FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu April 1, 2016 ‘Jackets and Gators compete to an extra inning while Cougars roar MSUB Softball on Facebook | MSUB Softball on ISSUU | Tournament of Champions Box Score SFSU | Box Score APU
Heather Tracy was 3-for-4 with two stolen bases against San Francisco State.
The Yellowjackets play to an extra inning loss during the first game against San Francisco State at the Tournament of Champions, and falling short at the plate are unable to overcome a strong Azusa Pacific offensive effort during the second game. TURLOCK, Calif. – The Yellowjackets dropped a tight opening contest 7-4 (8 innings) to San Francisco State and fell short 8-0 (5 innings) to Azusa Pacific during the opening day of competition at the 15th Annual Tournament of Champions presented by the City of Turlock Friday. Tied at three after seven full innings, MSU Billings (9-21), and San Francisco State (20-13) needed another full inning to finish the game. The Gators pulled ahead with four runs at the top of the eighth. MSUB loaded the bases and drove in a run, but left bases loaded and the winning run at the plate as SFSU won the match-up by three.
In a short turnaround, MSUB went straight back to work on the field against Azusa Pacific (19-8). Both teams were scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning when the Cougars scored eight runs on five hits. MSUB was unable to respond at the top of the fifth inning as the game ended on the 8-run mercy rule. “Defensively I thought we were strong through seven innings,” MSUB head coach Rebekah Gasner said on the opening game against SFSU. “We had the winning run at the plate in the eighth, but were unable to bring them all in. In the circle, Amanda Roark had a great outing for us. San Francisco State put the pressure on us in the extra inning scoring the runs and we weren’t able to respond back.” “In the second game we held Azusa Pacific to two hits until the bottom of the fourth inning,” Gasner said. “Our defense and pitching did a great job during the first part of the game, but again we were unable to respond when APU get ahead with a couple of hits.” Game 1: MSUB 4, SFSU 7 (8 innings) The Yellowjackets and Gators were even at three runs each at the end of seven innings forcing the first game of the 2016 Tournament of Champions for MSUB into an extra eighth inning. San Francisco State recorded four runs and MSUB one more during the stretched game as the ‘Jackets dropped a hard-fought battle, 7-4, in an extra eighth inning. San Francisco opened the game with two runs on a double from Angelica Terrel at the top of the first inning. MSU Billings responded with three runs in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead back. On two outs and 1-2 in the count, sophomore Heather Tracy singled to right field. Behind her, clean-up hitter Cameron Cassinelli fought from an even 2-2 count to draw a walk. With some fast feet, Tracy stole second and then went to third on a wild pitch. With runners on the corners, designated player Nicole Tiffany struck an RBI single up the middle for the first MSUB run of the game as Tracy went home from third. Third baseman Kelsey Devlin loaded the bases with the third single of the inning, a rocket into left field bringing up the hot-hitting Myrissa Prince. Prince connected for the fourth single for MSUB, a 2-RBI shot to center field that brought-in Devlin and Cassinelli to give MSUB the lead 3-2. Both teams had chances to score runs in the back innings. MSUB stranded two runners in the third, and one each in the 5th-7th innings. In the eighth inning, SFSU placed a runner on second for the international tie-break rule. The Gators scored one run on a single from Jennifer Lewis and added to the total using two more singles and a MSUB error. A third single scored one more to put SFSU ahead by four. The Yellowjackets gave themselves a chance at the bottom of the inning. MSUB closed the gap by one, but was unable to convert the rest of the runners, leaving bases loaded in the eighth. At the bottom of the eighth inning, Tiffany headed to second base for MSUB. SFSU got the first batter to strikeout. Prince then singled for the first hit of the inning for the ‘Jackets. Haley Rowe reached base on a fielder’s choice loading the bases. Another strikeout put two outs on the board.
A single from senior Cori Gammon sent Tiffany speeding for home for the final run of the game. With bases loaded, SFSU forced a groundout to end the game. MSU Billings stranded 11 runners during the game compared to six from SFSU. Both teams were even on hits at 11. MSUB committed two errors with one from the Gators. In the circle for MSUB, senior Amanda Roark (2-10) tossed the complete game for MSU Billings. The right-handed pitcher had four earned runs against 11 hits, fanning four. Tracy was 3-for-4 at the plate with a run scored. Tiffany and Prince were both 2-for-4. Prince had a pair of RBI, Tracy finished with one, and Gammon had one on her single in the eighth inning. Game 2: MSUB 0, APU 8 (5 innings) MSUB’s best chance to score came in the second inning when the Yellowjackets put three on base. Devlin drew a walk and Prince reached first on a fielder’s choice with Devlin safe at second on an error by the shortstop. MSUB shortstop Jessica Bagnell drew the second walk of the inning, but with runners in scoring position, the ‘Jackets were unable to bring any home. In the bottom of the fourth inning, APU benefitted from an opening three walks. The defense provided two outs on ground balls, but with bases loaded the next batter was walked in. A single to the pitcher scored another run and three scored on an APU single that included an error from MSUB. Another single again loaded the bases and Madison Hernandez capitalized with a bases-clearing grand slam to draw the lead out by eight. APU finished the game with eight hits and one error. Narissa Garcia (8-2) earned the shut-out win, scattering two while fanning six. Megan Dettling (5-6) tossing 3 and 2/3 innings took the loss for MSUB, scattering five hits and allowing seven earned runs. Devlin and Bagnell had the two hits for MSU Billings. The ‘Jackets left six runners on base while APU stranded four. THE BUZZ: Senior Amanda Roark earned the St. Vincent Healthcare Athlete of the Day honor. UP NEXT: MSU Billings plays two more games tomorrow on Day 2 of the Tournament of Champions. The Yellowjackets are up against UC San Diego at 9:00 a.m. Pacific time, followed by a contest against Cal State East Bay at 11:30 a.m. Pacific time. The links to live stats for those games are available at msubsports.com. “We still have a long weekend left with four more games,” Gasner said. “We want to go into tomorrow’s games with a fresh attitude and work hard to earn a couple of wins.” --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--