MINOT, North Dakota-The Montana State University Billings Softball team lost twice playing in the Air-Supported Dome Invitational hosted by Minot State University on Saturday. MSUB fell to Northern State University 8-3 and then to host Minot 4-1. The Yellowjackets are now 5-8 on the year.
GAME 1: NSU 8, MSUB 3 | Box Score
Northern State struck first with a one run single, but MSB would come right back in the top of the third with three runs.
Morgan Quimby hit a double to score
Britzy Hockett and tie the game at 1-1. Advancing to third after the attempt to throw Hockett out, Quimby would score on an error from the NSU catcher to take the 2-1 lead.
With two outs and the bases load, junior catcher
Taylor Anderson stepped to the plate. Anderson lined a single which drove in
Marin Penney from third who had hit a single of her own three batters prior. MSUB's 3-1 lead would not hold for long as Northern tied the game with two runs scored in the bottom of the third.
In the bottom of the fifth, NSU added three more runs to take a 6-3 lead. Unable to string together timely hits, MSUB would strand five runners between innings four and seven. NSU added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to go ahead 8-3 which would prove to be the final score.
Haley Couch received the start for MSUB and pitched a complete game. Couch (0-1) went 6.0 innings allowing 10 hits, eight runs and had one strikeout.
"We made too many mistakes in game one and NSU capitalized on them," said head coach
Lisa McKinney. Haley pitched well and gave us a good chance. We had some solid contact as an offense but it went right to the defenders."
GAME 2: MINOT 4, MSUB 1 | Box Score
In a stalemate for the first two innings, MSUB and Minot combined for just two hits early. But, Minot struck first scoring one run in the top of the third inning.
The Yellowjackets did not get their first hit until the fourth inning off of a
Brittanee Fisher single. Minot would add another run to go up 2-0 in the fourth.
The fifth inning would see MSB score their one and only run. Hockett led off with a walk but was caught trying to steal second two batters later.
Cailee Morgan the singled which was followed by a Payton Reynold single allowing Morgan to score all the way from first to make it 2-1.
Minot added two more runs in the top of the seventh to go ahead 4-1 and MSUB ended the game with a one-two-three- inning at bat.
Maddy Lincoln pitched a complete game for MSUB. In seven innings, Lincoln allowed nine hits, four runs and fane dive beavers.
"In game two we made the adjustment too late on offense," continued McKinney. "Maddy pitched a good game and gave us a good chance to win this game as well."
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Maddy Lincoln is named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game for her complete game and five strikeouts.
WHAT'S AHEAD: The Yellowjackets play two more games in the dome tomorrow. First they take on the University of Minnesota, Crookston at 8:30am MST and conclude with the University of Mary at 10:30am MST.
