BILLINGS, Mont. – Sweeping Sunday's doubleheader at Avitus Group Stadium, visiting Humboldt State University defeated the Montana State University Billings softball team twice in the series finale.
 
The Lumberjacks (3-1) held on for a 6-5 win in the opener before riding a stellar pitching outing from Karen Di Dio to a 9-2 triumph in Game 2. The Yellowjackets slipped to 5-15 on the season with Sunday's losses. "We came out strong in Game 1, scoring early," said MSUB head coach Lisa McKinney. "The pitchers did a good job of getting results, but we made too many errors again. In Game 2, it took us a while to get started. Our offense started making better contact in the fourth inning on, but it was just too late."
 
Allie Hughes hit her team-leading sixth home run of the season, while Brittanee Fisher added her fifth and Hailee Gregerson hit her fourth to lead MSUB offensively. Izzy Starr homered in each game for HSU, while Micaela Harris and Vanessa Saltos each added their first home run of the season for the visitors. "We did have a lot of positives from the weekend with several double plays, some clutch home runs and doubles, and some great catches in the outfield," McKinney said.
 
Game 1 – Humboldt State 6, MSU Billings 5
 
Starr's first home run of the day was a two-run shot in the top of the sixth inning, that proved to be the game-winning swing of the bat. The Yellowjackets only managed one baserunner over the final two innings, as HSU starter Emily McAdams finished the game strong to earn the victory.
 
McAdams gave up five runs on five hits, with three strikeouts and a pair of walks in the complete-game effort. Katelyn Dendas went 3-for-4 and Danica Grier was 2-for-4 to lead the 'Jacks offensively.
 
HSU struck first when JoAna Mullins laced an RBI-single into center field to make it a 1-0 ballgame in the top of the first inning. MSUB responded immediately however, as Gregerson delivered a two-run single before Fisher crushed a long, two-run home run down the left-field line to make it 4-1 in the bottom of the inning.
 
Grier drove in her first run with a base hit in the second, but that was all the scoring for either team over the next three innings of play.
 
MSUB starter Jenna Kister displayed her toughness in navigating out of bases-loaded situations in both the second and third innings. She also relied on her fellow freshman centerfielder Brie Frazier, who provided a key boost with standout defensive play throughout the game. With one out in the top of the fourth, Grier drilled a deep line drive that was headed towards the fence and appeared to be a double off the bat. Frazier took off on a dead sprint and made a leaping, over-the-shoulder catch at the last second to rob HSU's leading hitter.


 
Frazier tracked down a deep fly ball off the bat of Grier at the fence to end the top of the fifth inning, as she helped Kister limit the damage in the frame to a pair of runs. "Brie had a stellar day in center for us," McKinney said. "She tracked down a lot of balls that helped end some innings and take some momentum away. She also puts pressure on the defense by being able to beat out infield singles and drag bunt from the right side."
 
The 'Jacks took advantage of an error before Frazier's catch in the fifth, scoring twice to pull the score even at 4-4. Gregerson came through again in the bottom of the fifth inning, hitting a solo home run to put the 'Jackets temporarily ahead once again. Starr had the final say however, as HSU completed the comeback victory.
 
Kister surrendered three runs on nine hits with no strikeouts and one walk in her 4 1/3 innings pitched. Julia Qualteri finished the game for the 'Jackets, giving up three runs on two hits with one strikeout and one walk over 2 2/3 innings of work.
 
Game 2 – Humboldt State 9, MSU Billings 2
 
Di Dio shut down the Yellowjackets for five innings, and picked up her second victory of the series. Hughes broke up the shutout with a two-run home run in the sixth inning, and simultaneously rescued the Yellowjackets from what would have been a run-rule defeat as she made the score 9-2.
 
Overall in the game Di Dio gave up two runs on two hits with two strikeouts and two walks, while throwing 108 pitches in the complete-game effort.
 
The 'Jacks once again struck in the first, this time on a base hit by McAdams that scored Harris. HSU's big inning came in the third, when the team scored five times to pull ahead 6-0. Harris led off the inning with a home run, and Saltos delivered a three-run blast to right-center to help blow the game open.
 
The Yellowjackets had a chance to get on the board in the fourth inning, as they loaded the bases with two outs. Di Dio stranded all three runners with a pop up however, as she wiggled out of MSUB's best scoring chance of the game up to that point.
 
Starr hit a solo home run in the fifth, and McAdams had a two-out, two-run double into the left-field corner in the sixth that made the score 9-0.
 
Haley Couch started the game and allowed six runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and no walks in 2 2/3 innings of work. Alyssa Etheridge threw the final 4 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on four hits with one strikeout and no walks.
 
THE BUZZ: Frazier was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…Fisher's home run was the 25th of her career, as she moved into a tie for sixth in program history with Stephanie Gosselin…Hughes's home run was the 16th of her career…MSUB is now 5-22 all-time against HSU and is 1-3 in home games against the 'Jacks.
 
NEXT WEEK: The Yellowjackets hit the road and return to Great Northwest Athletic Conference play with a four-game series at Western Washington University. Doubleheaders against the Vikings are set for April 2 and April 3 at noon, with live coverage available online here.