Tournament of Champions beckons MSUB softball

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Wednesday, March 29, 2017 Tournament of Champions beckons MSUB softball

MSUB’s softball team heads to California for a competitive weekend of NCAA Division II competition at the Tournament of Champions.

BILLINGS, Mont. – Preparing for a competitive weekend of west-region softball games, the Montana State University Billings squad will face six NCAA Division II opponents at the Tournament of Champions hosted by Stanislaus State University over the weekend.

The Yellowjackets (12-19) play two games apiece on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with live coverage available throughout the weekend through the links on the MSUB softball schedule page here.

2017 Tournament of Champions Schedule (all times Pacific) Friday, March 31 9 AM – MSUB vs. UC San Diego (CCAA) 11:30 AM – MSUB vs. Cal State San Bernardino (CCAA)

Saturday, April 1 12:30 PM – MSUB vs. San Francisco State (CCAA) 3 PM – MSUB vs. Dominican (PacWest) Sunday, April 2 9 AM – MSUB vs. Academy of Art (PacWest) 2 PM – MSUB vs. Holy Names (PacWest) MSUB defeated Western Oregon University in 3 of 4 games in its last Great Northwest Athletic Conference competition, before a pair of losses in a non-conference doubleheader at Minot State University last Sunday.

“We spent a lot of time this week preparing for these games, and we talked about how important this tournament is,” said MSUB head coach Jessica Rayman. “It’s really important that we go out and compete against these teams, and we are going to face some tough competition.”

HEATHER’S A HIT: With five hits in Sunday’s doubleheader, junior Heather Tracy kept pace with the NCAA Division II leaders and continues to rank No. 4 with 57 total hits this season. She upped her career batting average of .403, which ranks No. 9 in GNAC history, and she is now tied for fifth-most hits in program history with 163.

Part of Tracy’s success lies within her contact rate at the plate, as she has struck out just twice in 117 at-bats this year.

Among the players in the NCAA with more than 100 at-bats, only three have a lower strikeout rate than Tracy’s 1.7 percent. She has only been behind in the count in 24.4 percent of her plate appearances this year (30 of 123), and has only been in an 0-2 count 7.3 percent of the time (9 of 123). With one stolen base last weekend, Tracy also moved into a tie with Jessica Frank for most steals in MSUB history with 35.

ROVENS WALKS, SCORES RUNS: Senior Bella Rovens leads the GNAC with 21 walks this season, while ranking second in the league with 31 runs scored and eighth in total hits with 34. Rovens’ career walks total of 83 is the most in MSUB history, and is seventh-highest in the GNAC career record books. She is also No. 8 in conference history with 146 runs scored, and moved to No. 20 in career hits with 195 as she collected three more on Sunday.

Rovens needs just 14 more hits to become MSUB’s career leader, a title currently held by Terina Stacks with 208 hits from 2006-09.

MSUB Softball Career Hits Leaders (as of March 30, 2017) Rank Name Hits Seasons 1 Terina Stacks 208 2006-09 2 Bella Rovens 195 2014-17 3 Emily Osborn 190 2012-15 4 Steph Gosselin 188 2006-09 5 Aubrey Conceicao 163 2012-15 Kelly Parsons 163 2008-11 Heather Tracy 163 2015-17 8 Taylor Hoke 162 2012-15 9 Jenna Haacke 158 2005-08 Christy Wankel 158 2003-06 11 Cami Rainey 156 2002-05

Senior Bella Rovens needs 14 more hits to become No. 1 in MSUB history.

BIG OUTING FOR LINCOLN: Picking up her GNAC-leading 11th complete game of the year on Sunday, freshman left-hander Maddy Lincoln reached a new milestone with her first-career 10-strikeout game. The big effort helped her maintain the No. 2 spot in the GNAC in strikeouts, as she has 57 total in her first college season.

CASSINELLI DRAWING WALKS: Teams have been cautious in avoiding the bat of slugger Cameron Cassinelli as of late, as she has drawn seven walks in her last five games and 15 total on the season. The free passes have led to a .472 on-base percentage to go along with her .371 batting average and GNAC-leading 10 home runs and 38 RBIs. Her RBI total is also tied for 15th in the nation.

