BILLINGS, Mont. – Despite posting four home runs against the Great Northwest Athletic Conference's top team, Montana State University Billings dropped its home opening doubleheader 8-5 in game one and 9-6 in game two to Central Washington University at Avitus Group Stadium Saturday afternoon in softball. Savannah Egbert went 5-for-5 with one run batted in to help the Wildcats win game one. In game two, Julia Reuble slugged her way to a double, two home runs, and three runs batted in to doom the 'Jackets.
 
MSU Billings (10-26, 3-15 GNAC) had chances to win but Central Washington's potent offense scored nine runs in the final two innings of the two games. The Wildcats (24-12, 15-3 GNAC) combined for 26 hits and 11 extra base hits on the afternoon against 'Jacket starting pitching.
 
Payton Reynolds had two home runs to lead the Yellowjackets in game one. Allie Hughes homered once in both games and finished with four runs batted in. MSUB posted 23 total hits with 11 in game one and 12 in game two of the twin bill.
"I thought offensively we came out really well today," commented head coach Jessica Rayman. "We had 23 hits between the two games so I thought we did a good job of attacking and executing plays. We were moving runners by getting bunts down and we just needed a few more timely hits."
 
The Wildcats stretched their stranglehold on first place to three games ahead of Western Washington with the pair of victories. MSUB fell one game behind Simon Fraser for the ninth and final spot in the conference standings. Central Washington had the No. 2 ranked offense in the GNAC coming into Saturday's competition and the fourth best pitching staff ranked by earned run average.
 
"Central just swings the bat really well," said Rayman. "We wanted to move pitches around as much as possible but we needed to get them to chase a little bit more. I think our pitching was just a little bit inconsistent today. We had some good innings but they (Central Washington) did a good job making adjustments and finding ways to get on base. If we can make their hitters chase pitches a little more, we should be okay."
 
The Yellowjackets were away from Billings for the first 34 games of the regular season and even with Saturday's home doubleheader, they have played eight less home games than any other team in the GNAC. MSUB will play a second doubleheader against Central Washington to finish off a four game series Sunday at 12:05 p.m. and 2 p.m. at Avitus Group Stadium.
 
"Finally getting to play at our home field was a huge boost for us," said Rayman. "I think we came out with a renewed energy and excitement because we take pride in playing well on our home field. We haven't had much chance to play in Billings this season but we did a good job of channeling that energy into a positive home performance."
 
Game 1 – MSU Billings 5, Central Washington 8
 
Five hits by Egbert doomed the Yellowjackets in game one as they fell 8-5 in their home opener Saturday afternoon. Egbert was the third player this season in the GNAC to record a five hit game and added two runs scored and one run batted in to her impressive afternoon. Bethany Balucan also had a strong day at the plate for the Wildcats and finished 2-for-4 with three runs batted in and one run scored.
 
The Yellowjackets allowed single runs in the top of the second and top of the third to trail 2-0, but tied the game in the third when Payton Reynolds connected on a two-run homer, her fifth of the season after Hughes singled.
 
The Wildcats countered with their biggest inning of the game to take a 5-2 lead. Sydney Brown walked to lead off the fourth and Balucan homered to left field. Egbert then doubled to center field and two hitters later, Alycia Bannon singled to pick up the RBI. The Yellowjackets picked up a run in the fifth when Hughes took a high fly ball deep to the rim rocks in left center field for a solo home.
 
MSUB played small ball in the sixth. Hailey Gregerson poked a pinch hit single through the left side and advanced to second a sacrifice bunt by Madison Kelly. Jolene House reached on an infield single and Sydney Pollard drove in Gregerson with a single through the right side.
 
Momentum shifted back to the Wildcats in the top of the seventh. An error charged at shortstop to Pollard put the leadoff hitter on base. Back-to-back singles by Kayla Smith and Julia Reuble allowed one run to score, which brought the score to 7-5.
 
