 lead.
 
Only needing to face four batters in the top of the seventh inning, Alyssa Etheridge and the Yellowjacket defense sealed the 7-4 win. Etheridge came in relief of starting pitcher Haley Couch in the fifth inning. Couch lasted 4.0 innings just allowing five hits and two runs. Etheridge gave up three hits and two runs in her three innings of work and earned the win to move to 2-0.
 
"We played great defense and our pitchers kept the game close which allowed our offense to come back late," said head coach Lisa McKinney. Our bats came on strong in the fifth and the team continued to attack through the seventh. It was a great come from behind win for our team."
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Morgan Quimby was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game. Quimby went 3-3 at the plate with two RBIs.  
 
Game 2- West Texas A&M 10, MSUB 2
 
Coming up against the stampede that is West Texas, MSUB was outgunned and the Bison hitters made them pay. MSUB was actually ahead to start the game when freshmen Marin Penney hit her first career homerun over the left center fence to give the 'Jackets a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
 
West Texas tacked on five runs in the next four innings to give them a 5-1 lead. MSUB would score their only other run in the fourth inning as well when sophomore Skyler Jenkins singled through the left side allowing Brittanee Fisher to score from third.
 
Adding five more runs in the fifth inning, the Bison would go on to win 10-2 and hand MSUB their first loss of the year.
 
Overall the Bison staff struck out eight Yellowjackets while the combined efforts of Etheridge and Maddy Lincoln would fan seven Bison.
 
"We played another strong game defensively," commented McKinney. "West Texas just did a great job attacking the plate and found the holes when they needed a hit. We struck with Marin's homerun and we are looking forward to getting back on the field tomorrow!"  
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Marin Penney was named the St. Vincent Healthcae Player of the Game for her first career homerun as a Yellowjacket.
 
WHAT'S AHEAD: MSUB takes on the number six team in the nation, the University of California, San Diego at 12:30pm MST to conclude the 2020 Desert Stinger.