NAMPA, Idaho – Montana State University Billings softball was soundly swept in the second doubleheader of the weekend against Northwest Nazarene University at Halle Softball Field Saturday in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. The Nighthawks took the first game 10-1 in five innings, then bested MSUB 9-1 in game two, also in just five innings. The Yellowjackets managed two runs in the four game series after being shutout in both contests Friday afternoon.
 
Hailey Gregerson hit her first home run of the season in game one and Allie Hughes connected for her fifth home run in game two, but the 'Jackets largely struggled to generate offense. Saturday, MSUB mustered just one hit in game one and two hits in game two against NNU pitching.
 
"It was a tough weekend of softball for us," commented head coach Jessica Rayman. "We have to bounce back and get to work this week so we can finish the year strong."
 
The Yellowjackets (11-31, 4-20 GNAC) have been eliminated from reaching the GNAC post-season tournament and have four games remaining in the regular season. MSUB fell to last place in the standings behind Simon Fraser after being swept in Nampa. Northwest Nazarene (25-20, 14-10 GNAC) stayed in contention for a post-season berth and moved into a tie for fourth place with Western Oregon University. Central Washington continues to lead the league with an 18-4 conference mark.
 
Game 1 –Northwest Nazarene 10, Montana State Billings 1 (5 INN)
 
Rylee Thomas pitched a one-hitter, Cassidy Fifield hit a home run, and Anna Olsen hit a three-run double as the Yellowjackets fell to Northwest Nazarene 10-1 in game one Saturday morning.
 
Thomas (7-8) walked one and struck out four over five innings for the Nighthawks to pick up her seventh win. Olsen and Shelbie Martinez each recorded three runs batted in. Three other NNU players also posted multi-hit games.
 
The Nighthawks scored six runs on three hits in the first inning. MSUB starting pitcher Alyssa Etheridge allowed four walks and nine hitters to come to the plate in the opening frame. Olsen doubled to score a pair of runs.
 
In the second inning, Martinez doubled to left center field to score two runs, bringing to score to 8-0. The Yellowjackets earned a run in the fourth when Hailey Gregerson hit a solo home run to left field, but it was too little, too late and Thomas needed to see just four hitters to close out the 'Jackets in the fifth. With two outs, Cailee Morgan lined out to first baseman Kylie Orr, as she dived to her right to make the catch and end the game.
 
Alyssa Etheridge (6-11) took the loss after allowing nine earned runs on nine hits, struck out three, and walked five. MSUB left three runners on base compared to five for NNU. Northwest Nazarene finished with 10 runs on nine hits and zero errors. The Yellowjackets managed one run on one hit with one error.
 
Game 2 –Northwest Nazarene 8, MSU Billings 1 (5 INN)

Northwest Nazarene scored early and often against MSUB starting pitcher Haley Couch, culminating in an 8-1, run-rule shortened route Saturday afternoon. Olsen led NNU with three hits in three trips to the plate with two runs batted in. Martinez drove in three runs on two hits with one double.
 
Jordan Adams (13-6) quelled the MSUB offense and pitched 5.0 innings. Adams allowed one earned run on two hits, walked three, and struck out seven. Couch (1-4) took the loss after going 3.0 innings and allowed six earned runs on nine hits, walked two, and struck out zero.
 
Rylan Austin gave MSUB its first lead of the series with a one-out, solo home run in the first inning. In the bottom half, Williams singled and moved to third on an Orr double to right center. Abigail Otto followed with a single and Martinez singled to score two as NNU stretched its lead to 3-1. Anna Olsen singled down the right field line and Otto scored easily from third, making it 4-1.
 
Couch kept NNU from scoring in the second and third inning, but the Nighthawk offense came alive again in the fourth. Cassidy Fifield and Williams hit back-to-back solo home runs to lead off the inning for a 6-1 NNU lead. Alyssa Etheridge came in to pitch for MSUB but allowed three additional runs to score before Williams flied out to end the surge.
 
The Yellowjackets left two base runners aboard in the fifth and Rylan Austin flied out to left field to end the game. Etheridge and Couch combined to walk five and allow four extra base hits. The 'Jackets left five runners on base and NNU stranded eight.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets finish the regular season with a four-game home series April 26-27 against Simon Fraser University. Both days will feature doubleheaders beginning at 12 p.m. MSUB's Shayla Felix, Madison Kelly, and Kelsee Bushell will be honored for senior day as part of the series.

THE BUZZ: Hailey Gregerson was named St. Vincent player of the game after recording her first home run of the season in game one along with two hits and a run scored on the day…The Yellowjackets fell to 55-20 all-time against Northwest Nazarene. MSUB is also 25-13 at Halle Softball Field in Nampa.