BILLINGS, Mont. – Set to make its 2021 home debut this week, the Montana State University Billings softball team will host Carroll College in a pair of midweek doubleheaders.
 
The Yellowjackets and Saints will square off at 1 p.m. on Tuesday and 1 p.m. on Wednesday, playing four total games at Avitus Group Stadium. Live video will be available online here and live statistics will be available online here for both days of the series. Per Great Northwest Athletic Conference mandate, no fans are allowed at MSUB home softball games this spring. "We just put in the work in practice, and our team chemistry and energy is so high right now," said senior catcher Taylor Anderson. "Last week wasn't the outcome that we wanted, but I think we are ready and we have put in the work this week. We are definitely ready to come out and have our first home games."
 
MSUB (0-2) opened its season in Denver on Feb. 20, dropping both ends of a doubleheader against Regis University. An ensuing doubleheader against Metro State University was canceled, as Tuesday will mark MSUB's first action in 11 days. "We have been making sure to make adjustments, so that when we have momentum we keep it going," senior infielder Leslie Jones said. "It has definitely been different, and we are all making sure that we are being extra cautious and safe. But we have adjusted well, and now that it has been over a year we are comfortable with all the changes."
 
This weekend marks the first of six home series for the Yellowjackets this spring, five of which will come over the final six weeks of the 2021 season. While the Yellowjackets will face their first GNAC opponent next week in Saint Martin's University, the first counting conference games will not be until a four-game home series against Central Washington on March 20-21. "The team is really excited, and we have the most home games we have ever had in Billings," Yellowjacket head coach Lisa McKinney said. "Last week we had a lot of jitters coming back, thinking about what these girls have gone through over the last year all culminating into one day. There was a lot of emotion, and we have been working on some more pressure situations this week offensively and defensively. I just want us to play good, competitive softball this week."
 
FRAZIER KICKS OFF CAREER WITH DOUBLE: True freshman Brie Frazier got her collegiate career off to a memorable start, doubling in her first-career at-bat. Frazier also drew a walk and had a sacrifice bunt, showing productivity in her first two games.
 
JONES NOTCHES FIRST MSUB HOMER: Jones didn't wait long to hit her first home run as a Yellowjacket, connecting in the top of the first inning for a solo blast that got MSUB on the board first in Game 2. Jones finished the game 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored. "I had a full count, and I knew that she was going to be throwing me a strike," Jones said on her home run. "It was great. It's definitely different in a pandemic when my teammates aren't there, but I could see them cheering from the dugout."
 
ANDERSON COMES THROUGH: Anderson did a little bit of everything in MSUB's second game of the season, leading the team with three runs batted in. Two of them came in the first inning on a clutch single, and she was also hit by a pitch to reach base in all three of her plate appearances. Anderson scored a run, stole a base, and also caught a runner stealing from behind the plate in the well-rounded performance. "Going into it, it had been a long time coming just to have that experience again," Anderson commented on playing her first game of the season. "I've got to give props to my team. I don't remember the hits as much as I remember hearing my dugout behind me. It was such an exciting experience."
 
NORWOOD COLLECTS FIRST TRIPLE: Senior Sydney Norwood hit the first triple of her MSUB career, driving in MSUB's only two runs in the opening game of the doubleheader.
 
Carroll College Saints
Monday, March 2 – 1 PM Doubleheader
Tuesday, March 3 – 1 PM Doubleheader
 
The Saints are off to a 1-3 start after their first four games of the 2021 season, all played last weekend in Caldwell, Idaho. Carroll split a pair of games against College of Idaho, while losing twice against Eastern Oregon University. The Saints' busy week continues with four games at Corban University in Salem, Oregon on Friday and Saturday after the midweek tie with the 'Jackets.