PRINCE HEATING UP AT THE PLATE: Over her last seven games, junior second baseman Myrissa Prince has elevated her batting average by 44 points and now sits at .304 on the season. She has had multiple hits in four of those games, and she has drawn three walks while striking out just twice. Prince continues to be stellar defensively as well, having committed just two errors this year and holding a fielding percentage of .984.

DEVLIN MOVING ONTO TOP-10 LISTS: Senior Kelsey Devlin needs five more runs scored to be the sixth in MSUB history to reach 100, and three more RBIs to become the seventh player to reach 100. Devlin has also been consistent with the glove throughout her career, and moved to No. 10 in school history with 165 assists over her three-plus seasons.

Junior Myrissa Prince has raised her batting average 44 points over her last seven games.

‘JACKETS STAY STRONG IN OFFENSIVE CATEGORIES: Entering the week, MSUB is tied for sixth in the NCAA Division II with 1.16 home runs per game, totaling 36 in 31 games this year. The Yellowjackets lead the league in runs (194), hits (269), RBIs (181), doubles (47), homers (36), and total bases (430), and are third in slugging percentage at .489.

TOC Team Capsules University of California San Diego Tritons Conference: California Collegiate Athletic Association 2017 Record: 15-14, 10-13 CCAA (7th Place) Head Coach: Patti Gerckens, 25th season 2016 Record, League Finish: 37-21, 23-15 CCAA (4th) Offensive Leaders: Kelsi Maday, OF, JR, .414/.486/.690, 4 HR, 23 RBI, 26 SB | Kendall Baker, 2B, JR, .369/.422/.437, 4 RBI, 18 SB | Lauren Sanders, C/1B, JR, .348/.439/.551, 3 HR, 20 RBI, 0 K in 69 AB Pitching Leaders: Lizzy Beutter, RHP, FR, 73.2 IP, 27 K, 10 BB, 1.71 ERA, 2 CG, 4 SV | Lauren Brown, RHP, SO, 83.0 IP, 45 K, 36 BB, 3.37 ERA, 3 CG Team Figures: 4.3 Runs/Game, .281/.376/.379, 63-78 SB, 11 HR, 109 RBI, .954 FLD, 2.87 ERA, 3.1 K/Game, .263 BAA Scouting Report: The Tritons don’t overwhelm teams with power, but the play small-ball well and maintain a positive run differential despite scoring 4.3 runs per game. Maday and Baker are the keys to the offense, each getting on base at over .430 and stealing 26 and 18 bases, respectively. In the circle, Beutter has baffled hitters with a 1.71 ERA in 73 2/3 innings pitched. Brown, who leads the team with 83 innings pitched, has 45 strikeouts in 21 appearances.

All-Time Series: MSUB 1, UCSD 5 MSUB’s Results in Last 5 Meetings: L-L-L-L-W Last Meeting: UCSD 5, MSUB 4 (April 2, 2016, Turlock, CA) Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes Conference: California Collegiate Athletic Association 2017 Record: 18-14, 13-11 CCAA (5th Place) Head Coach: Jim Maier, 3rd season 2016 Record, League Finish: 32-23, 23-17 CCAA (5th Place) Offensive Leaders: Jessica Brown, C, JR, .368/.491/.713, 7 HR, 26 RBI, 20 BB | Morgan Ratliff, OF, SO, .350/.451/.505, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 12 SB | Jessica Angulo, OF, SR, .333/.362/.384, 5 2B, 11 RBI, 7 SB Pitching Leaders: Cassandra Williams, LHP, SR, 123.2 IP, 77 K, 32 BB, 1.53 ERA, 14 CG, 2 SV | Amanda Ramirez, RHP, SO, 87.2 IP, 27 K, 15 BB, 2.48 ERA, 6 CG, 1 SV Team Figures: 3.9 Runs/Game, .283/.356/.383, 29-36 SB, 15 HR, 113 RBI, .960 FLD, 1.92 ERA, 3.4 K/Game, .265 BAA Scouting Report: The Coyotes’ Williams-led dual-armed pitching staff has carried the team to a winning record, as the senior lefty has a remarkable 1.53 ERA in 123 2/3 innings pitched. Her 14 complete games are most in the entire west region, and she strikes out twice as many hitters as she walks (77-32). Brown is the team’s leader at the plate, with 16 extra-base hits including seven home runs, and a team-high 26 RBIs to go along with a .368 batting average. Ratliff finds her way on base at a clip of .451, and runs wild on the bases with a dozen steals in 16 attempts. Like UCSD, CSUSB is not a dominant team with just 3.9 runs per game offensively, but the Coyotes more than make up for it with an elite pitching staff.

