BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Nicole Ratel (Langley, BC) hit her fourth home run of the season Saturday afternoon to propel Simon Fraser University to pair of wins against the Montana State University Billings, 4-2 and 10-1.

Ratel crushed a two-run home run over the left field fence at Beedie Field for the winning runs as SFU came-from-behind to beat MSUB in the opener. Simon Fraser carried that momentum forward into the second game, scoring seven runs in the opening inning before coasting to a mercy rule win.

These same two teams will play again Sunday in a schedule doubleheader beginning at 12:00 PM at Beedie Field. Follow @SFUClan on Twitter for game updates or check out our website at athletics.sfu.ca.

Simon Fraser has now won three games in a row by a combined 21-4. The Clan moved to 12-10 overall and pulled their GNAC record to .500 at 3-3.

MSUB fell to 5-10 overall and 0-2 in GNAC play.

SFU 4 MSUB 2
After three solid innings, starting pitcher Alia Stachoski ran into some trouble in the top of the fourth inning loading the bases. However, freshman Hailey Gearey made a spectacular defensive play at short stop, throwing out a runner from the seat of her pants to keep the score tied 0-0.

After the pitchers dueled for four scoreless innings, MSUB's pitcher Megan Dettling helped her own cause in the top of the 5th inning when she hit a two-run homer over the right field fence. It was Dettling's second home run of the season.

SFU responded in a big way in the bottom of the fifth inning. Katherine Murnaghan broke up Dettling's no hit bid with a single to lead off the inning. Kendra Ho came in to pinch run for Murnaghan and was sacrificed to second by Marina DeAngelis to second. Taylor Gillis then singled her home putting the Clan on the board.

With Nicole Ratel (Langley, BC) up to bat, the Clan perfectly executed a double steal that brought home Gillis, tying the game at two. That set the stage for Ratel's game-winning homerun.

The four run fifth was the only scoring the Clan would need as Stachoski would shut the door for the remainder of the game. Stachoski (Port Coquitlam, BC)  pitched a complete game allowing 2 runs on 4 hits while striking out six. The win moved her record to 6-3 on the season.

Murnaghan led the team going 2 for 3 with two lead off singles.

SFU 10 MSUB 1
The Clan's offence exploded in the first inning scoring seven runs. Seniors Alex Baylak and Stephanie Caron (Delta, BC) did the major damage as they both drove in two runs in the inning, Baylak with her fifth double of the season and Caron with a bases loaded single. The Clan played small ball and sat patiently at the plate with five walks in the inning and only one extra base hit.

Tori Belton (Langley, BC) started for the Clan and went 3.1 innings, leaving with the bases loaded in the fourth. Jessia Goulet (Cambridge, ON) came on in relief and retired the two batters she faced in the inning leaving the bases loaded and the score 7-1.

The Clan struck again in the bottom of the fourth when senior outfielder Rachel Proctor (Surrey, BC) doubled to right centre bringing home two more runs, giving the Clan a 9-1 lead. Proctor would come home on a wild pitch giving the Clan a 10-1 lead after the fourth inning.

The Clan was able to bring the mercy rule into play after five innings as they rolled a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

Belton was credited with the win striking out three and only allowing a single run. Belton's record on the season is 5-4. Proctor led the way for the Clan going 2 for 3 with 3 RBIs and scoring two runs. Caron was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and one run scored. Ratel reached base three times going 1 for 2 and drawing two walks, while scoring two runs.

Follow the SFU Clan softball team for behind the scenes pictures and more all season long on their official Instagram account.

--@SFUClan--