MONMOUTH, Ore. – Playing under relentless rain and hampered by two delays, the Montana State University Billings softball team fell 10-2 and 9-0 in a doubleheader against Western Oregon on Saturday.
 
"For tomorrow, we need to learn from our games today and put what we learned into effect," MSUB head softball coach Lisa McKinney said. "While we didn't get the results we wanted, I think we can build off our defense and our solid hits from today."
 
The Yellowjackets (6-12) got their offense in the first game from junior third baseman Marin Penney, who in her return to her home state, hit a two-run home run to left field in the fourth inning. This was her first home run of the season and the 11^th of her career.
 
Yet the Wolves (12-5) out-did the 'Jackets, hitting five home runs across both games to run-rule the 'Jackets.
 
Due to the inclement weather, tomorrow's doubleheader against the Wolves will start at 10 a.m. then noon, local time. Livestream and live stat links can be found on the softball team's schedule page at msubsports.com.
 
"We can learn a lot from today with the weather conditions in order to better prepare us for conference," McKinney said.
 
QUICK HITS

• Marin Penney was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day for her two-run home run, 2 RBIs one walk and her strong defense at third base.
• Senior second baseman Mo Quimby was the only 'Jacket to record hits in both games; she finished 2-for-3 on the day.
• Senior first baseman Brittanee Fisher drew a team-high two walks across both games.
• In game one, freshman outfielder Lauren Blaschak went 1-for 2.
• In game two, sophomore Shelby Marquardt finished 1-for-2 at the plate.

 
Game 1: Western Oregon 10, MSUB 2 (5 innings)
 
Julia Qualteri recorded her first strikeout and worked around a bases-loaded jam in the top of the first, yet the Wolves loaded the bases again in the second inning and struck first. Megan Doig's sacrifice fly was deep enough to send one runner home, then another scored on a fielding error to put Western Oregon up 2-0.
 
Natalie Willoughby's solo home run in the third inning made it a 3-0 game, then the first of two rain delays of the inning put the game on hold.
 
Once play resumed, the Wolves chased Qualteri and reliever Shelby Martin from the game, as the Wolves plated seven runs in a one-hour, 28-minute inning – inflated by yet another rain delay shortly after the first one. Jenna Kister came on in relief after the second rain delay and struck out the first Western Oregon batter on three pitches, but WOU would score just one more run before the damage was done in the third.
 
In the fourth, Allie Hughes got hit by a pitch, then stole second, bringing up Marin Penney to the plate. After working another long at-bat, the Portland native got MSUB on the board with a two-run home run to left field – her first of the season.
 
"Marin had a great day overall with some big defensive plays and a great day at the plate," McKinney said. "She stayed within herself and found a good pitch to hit. She was very disciplined today."
 
Lauren Blaschak would keep the line moving with a single, but that would do it for the 'Jackets in the inning.
 
Western Oregon got one of those runs back after Logan Carlos' one-out double scored Kirah McGlothan in the bottom of the fourth. In the fifth, pinch-hitter Kilee Imada worked a seven-pitch walk after falling behind 0-2, but WOU got the lead runner out when Jazlyn Kalehuawehe put the ball in play at the next at-bat. MSUB couldn't bring Kalehuawehe home and extend the game in the 10-2 loss.
 
Western Oregon ace Chelsea Smith (7-0) was credited with the win after striking out nine batters, walking four and giving up just two earned runs on three hits in all five innings. Qualteri (4-4) was credited with the loss; she went 2.1 innings with one strikeout, six earned runs and six walks allowed.
 
Game 2: Western Oregon 9, MSUB 0 (5 innings)
 
Morgan Quimby gave the Yellowjackets their first baserunner of the game with her one-out single, but MSUB would strand one runner in the first inning. The 'Jackets avoided disaster in the first inning, as WOU loaded the bases, but Penney and Fisher caught a WOU baserunner in the rundown between third and home to limit the damage to just one run in the first.
 
In the second, WOU broke the game open with back-to-back two-out home runs before Willoughby hit her second home run of the series to make the score 7-0, Wolves. Etheridge would come in to relieve Kister, and the righty helped retire the final batter of the inning.
 
Etheridge pitched around some early trouble in the third inning, as the Wolves loaded the bases to start things off. Penney sprinted home and laid out to try catching a bunt that popped up along the third-base line, nearly making the grab. From there, Etheridge struck out two more batters, limiting WOU to only one run scored in the third.
 
MSUB got some offense going in the top of the fourth, as Morgan Quimby and Fisher drew walks, then Penney advanced on a fielder's choice to corner Mayer with two outs. Yet the 'Jackets couldn't quite bring Quimby home. WOU tacked on another run in the next half-inning with a solo home run from Willoughby before Etheridge retired the next three batters to end the inning.
 
Down to their final three outs, MSUB put runners aboard with Alexis Tovar's one-out walk, then Shelby Marquardt singled up the middle to put runners on first and second. But the Wolves turned a game-inning double play.
 
WOU lefty Maddie Mayer (4-1) was credited with the win after striking out four batters and giving up two hits in all five innings. Jenna Kister (0-3) was credited with the loss after giving up seven earned runs on six hits in 1.2 innings pitched.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets' doubleheader tomorrow has been moved up to 10 a.m. and noon, local time. Livestream and live stat links can be found on the softball team's schedule page on msubsports.com.