All-Time Series: MSUB 3, CSUSB 4 MSUB’s Results in Last 5 Meetings: W-L-W-L-L Last Meeting: MSUB 5, CSUSB 4 (February 9, 2017, St. George, UT) San Francisco State University Gators Conference: California Collegiate Athletic Association 2017 Record: 12-20, 11-17 CCAA (8th Place) Head Coach: Lisa Allen, 2nd season 2016 Record, League Finish: 25-28, 19-21 CCAA (6th Place) Offensive Leaders: Sara Higa, 3B, JR, .311/.385/.522, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 7 2B | Megan Clark, DP, SR, .365/.386/.424, 6 RBI, 7 SB | Gabby Reta, OF, SR, .314/.343/.431, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 5 SB, 13 R Pitching Leaders: Lindsey Cassidy, RHP, JR, 90 IP, 44 K, 63 BB, 3.42 ERA, 10 CG | Megan Clark, LHP, SR, 98.2 IP, 45 K, 46 BB, 3.99 ERA, 12 CG Team Figures: 3.3 Runs/Game, .282/.343/.380, 37-49 SB, 12 HR, 94 RBI, .954 FLD, 3.29 ERA, 3.1 K/Game, .268 BAA Scouting Report: The ‘Jackets will square off against their old skipper, in former MSUB head coach and second-year leader Lisa (Allen) McKinney. The Gators are led by power hitter Higa at the plate, who is slugging .522 with a team-high 17 RBIs. Clark goes both ways for SFSU, slotting into the lineup while eating up a team-high 98 2/3 innings in the circle.

Cassidy is another top arm for SFSU, with a 3.42 ERA in 90 innings pitched this season. The Gators have been solid in the circle, but haven’t had the extra offensive boost yet this year with just 3.3 runs scored per game.

All-Time Series: MSUB 2, SFSU 6 MSUB’s Results in Last 5 Meetings: L-W-W-L-L Last Meeting: SFSU 7, MSUB 4 (8 INN) (April 1, 2016, Turlock, CA)

Dominican University Penguins Conference: PacWest Conference 2017 Record: 14-16, 13-7 PacWest (5th Place) Head Coach: Tori Nyberg, 1st season 2016 Record, League Finish: 19-32, 16-16 PacWest (6th Place) Offensive Leaders: McKenzie Schumacher, OF/SS, FR, .337/.410/.371, 20 R, 22 SB | Karitza Reyes, SS, SO, .313/.368/.463, 2 HR, 19 RBI, 6 2B | Catlyn Cavender, INF, SR, .333/.394/.505, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 8 SB Pitching Leaders: Katelyn Harden, RHP, SR, 90.2 IP, 79 K, 32 BB, 2.47 ERA, 7 CG | Gaby Katafias, RHP, JR, 73 IP, 31 K, 45 BB, 4.70 ERA, 6 CG Team Figures: 3.8 Runs/Game, .270/.331/.361, 56-69 SB, 9 HR, 89 RBI, .952 FLD, .395 ERA, 4.3 K/Game, .272 BAA Scouting Report: The Penguins have relied on the right arm of ace Harden, who overpowers hitters with 79 strikeouts and just 32 walks in 90 2/3 innings pitched this year. Her 2.47 ERA has helped the staff stay below 4.00 overall (3.95), and the Penguins average 4.3 strikeouts per game while holding opposing teams to a .272 batting average. At the plate, speedster Schumacher has swiped a team-high 22 bags while batting .337 in her first year as a college player. Reyes leads the team with 19 RBIs, and Cavender is another slugger at .505. Harden could cause MSUB problems at the plate if that’s the arm they see, but MSUB has the offensive presence to out-slug DU in a higher-scoring game.

