SEASIDE, Calif. – Montana State University Billings fought its way back into the NCAA west sub-region tournament championship game, but the Yellowjackets ran into a hot-hitting Sonoma State team as MSUB falls 11-3 (5 innings) Sunday afternoon in Seaside.
 
After a 12 inning marathon against Sonoma State yesterday where the Yellowjackets lost on a walk-off single 5-4, MSU Billings won its game against Humbolt State 5-2 to advance to the championship game today earning a rematch with the Seawolves.
 
The Seawolves put up runs in every inning as the Yellowjackets' season comes to a close in the NCAA west region tournament. The Yellowjackets had wins over #5 Cal State Monterey Bay and #16 Humboldt State in the tournament. MSUB was one of 32 teams left in the NCAA Division II tournament.
 
Sonoma State (42-19) struck first in the bottom of the first inning with two runs keeping the bats hot with runs in every inning.
 
MSU Billings did score three runs in the third inning to pull the Yellowjackets to within two 5-3. Bella Rovens hita hard groundball into the infield to reach first. MSUB struck back-to-back doubles to score two. Cori Gammon followed Rovens' hit with her second hit of the game, a stand-up double to the gap in left center scoring Rovens from first base. Another stand-up double, this time from Taylor Hoke sent Gammon flying to home plate for the second run of the inning. A fly out from Brittney Sanders moved Hoke to third base.
 
With two outs, Aubrey Conceicao hit a popup that Sonoma State's Ancia Purdy came across the infield to grab, but the shortstop dropped the ball allowing Hoke to score from third and Conceicao to reach first base safely.
 
The Yellowjackets had a chance to tie the game on the next at bat as senior Emily Osborn absolutely crushed a ball over the right field fence that was called just foul. Osborn ended up striking a ball down the right field line the Sonoma State first baseman was able to snag for the last out of the inning.
 
In the top of the fourth inning, MSUB put two more runners on base with singles from Kelsey Delvin and Rovens and one on base in the fifth inning with Hoke's second walk of the game, but the Yellowjackets were unable to string any more hits together in the game.

Sonoma State scored 11 runs on nine hits with one error. MSU Billings finished the game scoring three runs on six hits and one error.
 
Holli Brown was 2-2 for Sonoma State. Purdy and Mayleen Mazon had home runs. The Seawolves also had three doubles in the game as five of SSU's hits went for extra bases.
 
Amanda Llerena (26-12) earned the win for the Seawolves. She scattered six hits, allowed three earned runs, and fanned five.
 
For MSUB, Rovens and Gammon were 2-3 at the plate. Gammon and Hoke both had doubles in the game.
 
In the circle for MSUB, senior Jessyka MacDonad (21-8) tossed her 20^th complete game of the season for the Yellowjackets. The Billings native twirled four innings scattering nine hits while giving up eight earned runs.
 
Montana State University Billings ends the 2015 season with a Great Northwest Athletic Conference tournament championship and the Yellowjackets first appearance in the NCAA tournament since the 2012 season.