NAMPA, Idaho – In a tough outing all-around, the Montana State University Billings softball team suffered a pair of shutout losses Friday afternoon to Northwest Nazarene University in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader at Halle Softball Field.
 
The Nighthawks took advantage of three MSUB fielding errors and received a three-run home run from Brittany Genuardi to take game one 12-0 in five innings. Lauren Bassett had three hits and two runs scored to help NNU quell the Yellowjackets 8-0 in a run-rule shortened game two.

"We couldn't get anything going offensively in either game and errors hurt us all day long," commented head coach Jessica Rayman. "Credit to our opponent as well. It's going to be important to have a short memory and come back ready to compete hard tomorrow."

The Nighthawks posted one big offensive inning in each game. NNU scored eight runs on five hits in the third inning of game one, then managed five runs on four hits in the fourth inning of game two.

The Yellowjackets have allowed 49 runs over their last six games (8.1 runs per game) and slipped to last place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings. MSU Billings will have a chance to even the season series with Northwest Nazarene Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.  
 
Game 1 –Northwest Nazarene 12, Montana State Billings 0 (5 INN)
 
MSU Billings struggled defensively and managed just three hits in a 12-0 loss to Northwest Nazarene in game one Saturday afternoon. The Nighthawks began by scoring three runs off MSUB starter Alyssa Etheridge in the bottom of the first inning, then added eight runs on four hits in the third to take a commanding lead. NNU finished off the 'Jackets in a run-rule shortened five innings.
 
Senior Rylee Thomas (5-5) threw 5.0 innings and silenced the Yellowjacket bats after allowing three hits, with zero walks, and two strikeouts. She polished off her fifth complete game this season. Alyssa Etheridge (6-10) took the loss after going 3.0 innings and allowing 11 runs (eight earned) on six hits, walked eight, and struck out two. Haley Couch pitched one inning of relief for MSUB and allowed one unearned run on one hit and faced five batters.
 
Trouble began brewing immediately in the contest for Etheridge, who walked four of the first five hitters she faced in the first inning. Etheridge's three wild pitches allowed two additional runs to cross and brought the score to 3-0 before NNU's first hit.
 
After seeing five hitters in the second, the 'Jackets surrendered eight runs on four hits in the third inning, helped by two fielding errors. Abigail Otto walked and Shelby Martinez doubled to make it 4-0. Rae Young reached on an error charged to Sidney Pollard at shortstop and Martinez scored on the play. Fifield followed with an infield single and scored Lauren Bassett from second.
 
Anna Williams walked and another error was charged at shortstop and the Nighthawks brought in two more for an 8-0 advantage. Brittany Genuardi capped off the inning for NNU after homering down the right field line for three runs batted in.
 
Thomas faced the minimum six hitters through the fourth and fifth innings to complete the shutout. Genuardi led Northwest Nazarene after going 2-for-2 with three runs driven in, one walk, and two runs scored. Fifield went 1-for-2 with two walks, two runs batted in, and two runs scored.
 
Skylar Jenkins, Rylan Austin, and Britannee Fisher recorded hits for MSUB. Fisher's double to right field in the second inning was MSUB's only extra base hit in the game. The Yellowjackets finished with zero runs on three hits and three errors. Northwest Nazarene posted 12 runs on seven hits with zero errors.
 
Game 2 –Northwest Nazarene 8, MSU Billings 0 (5 INN)

MSU Billings mustered only two hits in game two and committed three errors to take an 8-0 loss to NNU. Jordan Adams (12-6) pitched well for the Nighthawks and allowed zero runs on two hits, walked one, and struck out five. At the plate, Bassett went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and Kylie Orr had a pair of hits and one run batted in for Northwest Nazarene.
 
After Williams reached on an error in the first inning, Orr singled to right and Genuardi grounded out to second to score Williams from third. The Nighthawks added insurance to their 1-0 lead in the fourth. Martinez walked with one out and moved up on a Bassett single.
 
Young followed with a single to load the bases and Fifield reached on a error charged to Payton Reynolds at third base, scoring two. Williams singled and advanced to second on a throwing error in centerfield as NNU scored two to lead 5-0. Orr singled in Williams to cap off a five-run fourth for a 6-0 Nighthawks lead.
 
Northwest Nazarene led 8-0 after they scored two runs in the fifth on two base hits and a double by Otto. Hailey Gregerson and Madison Kelly recorded hits for MSUB and the 'Jackets left three runs on base compared to four for NNU. Haley Couch (1-3) took the loss after pitching 4.2 innings and allowing eight runs (two earned) on 10 hits, walked one, and struck out one.
 
 
UP NEXT: MSU Billings plays Northwest Nazarene Saturday at 12 p.m. in a doubleheader to end the season series in Nampa.

THE BUZZ: MSU Billings (11-29, 4-18 GNAC) fell into last place in the GNAC standings with Saturday's losses. Northwest Nazarene (23-20, 12-10 GNAC) remained in contention for the fourth and final playoff spot as they entered the day two games behind Concordia University…Haley Couch was named St. Vincent Healthcare player of the day.