MSUB softball opens with 9-1 loss at Dixie State

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu February 9, 2016 MSUB softball opens at Dixie State with 9-1 loss to No. 2 Red Storm MSUB Softball on Facebook MSUB Softball on ISSUU Interactive Box Score

Senior Cori Gammon finished 1-2 at the plate and had a sacrifice hit in the loss to Dixie State.

The Dixie State offense unloads for seven runs in the third innings, handing MSUB a 9-1 loss in the first of three games against the Red Storm in St. George, Utah.

St. George, Utah. – The No. 2 Dixie State Red Storm unleashed a 7-run third inning to top MSU Billings 9-1 (5 innings) during the first of three games on Tuesday and Wednesday at Karl Books Field.

Dixie State (3-2) jumped out to a 2-run lead in the first inning and the Yellowjackets plated a run in the third inning to make it 2-1 before the No. 2 team in the country found their rhythm at the plate.

The top of the MSUB batting order all finished the game 1-2 with Bella Rovens, Cori Gammon, and Ryland Estrada each credited with a hit for the Yellowjackets.

After Dixie State plated a run in the first inning, MSUB landed on the scoreboard in the third. Rovens led off the inning with a walk and Gammon advanced her to second base on a sacrifice bunt. Estrada and Cameron Cassinelli both walked to load the bases. Third baseman Kelsey Devlin sent Rovens home with a fielder’s choice, but with bases loaded the Yellowjackets couldn’t add to their run total finishing out the inning with two outs.

Dixie State plated seven runs on three hits to open up the game in the third innings. The Red Storm used three walks and three doubles to push a septet of runs across the plate for a 9-1 lead. MSU Billings was unable to answer back and Dixie State earned its third win of the season with the eight-run rule.

The Yellowjackets left 10 runners on base with Dixie State stranding three. MSUB left runners on the bases in every inning. Besides the third inning, the ‘Jackets also left bases loaded in the fourth. Jessica Bagnell reached base on an error followed by a single from Rovens. Gammon reached on a fielder’s choice and Estrada hit a single, but MSUB couldn’t capitalize, once again leaving three runners on base.

Shelby Yung finished 2-3 at the plate for Dixie State. She and three more players had a double in the game. The Red Storm also had five stolen bases in the game and two errors.

In the circle, Aryn Feickert (202) pitched three complete innings, scattering one with one earned run. Brooklyn Beardshear came in for the last two innings and was credited with two hits.

MSUB’s Megan Dettling (202) earned the loss scattering four hits and walking seven for nine earned runs. Senior Amanda Roark threw for one inning finishing the game on one hit and one strikeout.

"It was a tough loss for us today,” MSUB head coach Rebekah Gasner said. “We had multiple opportunities to score with runners in scoring position and we were just unable to bring them in. With bases loaded we need to look to put the ball in play and keep our momentum going. That was the difference- Dixie State was able to capitalize when they got runners on base, and we did not. Bella, Cori, and Ryland each got a hit, putting speed on the bases, and Amanda Roark did a great job coming in in the fourth inning and shutting their hitters down. We just have to come back ready to execute tomorrow."

THE BUZZ: Rovens named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game.

UP NEXT: After finishing up the 2016 Desert Stinger tournament in Las Vegas on Sunday, the Yellowjackets headed to Utah for three games against the Red Storm and will stay for the Dixie State tournament for games Feb. 12-14.

Tomorrow, MSUB plays a doubleheader against the Red Storm starting at 4:00 p.m. Mountain time.

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