The Retort

Yellowjackets Fall to Number Four Dixie State on Final Day of Desert Stinger, 7-4

February 19th, 2010 by MSUB Athletics For The Retort

The Montana State Billings Softball team wrapped up the final day of the inaugural Desert Stinger Tournament at Majestic Park in Las Vegas, Nevada with a 7-4 loss to nationally ranked Dixie State. The Yellowjackets finished the tournament with a 2-3 record overall, getting wins against Academy of Art and Chadron State earlier in the tournament.

Dixie State struck first in the top of the first after the Bailie Hicken reached on an error by Whitney Whittemore and later scored on a single by Anna Cue. The Red Storm also had a productive second inning when Hicken drove Kacie Conder’s pitch deep into centerfield for a three-run home run to extend the lead to 4-0.

The Yellowjackets made noise in the third inning as Bobbie Lee led off the inning with a high chopper that bounced off the pitchers mitt and lead to a single. Amanda Hood then moved Lee to second with a shot through the right side for a hit. Stevie Howard went down swinging and Whitney Whittemore fouled out to the first baseman before Kelly Parsons was robbed of a hit by the Dixie centerfielder to end the threat.

After Conder struck out the final two batters in the top of the fourth, Kaycee Hoffman led off the bottom half with a walk for MSUB followed by another walk for Rachel Eisenmann. After two outs pushed the runners to second and third, Tasha Maier found a hole in the right side and ripped the ball to the outfield for two RBI and cut the deficit to 4-2.

The fifth saw Conder make three consecutive put outs to Hoffman after giving up a lead-off walk to start the inning. Whittemore started the lower half of the inning with a blooper that dropped in right center but was put out after Parsons hit into a 1-6-3 double play that got Dixie out of a potential jam.

Dixie had a chance to strike again in the sixth when Conder hit a batter then gave up a single to put runners on first and second with one out. Dixie’s Kourtnie Schlacter came to the plate and hit a screaming line drive toward right center where Maier made an incredible diving catch that brought everyone to their feet. Maier then threw the ball back to second to double up the Red Storm and finish the half inning.

The Red Storm padded their lead in the seventh when a pair of hits put runners on second and third before one of Conder’s pitches was belted into left center and rolled to the fence to score two, upping the lead to 6-2. They put one more run on the board when the ball found the gap in right, concluding a three inning.

With last at bats, Lee hit the ball toward the left side hole and beat the throw to reach base for the Yellowjackets. After Amanda Hood was robbed of a hit by the Dixie shortstop, Stevie Howard crushed the ball to left center and cut the lead to 7-4.

Kelly Parsons kept hopes alive for the Jackets, doubling off the right field fence, and then Hoffman singled to bring up the potential tying run in Eisenmann. After fouling off a couple of pitches, Eisenmann hit a low shot to the shortstop to end the rally for the Jackets.

Lee finished the game going 2-for-3 with a run scored to lead the Jackets offensively. Howard and Maier both finished the game with one hit and a pair of RBI. Hoffman went 1-for-3 with a run and a walk and had 13 put outs. Conder threw 7.0 innings, allowing seven runs, six earned, on 12 hits, striking out three and giving up one walk.

The Yellowjackets have a 13-day break before starting the conference season at Western Washington, February 27, in Bellingham, Washington. Then the Jackets will play a pair of double-headers against the Vikings.