ARCATA -- Jessica Gaumnitz pitched a complete game shutout, leading Cal State Stanislaus to a 5-0 win over Montana State Billings in the opening game of the NCAA West Region Softball Championships on Friday.

With the win, the Warriors advance to Saturday's winner's bracket game scheduled for 11 a.m. Montana State Billings will face elimination in the loser's bracket game at 1:30 p.m.

Gaumnitz struck out nine and walked only one, limiting the Yellowjackets to three hits. She improved to 17-7 overall while CSU Stanislaus is now 31-18 overall.

"It was a great team effort," CSU Stanislaus head coach Jan Schefkowitz said. "Everyone was fantastic and we played strong all seven innings."

Sustaining the loss for MSUB was Lisa Moore, who dropped to 11-4 on the season while her team fell to 39-16. Moore gave up only five hits while striking out three, but hurt her cause by allowing seven walks.

"It was the first game of postseason, and we put too much pressure on ourselves," MSU Billings head coach Anthony Stone said. "We didn't handle adversity very well today and this wasn't a typical offensive day for us. Well have to make adjustments tomorrow and hope for the best."

CSU Stanislaus pushed across the game's first run in the bottom of the first inning with only one hit. Alyssa Guzman singled to open the inning, and came around to score after Moore walked three batters to force in the run.

Gaumnitz continued to retire the Yellowjackets in order, and her teammates provided a cushion in the third inning. Another walk proved costly, Ashlee Genseal working a base-on-balls ahead of Jennifer Arnold's home run that moved the Warriors ahead, 3-0.

Dawn Norcross finally broke up Gaumnitz' no-hit bid with a one-out single in the fifth inning. Norcross was quickly erased, however, when CSU Stanislaus' catcher Brittany Balenesi threw her out trying to steal second.

"I have to credit the defense," Gaumnitz said. "Brittany caught a great game and was throwing out runners."

Cal State Stanislaus added two runs in the sixth inning, the first coming home when Arnold walked, moved up when Kimiko Wright reached on an error, then scored on Nikky Rissetto's double. Alyssa Guzman singled to drive in Wright with the final run.

The Warriors were without starting third baseman and leadoff hitter Erica McIntyre, who was out with a fever. That forced Schefkowitz to make changes to the lineup. Guzman batted leadoff and Alicia Reid made her first start of the season at third.

"There is adversity in every game and tough teams find ways to win," Schefkowitz said. "Today, they came out and was mentally ready to play. I am proud of them."

Rissetto and Guzman both finished with two hits each.

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