Wildcats claw out 2 wins over ‘Jackets Friday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Friday, April 14, 2017 Wildcats claw out 2 wins over ‘Jackets Friday

Central Washington rolls to an 11-1 win in Game 1, before scratching out a pair of runs in a 3-1 win in Game 2 Friday as MSUB’s softball team falls twice at home.

BILLINGS, Mont. – Great Northwest Athletic Conference-leading Central Washington University handed the Montana State University Billings softball team a pair of losses at Avitus Group Stadium on Friday, as the Yellowjackets fell twice in their return to league play after a three-week hiatus.

The Wildcats scored nine runs in the first two innings of Game 1, capturing an 11-1 triumph in five innings. CWU then out-lasted MSUB in a pitcher’s duel, plating two runs in the top of the seventh to complete the doubleheader sweep with a 3-1 win. CWU is now 29-7 on the year, and remained in first place in the GNAC at 16-2 in league play.

The Yellowjackets fell to 14-25 overall and are now 8-10 in conference play. “It was good to see us come back and fight in Game 2 today,” said MSUB head coach Jessica Rayman. “We had a lot of good contact, but hit the ball right at the

defense a lot today. If we execute better and move runners, we are right there. We competed well in the second game, and just need to continue to do that tomorrow.”

Megan Dettling went 3-for-4 with her first career triple at the plate, and struck out eight batters in a complete game in the nightcap to lead the ‘Jackets. Heather Tracy went 3-for-6 on the day to push her season batting average to .482, and slugged her fourth home run of the year for MSUB’s only run in Game 2.

“Megan threw great for us and did a good job of keeping us in the second game,” said Rayman. “She did well starting on top and moving her pitches around the zone. Heather came up clutch with the home run in the first inning, which gave us a lot of momentum for that second game.”

CWU’s Julia Reuble set a school record with seven RBIs in the opening game, going 2-for-4 with two home runs and coming within one RBI of tying the GNAC single-game record. GNAC-leading hitter Kailyn Campbell went 5-for-8 on the day, including two homers in Game 2, and Celine Fowler went 4-for-7 in the leadoff spot for the Wildcats.

Game 1 – Central Washington 11, MSU Billings 1 (5 Innings) Reuble set the tone with a three-run home run in the top of the first inning, and Kiana Wood retired the side in the bottom of the frame for the first three outs in her conference-leading 15th win of the year.

With one out in the second, CWU scored six more times to open up an early 9-0 lead and put the game out of reach. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for Reuble, who cleared the fence in right-center for a game-changing grand slam.

The ‘Jackets showed signs of life in the bottom of the third, loading the bases with one out and pushing across a run on an RBIgroundout by Kelsey Devlin. It was all the offense MSUB could manage against Wood however, as the lefty struck out two and walked none while scattering four hits in the five-inning complete game.

MSUB starter Maddy Lincoln gave up nine runs on five hits in 1 1/3 innings, and Taylor Tokach was solid in relief with two runs allowed on five hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Game 2 – Central Washington 3, MSU Billings 1

Heather Tracy was 3-for-6 with a home run Friday.

Campbell drilled a solo home run to center in the top of the first inning, but Tracy responded with a long ball of her own to tie the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the frame. Dettling and CWU starter Kayla Smith stole the show the rest of the way, as neither team scored over the next five innings of play.

The ‘Cats didn’t push a runner past first base until the sixth inning, when a pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases with two outs. Dettling battled tough however, striking out Molly Nutt on a 3-2 pitch to strand three Wildcats.

It was a similar story for the ‘Jackets, who managed just one runner in scoring position the rest of the game. A sacrifice bunt by Madison Kelly moved Cameron Cassinelli to second base in the fourth, but a groundout ended the inning and kept the score at 1-1.

Celine Fowler led off the top of the seventh with an infield single, and Campbell drove her second home run of the game over the fence in left-center for what proved to be the game-winning hit.

Myrissa Prince rolled a base hit into center field in the bottom of the seventh to bring the tying run to the plate, but Wood came back on and recorded the final three outs to pick up the save.

Tracy finished 2-for-3 for MSUB, and Dettling was 2-for-2 as the duo had four of MSUB’s six hits. The latter came within one of her career-high in strikeouts, fanning eight and giving up three runs on eight hits in seven innings.

Smith had three Ks and no walks, scattering one run on five hits in six innings for the ‘Cats.

THE BUZZ: Dettling was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…the home run was the 14th of Tracy’s career…Game 1 was the seventh time this year that MSUB was held to fewer than five hits in a game…the complete game was the 11th of the year for Dettling.

AHEAD: The series concludes Saturday with a noon doubleheader scheduled at Avitus Group Stadium.

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