FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Friday, February 10, 2017 Lincoln shines in Game 2, MSUB softball splits DH Friday
Maddy Lincoln pitches a complete game with zero earned runs allowed in a 12-3 win over UC Colorado Springs, as the Yellowjackets split a doubleheader Friday after losing to Concordia Irvine 11-4 in Game 1. ST. GEORGE, Utah – Maddy Lincoln pitched a complete game without allowing an earned run, helping the Montana State University Billings softball team to a 12-3 win over UC Colorado Springs to salvage a split on Day 2 of the Dixie State Easton Softball Classic at Canyons Softball Complex Friday. The Yellowjackets responded well to an 11-4 loss to Concordia University Irvine earlier Friday morning, and improved to 4-9 on the season with the win in Game 2. “Maddy has been doing awesome for us, and we can’t really ask for more out of her,” said MSUB head coach Jessica Rayman on the freshman’s second straight complete-game effort. “It has been a good road trip, and Hawaii Hilo tomorrow is going to be tough. We want to come out and end with a bang.”
Junior Cameron Cassinelli went 3-for-7 with seven RBIs in the doubleheader, and hit her fourth home run of the year in Game 2. Heather Tracy went 5-for-9, including a perfect 4-for-4 in Game 2 at the plate. “I just told myself to relax in the box, and see-ball, hit-ball,” Tracy commented on her big game. “Our job (at the top) is to get on base, and then our power hitters did a great job of getting us in.” Game 1 – Concordia University – Irvine 11, MSU Billings 4 The Eagles broke a 4-4 tie with three runs in the fifth inning and four more in the seventh, and Lauren Rodriguez hit two home runs and a double while driving in six of her team’s 11 runs. CUI had a 4-0 lead in hand in the top of the third inning, after Rodriguez’ first long ball of the game. The ‘Jackets responded with a four-run third inning and tied the game, after Eagles pitcher Kailey Palazzolo retired six of the first seven batters she faced in the game. Jessica Bagnell started the rally with a leadoff single, and Tracy and Devlin each followed with RBI-singles.
Cam Cassinelli (center) had five RBIs in MSUB’s 11-run fifth inning Friday.
Cassinelli had her first big hit of the day with a two-run double to finish the rally, but it was the last run-scoring hit of the game for MSUB. Jordan Quinn came on to throw the final three innings for the Eagles, and allowed just one hit and one walk as she shut down the Yellowjackets’ lineup.
An error and a walk set the table in the fifth inning for Rodriguez, who unloaded for a three-run home run over the leftfield fence to make the score 7-4. Eight Eagle hitters came to bat in the top of the seventh inning, four of which had RBIs to put the lead out of reach for the ‘Jackets. Megan Dettling threw 6 1/3 innings, allowing seven earned runs on 11 hits with one strikeout and eight walks in the circle. Game 2 – MSU Billings 12, UC Colorado Springs 3 (6 Innings) Lincoln was one strike away from her first-ever shutout, but a three-run home run by Kylie Barnard spoiled the bid with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. All three runs were unearned due to an error previously in the inning, as Lincoln continued the stellar start to her freshman campaign in the circle. The left-hander needed 94 pitches to get through an efficient outing, as she had four strikeouts and just two walks and five hits allowed. She received excellent support from her infield defensively, as third baseman Kelsey Devlin and shortstop Bagnell had four assists apiece, and second baseman Myrissa Prince had a pair of assists and putouts. Offensively, and 11-run fifth inning led the Yellowjackets to victory, as the bats came alive and 15 batters came to the plate in the frame.
Bella Rovens and Tracy, the first two hitters in MSUB’s lineup, reached base in 6 of 8 plate appearances, consistently setting the table for the middle of the Yellowjackets’ order. It started in the top of the first, as Tracy doubled to center field and scored the first run of the game on an RBI-single by Devlin. UCCS starter Meghan Waidler shut down MSUB for the next four innings, matching Lincoln zero-for-zero in a game that started out as a pitchers’ duel. The first four hitters reached base in front of Cassinelli in the sixth however, and the junior drilled her fourth homer of the year over the center-field fence. After an RBI-walk by Rovens and an RBI-single from Tracy, Cassinelli bookended the big inning with a two-run base hit to give her five RBIs in the frame. Lincoln improved to 3-4 with the win, and has allowed just one earned run in her last 13 innings pitched. The Mountain Lions fell to 1-3 with the loss, their second to MSUB in the last three days after the ‘Jackets pulled off a 76 win on a walk-off home run by Dettling on Wednesday. THE BUZZ: Cassinelli was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…it was Lincoln’s third complete game of the season…it was the first meeting between the ‘Jackets and Eagles, and MSUB is now even at 3-3 all-time against UCCS…Prince extended her errorless streak at second base to 76 consecutive chances. NEXT UP: The Yellowjackets close the Easton Softball Classic on Saturday morning, with a 10 a.m. game against University of Hawaii Hilo. Live stats will be available through MSUB’s Stretch Internet portal here. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--