MINOT, North Dakota-The Montana State University Billings Softball team spilt a pair of games on the final day of playing in the Air-Supported Dome Invitational hosted by Minot State University on Sunday. MSUB defeated the University of Minnesota, Crookston 8-5 and then lost to the University of Mary 7-0.
GAME 1: MSUB 8, UMC 5 | Box Score
MSUB (6-9) did most of their damage early scoring five runs in the first two innings. Always seeming to find ways to get on base,
Britzy Hockett singled in the top of the first inning to get things started for MSUB. A single from the next batter
Morgan Quimby moved Hockett to second.
Brittanee Fisher hit yet another single to load the bases for
Marin Penney.
Penney reached on a fielder's choice but punched in an RBI when Hockett crossed home plate for the 1-0 lead. Three up and three down for starting pitcher
Alyssa Etheridge in the bottom of the first and the MSUB bats were up again.
MSUB was able to string together hit after hit as
Skyler Jenkins hit a single to start the inning followed by Etheridge for her first hit of the season which was also a single. With runners at second and third, Hockett hit her second single of the game and drove in two RBIs to give MSUB a 3-0 lead.
Two batters later, Fisher singled to drive in Hockett and Quimby who also reached on, yep you guessed it, a single and improved the Yellowjacket lead 5-0. Crookston would get on the board with one run in the bottom of the second to make it 5-1.
The 'Jackets added another run in the fifth inning to go up 6-1 off of a Jenkins sacrifice ground out that scored Penney from third. Penney started the inning off with a double for MSUB.
Crookston added two runs in the sixth inning to make it 6-3 but then MSUB added two more in the top of the seventh.
Allie Hughes drove in an RBI in the seventh with a sacrifice groundout that allowed
Leslie Jones to cross home plate. Jenkins was allowed to score from third on the very same paly off of an errant throw from the UMC second basemen. In doing so MSUB added a couple insurance runs to go up 8-3.
UMC would try to rally in the bottom of the seventh as they pushed across to runs to make it 8-5 but MSUB would put the game away retiring the final three batters all in a row and go on for the 8-5 victory.
Etheridge went 6.0 innings from the bump and allowed six hits, three runs and had a season high seven strikeouts.
Haley Couch came in in the seventh inning allowing two hits and two runs.
"Alyssa and Haley combined for a good win," said head coach
Lisa McKinney. Our offense came out string and the defense played tough. In game two we came out flat. I was pleased how we hit the ball it was just unlucky most hits went right to the defenders, but that's how it goes some games."
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Britzy Hockett was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…Hockett had three hits on five at bats, two RBIs and two runs scored.
GAME 2: Mary 7 MSUB 0 | Box Score
In game two, MSUB ran up against a good defense and aided that effort with hits that ended up going straight to the defenders. Unable to get anything going, MSUB was held to four hits all game and left five runners on base. Mary was able to turn 13 hits into seven runs and left 10 runners on base.
Maddy Lincoln started for MSUB and went 5.2 innings with seven hits, six runs and six strikeouts.
Julia Qualteri came in relief for Lincoln and went 1.1 innings with six hits and four runs allowed.
Kaitlyn Alvarado pitched a complete game for Mary going 7.0 innings with just four hits and three strikeouts.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Maddy Lincoln is named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game for her six strikeouts.
WHAT'S AHEAD: The Yellowjackets are off for a week and will open up at home on March second and third as they host Carroll College.
