Ellensburg, Wash. – Suffering just their second sweep of the season, the Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets (10-12, 2-4 GNAC) dropped a pair of games 9-2, 6-4 to the Central Washington Wildcats (8-4, 2-0 GNAC) on Saturday.
 
Over two games the Yellowjackets committed nine errors in the field adding up to five unearned runs on the afternoon. MSUB scored first in both games but lost for the third and fourth time this season when plating the first run. The 'Jackets came into the series 9-2 when scoring the first run over an opponent.
 
Kelsee Bushell had a record tying performance in the second game of the day. The junior-transfer went 3-for-3 with a record-tying three doubles. The feat ties Joey Ehnes (2004) and Terina Stacks (2007). Bushell scored two runs in the game and marked her first multi-hit game as a Yellowjacket.
 
The streak continued for Heather Tracy as the MSUB right fielder recorded hits in both games. Her 3-for-8 day extends her run to 27 consecutive games with a hit and makes it a 22-game streak for this season. She previously had 21 hits to start last season when she set her original MSUB-record streak.
 
In the final inning of play on Saturday, Cameron Cassinelli hit the 34th home run of her career putting her just one away from tying Kelly Parson's MSUB career-record of 35 homers. With the two run shot, Cassinelli now has four home runs this season and 19 RBI.
 
Game 1: Central Washington 9, MSU Billings 2
 
Only six of the eleven runs scored in the 9-2 Central Washington win were earned as Game 1 was defined by defensive miscues. Allie Hughes scored the first run for the Yellowjackets in the second inning after a throwing error allowed her to score on what should have been a fielder's choice.
 
With MSUB holding a 1-0 lead, the Wildcats responded with a three-run bottom of the second. After a single, wild pitch and the first of six MSUB-errors in the game, CWU tied the game with an RBI single. A groundout put Maddy Lincoln (6-6, 3.33 ERA) in position to escape the frame with a tie but another error netted the Wildcats two more runs and a 3-1 lead.  
 
The Wildcats would lead the rest of the way. Mistakes continued to plague the 'Jacket defense in the third where an error and wild pitch led to another Central Washington run. Another defensive miscue plated the fifth run of the game for the Wildcats as MSU fell behind 5-1 after allowing five runs on five hits and five errors.
 
After Central Washington padded their lead to 7-1, the 'Jackets respond with a Tracy double followed by a Dettling RBI-single to lead off the sixth. It was the final run of the game for the 'Jackets and the last of their four hits in the game.
 
Central Washington's Lexi Strasser (3-3) held the 'Jackets to four hits and one walk while striking out four MSUB batters over seven innings. Theresa Moyle scored three runs in the game for the 'Cats while going 2-for-4 at the plate. Four CWU batters had an RBI each in the game as only five of their runs were earned.
 
Lincoln finished the game with six strikeouts allowing nine singles while not issuing a walk. MSUB's six errors was the most in a game since a 10-2 loss at Saint Martin's in 2016.
 
Game 2: Central Washington 6, MSU Billings 4
 
The Yellowjacket offense had a much better showing in Game 2 as they collected 11 hits and four runs in the 6-4 loss. Amanda Barham led off the game with the first of her two walks in the contest and Brittanne Fisher added a single in the first inning.
 
Bushell scored the first run of the game when fellow junior Shayla Felix struck a single into center field following Bushell's first double of the game. Again Central Washington would respond in the second inning and never trail again. The Wildcats used a Moyle home run to plate two runs making it 2-1 heading to the third.
 
Haley Couch (2-3, 4.57 ERA) made her fourth start of the season for the 'Jackets. The freshman allowed just three hits through three innings before the 'Cats' offense got a feel for her in the fourth.
 
The top of the fourth featured the second of Bushell's doubles. Barham drew her second walk of the game to put runners on first and second with two outs and Tracy coming to the plate. Tracy struck a ball to left field that was misplayed by the CWU fielder allowing Bushell to score. Barham broke for the plate but was tagged out at home to end the inning.
 
In the bottom of the frame, the Wildcats were able to string together five hits to score four runs against Couch. Four singles and a double started the 'Cat rally making the score 4-2. Another double was compounded by an MSUB error making the score 6-2 with three innings remaining.
 
Doubles from Bushell and Fisher would be the only offense for the 'Jackets in the fifth and sixth innings leaving the 'Jackets in a deep hole at the top of the seventh. Coming to the plate 0-for-3, Tracy need a hit to keep both the 'Jackets hopes and her hitting streak alive to lead off the inning and she did just that with a well struck single to shallow center field. Two quick outs brought Cassinelli to the plate leading to her two run shot bring the score to 6-4 in favor of CWU.
 
The Yellowjackets and Wildcats will play two more games tomorrow starting at 12 p.m. Pacific time in Ellensburg, Wash. Both games can be followed with live stats via the MSUB Stretch Internet Portal.