MSUB Softball earns split at No. 2 Dixie State

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu February 10, 2016 MSUB softball earns a split at No. 2 Dixie State MSUB Softball on Facebook MSUB Softball on ISSUU Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Junior Kelsey Devlin finished 2-5 at the plate for MSUB, including her second home run of the season.

Rebounding from an 11-3 (5 innings) loss in the first game, the MSUB softball team puts together a 4-1 effort for a win in the second half of a doubleheader against No. 2 Dixie State.

ST. GEORGE, Utah. – MSU Billings came up short in the first game 11-3 (5 innings), but turned it around in the second half of a doubleheader, finishing with a 4-1 win over No. 2 Dixie State at Karl Brooks Field on Wednesday.

The Red Storm got off to a hot start, driving across eight runs in the first two innings of Game 1. MSUB countered with three in the next two innings, but DSU produced three more runs in the bottom of the fifth to end the game on the eight-run rule.

In the second game, it was the Yellowjackets that struck first, platting a run in the top of the third inning for the lead.

MSUB added three more and held DSU to just one run for the win.

MSU Billings (3-5) lost a single game yesterday to the Red Storm to finish the two days 1-2 against the No. 2 team in the country.

Game 1: MSUB 3, Dixie State 11 (5 innings) Dixie State had eight runs on six hits in the first two innings to blast out to an 8-0 lead.

In the top of the third inning, MSUB left fielder Amanda Barham hit a long single and Bella Rovens brought her home with a double into right field for the first Yellowjacket run of the game.

In the top of the fourth inning, Cameron Cassinelli hit a single and Alyssa Yaeger went into the game as a pinch runner.

On a 2-1 count, third baseman Kelsey Devlin cracked her second home run of the season over the left field fence for 2 RBI. In the bottom of the fifth inning, DSU added three more runs on a 2 RBI home run and a double to make it an eight-run gap to end the game in five innings.

MSUB was outhit 11-6.

Devlin finished 1-2 with a run and 2 RBI. Senior Amanda Roark (0-3) pitched four and 2/3 innings, allowing six earned runs on 11 hits.

In the circle for DSU, Alexis Barkwell (1-0) tossed five innings, scattering six hits, with three earned runs.

Game 2: MSUB 4, Dixie State 1 Sophomore Megan Dettling (3-2) tossed a complete game in the nightcap against the Red Storm. The right-handed pitcher scattered three hits, while fanning five, with no earned runs. She also came up big at the plate for the ‘Jackets, connecting for her first collegiate home run at MSUB with a solo shot at the top of the fourth inning to put her team up 2-0.

Lead-off hitter Rovens kicked off the offense in the top of the third inning with a single in the infield.

Left fielder Cori Gammon pushed Rovens to second with a long single to put runners on first and second.

On a fielder’s choice, Rovens advanced to third, and on a throwing error from the catcher, crossed home plate for the first run of the game.

Sophomore Megan Dettling

Dixie State had a chance to score in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases with a single and two walks, but Dettling got the batter out with a strikeout looking to save DSU from crossing any runs.

Dettling added her home run in the fourth inning. Dixie State was able to push across one run in the bottom of the inning.

Needing some insurance runs, MSUB added two more runs in the top of the sixth inning. Cassinelli was sent to first base after being hit by pitch. Yaeger went in to pinch run for Cassinelli and advanced to second on a single from Devlin.

Dettling hit a ball into the infield that was mishandled, and both Yaeger and Devlin crossed home plate to make it 4-1.

Dixie State put a runner in scoring position in the sixth inning, but the MSUB defense provided the next three outs for the win.

MSUB outhit DSU 6-3. Rovens, Gammon, Myrissa Prince, Devlin, and Katlyn Stingari all had singles and Dettling the home run.

The Yellowjackets stranded five runners, but Dixie State left 11 on base. The Red Storm made three errors to two from MSUB. Senior Kristie Johnson hit 2-3 and Dani Bartholf had the other hit for DSU. Sophomore Madi Dove (0-1) completed four innings in the circle for Dixie State, scattering five and fanning two to pick up the loss.

THE BUZZ: Dettling earns St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day honors.

UP NEXT: MSU Billings stays in St. George for a Dixie State tournament Feb. 12-14. The Yellowjackets open with Hawaii Hilo on Feb. 12, at 12:35 p.m. Pacific time.

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