Softball picked fourth in preseason poll

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu January 27, 2016 Yellowjacket softball picked fourth in preseason coaches’ poll MSUB Softball on Facebook 2016 MSUB Softball Roster 2016 MSUB Softball Schedule GNAC Release

Junior Bella Rovens returns to the Yellowjackets the team’s top hitter from 2015.

After last season’s 31-23 overall record and 14-8 finish in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, the MSUB softball team is selected to finish fourth in the preseason coaches’ poll.

PORTLAND, Ore. – After an overall record of 31-23 last season and a 14-8 mark in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, the Montana State University Billings softball team was selected to finish fourth in the preseason coaches’ poll the conference office announced Wednesday.

The Yellowjackets were crowned the 2015 GNAC Tournament Champions after making a run through the conference tournament untouched, earning the automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. At the tournament, MSUB advanced to the west sub-region title game, before falling 11-3.

Western Washington was picked first in the GNAC preseason poll with 61 points, Saint Martin’s came in second with 47, Western Oregon was selected third with 43 points, and MSUB came in fourth with 37 points.

Rounding out the conference, Central Washington was voted to finish fifth (36 points), Concordia (Ore.) sixth (33 points), Simon Fraser earned the seventh spot (17 points), and Northwest Nazarene was voted eighth (14 points).

MSUB finished last season winning 11 of their final 14 conference games. Once at the GNAC tournament, the Yellowjackets were unstoppable as they won all three games to claim their first GNAC Tournament title and their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2012.

Last season, MSUB benefitted from a lot of power, leading the GNAC in slugging percentage (.482) and home runs (50) while finishing second in the league in batting average (.331).

Last season’s MSU Billings roster included seven seniors. Two of those were First Team All-GNAC selections, including coPlayer of the Year Taylor Hoke and pitcher Jessyka MacDonald (21-8, 2.92 ERA). The team also had a change in staff with Rebekah Gasner being named interim head coach after five seasons as an assistant coach.

Returning for MSUB is junior outfielder Bella Rovens, the team’s top-hitter in 2015 with a .392 average, 51 runs, 20 RBI and 13 stolen bases, earning Second Team All-GNAC honors. The offense is further bolstered by junior third baseman Kelsey Devlin, who hit .356 with seven home runs and a .550 slugging percentage. Sophomore first baseman Cameron Cassinelli, hit .375 with 33 RBI and a .659 slugging percentage and was also the GNAC Tournament MVP. The Yellowjackets return starting pitcher sophomore Megan Dettling who finished with a 3-3 record in 61 innings. She is joined by senior Amanda Roark who made 13 appearances last season in 42.1 innings, and junior transfer Taylor Tokach (Chandler Gilbert).

Also seeing significant time for the ‘Jackets last year, was senior outfielder Cori Gammon (.231 average, 25 hits, .971 fielding average), sophomore outfielder Heather Tracy (.317 average, 49 hits, 10 stolen bases), and sophomore outfielder Amanda Barham (.301 average, 25 hits, .961 fielding average).

MSU Billings opens its season at the home-hosted 2016 Desert Stinger tournament in Las Vegas. The Yellowjackets will play five games across three days, starting with Sonoma State on Feb. 5, at 3:30 Mountain time.

For more information on the Desert Stinger, please visit the tournament website HERE. 2016 GNAC PRESEASON SOFTBALL COACHES’ POLL Overall Pos. Team (1st Place Votes) Record 1.

Western Washington (5) 30-18 2.

Saint Martin's (1) 41-20 3.

Western Oregon 21-28 4.

MSU Billings (1) 31-23 5.

Central Washington (1) 20-23 6.

Concordia 46-19 7.

Simon Fraser 17-30 8.

Northwest Nazarene 9-37

GNAC Record (Place) 11-7 (2nd) 20-4 (1st) 13-9 (4th) 14-8 (3rd) 11-13 (5th) First Year In GNAC 5-19 (6th) 2-22 (7th)

Pts. 61 47 43 37 36 33 17 14

Votes awarded on 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.

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