MSUB splits 2 games Saturday at TOC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Saturday, April 1, 2017 MSUB splits 2 games Saturday at TOC

Coming up just short in a 5-4 loss to San Francisco State in Game 1 Saturday, MSUB rallies to defeat Dominican 5-2 in its second softball game of the day at the Tournament of Champions.

TURLOCK, Calif. – Megan Dettling homered in Game 1 and pitched a complete game in Game 2 for the second straight day, helping the Montana State University Billings softball team split a pair of games at the 2017 Tournament of Champions hosted by Stanislaus State University at the Turlock Sports Complex.

Dettling hit her 10th home run of the year and drove in three runs in Game 1, but a comeback effort fell just short in a 54 loss to San Francisco State University. Dettling then struck out eight batters and didn’t allow an earned run in a complete game in the circle, as the ‘Jackets defeated Dominican University 5-2 in the nightcap.

“Megan did a good job of setting the tone, and she has made some great adjustments,” Rayman commented on the right-hander. “She threw awesome for us, and didn’t let anything affect her. It was exciting to just see her fight, and for

her to come out against SFSU and hit that 2-run shot was a huge momentum thing. It helped us realize we could compete, and she’s doing a great job keeping hitting and pitching separate and setting the tone for us.”

The split moved MSUB’s record to 13-22 on the year. “It was awesome to finish the day with a solid win, and we did a good job of executing,” said MSUB head coach Jessica Rayman. “We were a little frustrated offensively, and were not hitting as well as we’d like to. But we did an awesome job of executing early, getting bunts down and playing small ball.

We talked with our hitters about not being as picky, and we did a better job of that today.”

Game 1 – San Francisco State 5, MSU Billings 4 Bella Rovens drew a walk to put the tying run on with one out in the bottom of the seventh, as SFSU clung to a narrow 5-4 lead. Kelsey Devlin followed with a single to put the winning run on first, and a walk to Dettling loaded the bases for Cameron Cassinelli. The junior got ahold of a fly ball to right, but it didn’t carry out of the park as the Gators survived.

The Yellowjackets’ first rally of the day came early, as Devlin punched a two-out single into center field in the bottom of the first inning. Dettling followed with her second home run in as many days, giving MSUB a 2-0 advantage out of the gate.

MSUB starter Maddy Lincoln cruised through the first three innings, allowing just two singles and no runners in scoring position early on in the game.

Heather Tracy gave MSUB a two-out baserunner with a bunt single in the bottom of the third. Devlin and Dettling notched back-to-back singles to make the score 3-0, but the former was cut down trying for third on the play as SFSU ended the rally.

The Gators took advantage of an error to plate their first run in the fourth, as Megan Clark came through with a two-out RBI-single to score Celeste Adriano. SFSU then rallied for three runs with two outs in the fifth, as Sara Higa and Gabby Reta had back-to-back runscoring singles to give the Gators a 4-3 lead.

Senior Kelsey Devlin went 5-for-8 at the plate and made all seven defensive plays at third base on Saturday.

Emma Tucker ripped a leadoff triple into the gap in left-center to start the bottom of the fifth, and a sacrifice fly by Tracy tied the score at 4-4.

Plating the go-ahead run on a sacrifice bunt in the top of the sixth, Delanie Chrisman brought home Kasie Trezona after the latter’s leadoff double for what proved to be the decisive swing of the bat.

Devlin finished 3-for-4 for the ‘Jackets while Dettling went 2-for-3 with three of the team’s four RBIs. Lincoln gave up five runs on eight hits in five innings, before handing the ball off to Dettling for the final two scoreless frames.

For the Gators, Guzman and Trezona had multiple hits, and the team struck out just once in the ballgame.

Game 2 – MSU Billings 5, Dominican University 2 Consecutive singles from Devlin and Dettling set the table for Cassinelli, who made the score 1-0 with an RBI-single in the top of the first inning. The ‘Jackets struck again with three runs in the third, with Rovens and Tracy getting aboard ahead of an RBI-double by Devlin and a sacrifice fly by Dettling.

Dettling retired the first nine hitters she faced, putting up three straight zeroes to start the game. Tracy delivered a twoout, RBI-single in the top of the fourth, further cushioning MSUB’s lead to the tune of 5-0.

A leadoff single by McKenzie Schumacher gave DU its first baserunner of the afternoon in the bottom of the frame, and Dahlen Dennis lifted a sacrifice fly to center to get the Penguins on the board. Karitza Reyes followed with another fly ball deep enough to make the score 5-2.

It was all the offense DU managed against Dettling however, and the Penguins had just three baserunners over the final three innings. The junior allowed just three hits and two walks, throwing 99 pitches to earn her fifth win of the year.

Gaby Katafias threw the whole game for the Penguins, allowing five runs on 10 hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

THE BUZZ: Dettling was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…the triple was the first of Tucker’s career…Dettling is now tied with Cassinelli for the team lead with 10 home runs, and is second with 35 RBIs. AHEAD: MSUB wraps up TOC play Sunday with two more games. The Yellowjackets take on Academy of Art at 10 a.m.

Mountain time, and finish with Holy Names University at 3 p.m. Mountain time. Live stats will be available online through the links on the MSUB softball schedule page here.

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