All-Time Series: MSUB 1, DU 1 MSUB’s Results in Last 5 Meetings: L-W Last Meeting: DU 8, MSUB 7 (8 INN) (April 3, 2016, Turlock, CA) Academy of Art University Urban Knights Conference: PacWest Conference 2017 Record: 15-17, 9-11 (6th Place) Head Coach: Sonja Garnett, 3rd season 2016 Record, League Finish: 17-34-1, 13-19 PacWest (7th Place) Offensive Leaders: Freddie Carrillo, UTL, FR, .391/.400/.483, 8 2B, 17 RBI, 5 SB | Gracie Sotomayor, UTL, FR, .349/.369/.415, 7 2B, 21 R, 14 RBI, 7 SB | Jessica West, OF, SR, .348/.482/.472, 7 2B, 14 RBI, 21 BB, 12 SB Pitching Leaders: Hannah Rose Balke, RHP, FR, 106.2 IP, 70 K, 50 BB, 3.02 ERA, 9 CG, 3 SHO | True Park, RHP, SO, 60 IP, 31 K, 29 BB, 5.83 ERA, 4 CG Team Figures: 4.0 Runs/Game, .304/.366/.385, 48-64 SB, 3 HR, 110 RBI, .965 FLD, 4.69 ERA, 3.9 K/Game, .270 BAA Scouting Report: The Urban Knights have shown flashes at the plate, but are not a heavy-hitting team with just three home runs and a team slugging percentage of .385. The team’s 48 stolen bases rank fourth in the PacWest however, as AAU has had success putting pressure on teams while getting on base at .366. The key for the ‘Jackets will be keeping leadoff hitter Sotomayor and No. 2 hitter Juliana Lopez off base ahead of West, who ranks second on the team with 14 RBIs. MSUB will also look to be patient at the plate against Balke, who isn’t overpowering but who has held opposing hitters to just a .210 batting average this year.

All-Time Series: MSUB 2, AAU 1 MSUB’s Results in Last 5 Meetings: W-L-W Last Meeting: MSUB 3, AAU 1 (March 28, 2016, Turlock, CA)

Holy Names University Hawks Conference: PacWest Conference 2017 Record: 3-24, 2-18 PacWest (12th Place) Head Coach: Alyssa Smoke, 3rd season 2016 Record, League Finish: 14-34-1, 7-21 PacWest (10th Place) Offensive Leaders: Dyemond Dye, INF, FR, .343/.452/.629, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 8 R | Nicolette Soares, INF, SR, .246/.342/.435, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 11 R, 4 2B | Danielle Santoro, UTL, SR, .241/.288/.352, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 6 R Pitching Leaders: Dyemond Dye, RHP, FR, 60.1 IP, 27 K, 31 BB, 8.70 ERA, 6 CG | Anekaila Crevani, RHP, FR, 25.0 IP, 18 K, 14 BB, 9.24 ERA Team Figures: 3.0 Runs/Game, .235/.307/.353, 20-29 SB, 15 HR, 67 RBI, .909 FLD, 9.15 ERA, 2.8 K/Game, .412 BAA Scouting Report: While the Hawks have some pop at the plate, they carry a team batting average of just .235 and score only 3.0 runs per game. Santoro has been the most productive hitter with a dozen RBIs, while two-way player Dye leads the team with a .343 batting average. Dye has also thrown a team-high 60 1/3 innings for a pitching staff that has an ERA of 9.15 and an opposing batting average of .412. The Yellowjackets’ lineup matches up well against the youthful arms of Holy Names, in what will be the first-ever meeting between the teams.

All-Time Series: MSUB 0, HNU 0 MSUB’s Results in Last 5 Meetings: None.

Last Meeting: None.

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