SEASIDE, Calif. - Montana State University Billings upset No. 5 Cal State Monterey Bay in Game 2 of the NCAA west region tournament 7-6. The Yellowjackets were down 6-0 before coming back in the final two innings for the victory.
MSUB outhit the nationally-ranked Cal State Monterey Bay Otters 12-7.
Aubrey Conceicao hit a solo shot home run and
Kelsey Devlin crushed a 3-RBI home run.
Jessyka MacDonald tossed a complete game in the circle for the Yellowjackets.
Leadoff hitter
Bella Rovens was 3-4 for MSUB with 2 RBI's and a walk. First baseman
Emily Osborn was 2-3 and
Heather Tracy was 2-4. Devlin was also 2-4 with 4 RBI's, and two runs.
After falling behind 6-0 after five complete inning, MSU Billings (30-21) scored three runs in the sixth and four in the seventh for the comeback victory. Coming in as the eighth seed in the tournament, MSUB upset the No. 1 seed for the win on Day 1 of the NCAA west region tournament.
The Yellowjackets scored three runs on five hits in the sixth inning.
Brittney Sanders and Osborn both had singles. Devlin connected next on a single to score Sanders from second. Right fielder Tracy laid down a bunt to shortstop and was safe on the throw to load the bases. Rovens hit the fifth single of the inning for MSUB next, a long ball to the right field fence, that scored two for MSUB and brought the 'Jackets to within three, 6-3.
In the bottom of the inning, No. 5 Cal State Monterey Bay's Cori Reinhardt reached first on a single, but the next two batters both struck fielder's choice that MSUB's
Taylor Hoke tossed to Conceicao at second base to get the lead runner and the first two outs of the inning. The Otters added a second runner to the bases on a walk, but a high fly ball that forced MSUB's Rovens to the center field wall was caught, saving a runner from scoring.
At the top of the seventh inning, MSU Billings went the unconventional route for the win. With one out, Conceicao connected with a high inside pitch that sailed over the right field fence to pull MSUB to within two runs, 6-4. Next up, Osborn fought through a hard at bat of eight pitches to reach base on a walk. Junior
Cori Gammon was sent to first to pinch run and
Jordyn Roark was sent to the plate to pinch hit. On her first pitch, Roark struck a perfectly placed ball into right field that pushed Gammon all the way to third and put the tying run on first base for MSUB. Pitcher MacDonald was sent in to pinch run for Roark as Devlin headed to the batter's box for her fourth at bat of the game.
On a 1-1 count, Devlin crushed a high soaring ball up over the center field fence for a 3-RBI home run, her sixth of the season, to give the 'Jackets a 7-6 lead. Rovens added another single for MSUB before the Otters were able to get the third out of the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, MSU Billings was able to hold the Otters. MacDonald got the first two batters on fly outs to the outfield, and the third batter on a popup to Hoke at shortstop for the final out of the game.
In the circle for MSUB, MacDonald (20-6) tossed her 18
th complete game for the Yellowjackets. She had just two earned runs on seven hits as the Otters scored five runs in the fifth inning, but only four were earned.
Both teams stranded 10 runners in the game. Courtney Varela for Cal State Monterey Bay (47-11) was the only player from CSUMB with more than a single hit in the game; she was 2-3 at the plate. Varela and Alissa Greenhaw (1-5) both had doubles for Monterey Bay.
Cori Reinhardt (30-3) pitched 6 1/3 inning for the Otters. She gave up seven earned runs while scattering 11 hits and fanning five. Lindsey Clarkson came in relief to pitch the final 2/3 inning. She finished the game giving up a single hit while not allowing a run.
Next up for MSU Billings the Yellowjackets move on to the winner's bracket where the team will face Sonoma State University (40-19) Saturday, May 9 at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time. MSUB has played Sonoma State twice this season losing both games by a single run, 6-5 at the Desert Stinger in Las Vegas, and 8-7 at the Tournament of Champions in Turlock, Calif.
If MSUB wins tomorrow, the 'Jackets move on to the championship game on Sunday. If the Yellowjackets fall, the team will play the winner of the CSUMB/Humboldt State game taking place earlier in the day to see who advances to the championship game.
Friday, May 8, 2015
Game 1: No. 5 Sonoma State 5, No. 4 Humboldt State 4
Game 2: No. 8 MSU Billings 7, No. 1 CSUMB 6
Saturday, May 9, 2015 •
Live Stats •
Live Audio11:00 AM - Game 3: MSU Billings (30–21) v Sonoma State (40–19)
1:30 PM - Game 4: Humboldt State (41–18) v CSUMB (47–11) Loser eliminated
4:00 PM - Game 5: Game 3 Loser v Game 4 Winner Loser eliminated
Sunday, May 10, 2015 •
Live Stats •
Live Audio12:00 PM - Game 6: Game 3 Winner v Game 5 Winner
2:30 PM - Game 7*: Repeat Game 6
