FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Sunday, March 12, 2017 Saints sweep ‘Jackets to end MSUB’s 12-game trip
Saint Martin’s shuts out MSUB 7-0 in Game 1, and rolls to a 13-3 run-rule win in Game 2 on Sunday to send the MSUB softball team home with a pair of losses. LACEY, Wash. – Kim Nelson went 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs and threw a shutout in Game 1 on Sunday, setting the tone in a doubleheader sweep for the Saint Martin’s University softball team against Montana State University Billings in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action at the SMU Softball Field. The Yellowjackets managed just five hits in the 7-0 loss in the opener, and then fell 13-3 in five innings in Game 2 as their losing streak stretched to five games. MSUB is 9-16 overall on the year, and is 5-7 in the GNAC after playing its first dozen conference games on the road this week. Heather Tracy and Emma Tucker were the two Yellowjackets to have a hit in each game, and the outfield duo combined to drive in all three of MSUB’s runs.
Lauren Diuco went 5-for-8 with three runs and three RBIs, and Mary Dettling went 3-for-7 with seven RBIs in the doubleheader for the Saints. SMU improved to 8-2 on the year, and got off to a perfect 4-0 start in league play with the four-game sweep of MSUB. “We need to do a better job of competing, and today we just started fighting a little too late,” commented MSUB head coach Jessica Rayman. “We have a lot of work to put in before our next series, but I am confident we will be ready to go next weekend.” Game 1 – Saint Martin’s 7, MSU Billings 0 Three straight singles to start the second set the table for SMU, and Corrie Wilson plated the first run of the game with an RBI-single to right field. SMU tacked on three more in the third including a two-run homer from Nelson, and finished its scoring with three more in the fourth on RBIs by Dettling and Nelson. The Yellowjackets never managed a serious threat at cutting into the deficit, as they never had more than one runner on base at a time. Both teams played solid defensively, with SMU committing one error and the ‘Jackets making none. Freshman Emma Tucker had a hit in each game, and drove in her first collegiate run in Game 2 Sunday.
Freshman Maddy Lincoln started for MSUB, making it through four innings with seven runs allowed on a dozen hits. Senior Taylor Tokach came on in relief, and silenced SMU with no runs allowed over the final two innings of the game. Five different Yellowjackets had a hit in the game, and the team struck out five times against Nelson without drawing a walk. MSUB left five runners on base, while the Saints stranded nine. Game 2 – Saint Martin’s 13, MSU Billings 3 (5 Innings) The Saints raced out to an early lead with three runs in the first inning, and never looked back as they had established a dominant 12-0 advantage by the end of the third. Dettling ripped a three-run home run in the bottom of the first for SMU, clearing the bases after a walk and a single. The Saints loaded the bases with one out in the second, and Diuco singled in a run before Dettling walked to score another and make it 5-0. MSUB starter Megan Dettling limited the damage, getting the next two hitters out and stranding the bases full. Seven straight hitters reached base in the third however, as SMU put the game out of reach. Dettling had another big swing of the bat with a two-run double in the inning, and the Saints took advantage of two fielding miscues by the ‘Jackets. As the Saints established their lead, starter Lauren Maley put up zeroes through the first four innings of play. The sophomore right-hander received a big play from her defense in the second, as the Saints turned a 6-4-3 double play to get out of a jam and preserve their advantage.
A walk and a base hit in the fifth finally got some momentum going for MSUB, and Tucker stepped up with an RBI-single to score the first run of the day for the ‘Jackets. Tracy plated two more with a base hit up the middle, but the scoring stopped there as the Saints ended the game early with the 10-run lead. Dettling was the lone player with multiple hits for MSUB, as she went 2for-3 in the nightcap. The Saints did not strike out, and drew five walks while leaving six runners on base in Game 2. Tokach and Dettling each threw a pair of innings for the ‘Jackets in the circle, combining to allow 13 runs on 12 hits with five walks. Nelson came back on to get the final two outs for SMU, retiring the only two batters she faced on six pitches. THE BUZZ: Tokach was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…Lincoln had a stretch of six straight complete games snapped…MSUB is now 33-29 all-time against SMU, and is 17-14 in games played in Lacey. AHEAD: The Yellowjackets return home to make their long-awaited debut at Avitus Group Stadium after playing the first 25 games of the year away from Billings. MSUB will host Western Oregon University next weekend, with doubleheaders scheduled for noon on both Saturday and Sunday. Live video and live statistics will be available for all four games through MSUB’s Stretch Internet portal here. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--
Tracy drove in two of MSUB’s three runs in Game 2, with a fifth-inning single.