IRVINE, Calif. – Playing in its fifth and final game of the Concordia Kickoff Classic, the Montana State University Billings softball team found a way to win late in a 3-1 victory over Stanislaus State on Sunday morning.
 
"It took us a while to break through, but Morgan Quimby came up with our first hit, which was nice to see," MSUB head coach Lisa McKinney said. "Defensively, I thought we started off really strong with a couple of double-plays that got us out of jams early."
 
Aided by starting pitcher Julia Qualteri's complete-game performance with two strikeouts, the Yellowjackets (2-3) and the Warriors (2-3) were locked in a pitching duel until junior catcher Maycen O'Neal's game-winning 2-RBI double in the sixth inning broke open the game. One batter after O'Neal's double, pinch-runner Payton Meyer scored as Jazlyn Kalehuawehe reached first on an error.
 
"Maycen has come up pretty big for us this whole weekend," McKinney said. "So it was nice to see her come up clutch in that spot again."
 
Qualteri and MSUB's infield defense finished the job in the seventh, limiting Stanislaus State to only one run after the Warriors loaded the bases. In her second win of the season, Qualteri struck out two batters, gave up four hits, walked four batters and surrendered one run in 99 pitches.
 
"Our gameplan going in was to hit all our spots and to have confidence in each other," O'Neal, who caught every inning of Qualteri's complete-game victory, said. "She hit every single spot that I called and she pitched really well."


QUICK HITS

• Junior catcher Maycen O'Neal was named the Player of the Day for finishing 1-for-3 with the game-winning, bases-clearing double in the sixth inning. She also got the start at catcher, helping call Julia Qualteri's complete-game outing in which she had two strikeouts
• Julia Qualteri moved to 2-1 with the win, whereas Stanislaus State pitcher Delaney Pamplin (0-1) was credited with the loss.
• Shelby Marquardt finished 1-for-2 with a single and one run scored.
• Stanislaus State stranded nine runners and scored only one run on four hits.

 
Sunday morning's game was a pitching duel from the get-go. After a leadoff walk, Julia Qualteri retired the next batter before the middle infield provided an early highlight with a double play. Senior shortstop Sidney Pollard corralled in a grounder, casually flipped it to second baseman Morgan Quimby, who sent it to Brittanee Fisher to turn a 6-4-3 double-play.
 
The quick inning was a sign of things to come. MSUB went down in order in the bottom of the first, but Qualteri helped move things along by getting through the top of the second inning in 10 pitches. Qualteri and the defense put away the first two batters, only gave up a single to Stanislaus State shortstop Madison Flexser, but then the junior right-hander re-focused to strike out the Warriors' next batter on four pitches.
 
Qualteri pitched around some trouble, plus the infield came through to help the Warriors strand two runners in scoring position in the top of the third. Two-straight groundouts top open the top of the third foreshadowed another quick inning until Stanislaus State's took advantage of MSUB's fielding errors and put runners on first and second. The Warriors pulled off a double-steal to move both runners into scoring position, yet a groundout to third ended the inning.
 
"Julia did a great job on the mound," McKinney said. "She stayed calm, kept their hitters off-balance and kept getting us really good results. Although the defense did make a few errors throughout the game, we also had some really good double-plays to help us get out of those situations. It was nice to see her work through those situations."
 
The 'Jackets got their first baserunner in the bottom of the third when Quimby singled up the middle on the first pitch of the at-bat. However, this would be the 'Jackets only hit until the sixth inning. Alexis Tovar got aboard on an error from Stanislaus State's first baseman in the fourth, but that was all for the 'Jackets.
 
To its credit, MSUB's infield defense kept the 'Jackets in the game – even when the Warriors dug into their bag of tricks in the fifth. Stanislaus State first baseman Kyndra Marzorini's leadoff bunt died in fair territory just a foot away from the third-base line, putting MSUB on its toes early. The Warriors' next batter reached on a fielder's choice, putting a runner aboard with one out. Yet Marin Penney's quick reflexes at the hot corner and her throw from third to first helped the 'Jackets escape the inning unscathed.
 
The top of the sixth inning was nearly as dramatic as the fifth, as the Warriors took advantage of back-to-back errors to put runners at first and second with one out. But MSUB's infield wriggled its way out of the jam once more, setting up an exciting sixth-inning rally.
 
Shelby Marquardt's speed on a swinging bunt gave MSUB its first leadoff baserunner of the day, then she advanced to second when Stanislaus State's shortstop bobbled Pollard's grounder. Tovar struck out, bringing up Maycen O'Neal with two outs and runners at first and second. She quickly got ahead 2-0 in the count, took two more strikes then smacked a double into deep left-center field. Marquardt and Pollard's speed on the basepaths gave O'Neal a bases-clearing, 2 RBI double that ended up being the game-winner.
 
"My goal going in was to get at least one run out of the at-bat and protect Julia," O'Neal said. "I saw an outside pitch and I knew it was going to be outside and I had my toes on the line. My team has a lot of confidence in me, and I know that I can step up from them and that they trust me."
 
Jazlyn Kalehuawehe brought in pinch-runner Payton Meyer on the next at-bat, rocketing a grounder that ricocheted off Stanislaus State's shortstop and into shallow center field. Penney kept the line moving with a single to right field, which advanced pinch runner Allie Hughes to second and then all the way to third on a Stanislaus State fielding error. Yet the 'Jackets couldn't put more runners on the board after that.
 
The next half-inning provided its fair share of drama, as the Warriors threatened to make a comeback with a pair of one-out singles. The Warriors had Qualteri cornered with one out, then a ground-out advanced both runners into scoring position. Two-straight walks loaded the bases and brought in a run, but a slow grounder to Penney shut the door on the Warriors and gave the Yellowjackets' their second win of the season.

UP NEXT: MSUB plays a doubleheader with No. 10 Concordia Irvine on Tuesday, Feb 8. The games are scheduled for 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. PT. Live stat links can be found at the softball team's schedule page on msubsports.com.