Balucan grounded out to short to score another run from third base and Egbert singled up the middle, totaling three in the inning run total. Reynolds knocked a solo home run to left field with one out in the seventh to get the 'Jackets back to a three run deficit. Fisher followed with a single but Gregerson hit a liner to second base, stranding pinch runner Georgiabelle Benning between first and second, resulting in a double play to end the game.
 
Lexie Strasser (10-8) picked up the win with a complete game pitched for Central Washington. Strasser allowed five runs (all earned) on 12 hits, walked one, and struck out one. Maddy Lincoln (4-14) suffered the loss for MSUB after pitching 7.0 innings and allowing eight runs (five earned) on 15 hits, walked one, and struck out six.
 
Payton Reynolds recorded her second career multiple home run game, having achieved the feat previously, in a game against Western Washington in March. Jolene House went 3-for-4 at the plate with a pair of runs scored and Hughes picked up a team high three runs batted in after going 2-for-3 with a home run and a walk. Fisher recorded her eighth multi-hit game of the season and went 2-for-4 in game one.
 
Though they have struggled in the field this season, the 'Jackets played well behind Lincoln in game one. Both teams recorded one error and Pollard made an acrobatic play at shortstop when she stepped on the base and threw across to first to turn a double play.
 
"I think there has been a bigger focus on defense for us lately," Rayman said. "I'd still like to see our outfielders take charge a little more and really make a highlight real play that we haven't really seen yet. We are really beginning to get consistent in making the routine plays though so that has been a good sign."
 
Game 2 – MSU Billings 6, Central Washington 9
 
The Yellowjackets trailed 5-0 in the third inning of game two, fought back to take the lead, but ultimately fell by a score of 9-6. Julia Reuble made the biggest impact of the game for CWU with three hits, three runs batted in, and two runs scored in four trips to the plate. Reuble connected for two home runs and a double to stymie 'Jacket starting pitcher Alyssa Etheridge.
 
Both teams posted 11 hits but the Wildcats were more efficient at driving runners in. CWU left five runners left on base compared to nine for MSUB.
 
Smith led off the second inning with a double to left center. Sydney Brown smacked a triple off the center field fence and Bethany Baluchan singled through the right side to score Brown, giving CWU a 2-0 lead.
 
Alycia Bannan homered to centerfield for another two Wildcat runs in the third and Reuble made it back-to-back long balls with her smash to left field on the next pitch.
 
The Yellowjackets countered in the bottom of the third with three runs to tie the game. After loading the bases with zero outs, Reynolds grounded into a double play to score House from third. Gregerson and Sydney Pollard both singled to bring the score to 5-3.
 
MSUB took their first lead of the day in the fourth. With two runners aboard, Hughes homered to left center field. A home run by Reuble in the fifth made it 6-6 and the Wildcats put three runs across in the sixth to seal the win.
 
In the sixth, CWU scored three runs on three hits including two singles and a double by Reuble.
 
Taylor Williams (5-2) pitched the final 4.1 innings to earn the win in the circle for Central Washington. Williams allowed two earned runs on four hits, walked one, and struck out three. Samantha Stanfield started the game for the Wildcats and was pulled after 2.2 innings and three earned runs, seven hits, two walks, and two strikeouts.
 
Etheridge (5-9) was the losing pitcher for MSUB. The freshman pitched 7-0 innings and allowed nine runs (six earned), 11 hits, walked three, and struck out four.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets play Central Washington again Sunday in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. in game one and 2 p.m. for game two. Both games can be live streamed via MSUB's stretch internet portal.The games will also be streamed on local television network SWX Sports.

THE BUZZ: The Yellowjackets have lost 13 straight games to Central Washington University dating back to 2015…Hughes was named St. Vincent Healthcare player of the day for the Yellowjackets after hitting two home runs and driving in four…Egbert was the third player this season to record a five hit game in the conference.