IRVINE, Calif. – The Montana State University softball team split a pair of games against Cal State San Marcos and Academy of Art in its season-opener at the Concordia Kickoff Classic on Friday afternoon.
 
The Yellowjackets (1-1, 0-0 GNAC) bounced back from a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Cal State San Marcos earlier that morning with an offensive explosion against Academy of Art. The 'Jackets run-ruled the Urban Knights 10-2 – thanks to 13 hits and one big swing from freshman third baseman Jazlyn Kalehuawehe, who hit a grand slam in her first collegiate at-bat in the first inning against Academy of Art.
 
"It was a dream come true," Kalehuawehe said of her grand slam. "I dreamed of this moment since I was a little girl, so getting here and getting that opportunity amazes me. Being in that moment with everyone made me feel like 'I'm here, I made it.'"
 
In the Academy of Art game, Kalehuawehe finished 1-for-2 with the grand slam, four RBIs and drew a walk. Fellow freshman Lauren Blaschak went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, one RBI and a stolen base. Freshman right-fielder Alexis Tovar was the only freshman to start both games; her best game of the afternoon was also against Academy of Art, where she finished with one hit, two runs, one RBI and one walk drawn.
 
"They just go out and play the game," MSUB head coach Lisa McKinney said of the freshmen. "They're looking for something good to hit, and they do a good job of reacting and hitting the ball hard."
 
Junior catcher Maycen O'Neal also finished 3-for-3 with two RBIs, plus the defensive highlight of the day after picking off an Academy of Art runner who tried stealing second in the first inning. Sophomore outfielder Brie Frazier and senior second baseman Morgan Quimby rounded out the Yellowjackets' multi-hit performances in the Academy of Art game with two hits apiece.

QUICK HITS

• Jazlyn Kalehuawehe was named the St. Vincent Player of the Day for her grand-slam against Academy of Art, driving in 4 RBIs, scoring one run and drawing a walk.
• MSUB's run-rule victory against Academy of Art was its first run-rule win since beating Cal Poly Humboldt on March 27, 2021.
• MSUB scored in every inning against the Urban Knights.
• Julia Qualteri was credited with the win against Academy of Art, whereas Jenna Kister was credited with the loss against Cal State San Marcos.

GAME 1: Cal State San Marcos 5, MSUB 0
 
A troublesome second inning ended up being the difference-maker for the 'Jackets in the season opening loss against Cal State San Marcos. Sophomore Jenna Kister was the opening-day starter for the 'Jackets, who were the away team in the neutral-site contest.
 
The 'Jackets got their first baserunner in the second inning, as Brittanee Fisher drew a walk and stole second base, but they couldn't bring her home. But the Cougars scored four, two-out runs in the second inning, putting MSUB in a early 4-0 hole.
 
In the fourth, Alyssa Etheridge relieved Kister after three innings of work. The junior right-hander did a good job of keeping the Cougars at bay in her four-strikeout, three-inning effort. Etheridge weathered some early trouble, but she recorded her first strikeout of the season and made the Cougars strand two runners in a scoreless fourth inning.
 
With two outs to go in the top of the fifth, Skyler Jenkins notched the Yellowjackets' first hit of the season in the sixth inning, but the 'Jackets ran out of chances to move her into scoring position. Etheridge faced only four batters in the next half-inning, striking out one.
 
In the top of the sixth, Frazier walked, then stole second, but she couldn't get any further. Later that inning, the Cougars scored their final run off a wild pitch. All told, both Brie Frazier and Brittanee Fisher drew two walks and stole one base to lead the 'Jackets on offense. Jenkins finished 1-for-2 with MSUB's lone hit of the game.
 
Cal State San Marcos pitcher Jayline Sloss pitched a complete-game shutout, striking out six batters, walking five and giving up only one hit.
 
GAME 2: MSUB 10, Academy of Art 2 (5 innings)
 
Playing on a quick turnaround, MSUB relied on Dawson Community College transfer Shelby Martin to start the afternoon's game against the Academy of Art, which was making its season-debut against the 'Jackets.
 
The Urban Knights got aboard on a bunt, but Martin and junior catcher Maycen O'Neal – Martin's junior college teammate – helped make the first inning a quick one. With two outs, O'Neal corralled in a low pitch, then threw to shortstop Sidney Pollard, who laid down the tag in time to catch the Academy of Art baserunner as she tried stealing second.
 
"That throw down to second really set the tone," McKinney said. "It made sure the Academy of Art runners weren't going to go the rest of the game, which was awesome to see from Maycen. And she did a great job hitting as well, putting the ball in play and finding a way on base each and every time
 
Momentum was in the Yellowjackets' hands in the bottom of the first inning. Brie Frazier and Morgan Quimby singled, then a double-steal and Alexis Tovar working a six-pitch walk loaded the bases. This set up freshman third baseman Jazlyn Kalehuawehe, who hit a grand slam to left field on the fourth pitch of the at-bat.
 
"Honestly, I was just looking for anything inside, because that's my power zone," Kalehuawehe said. "The first pitch came in inside and I wanted to get the pitcher's timing on it. The second pitch was a changeup and that third pitch was right there and I exploded on it. It felt amazing to be in that moment."
 
The 'Jackets kept the line moving. Freshman shortstop Lauren Blaschak and Maycen O'Neal recorded their first hits of their MSUB careers, then Blaschak advanced to third. Sidney Pollard's two-out walk loaded the bases for the second time in the inning. In her second at-bat of the inning, Frazier singled up the middle and brought Blaschak home, but O'Neal was thrown out at home plate to end the inning.
 
"The girls did a great job of coming out on fire, scoring the five runs in the first inning – highlighted by Jazzy's grand slam," McKinney said. "What a way to come in as a freshman. Lauren Blaschak came in after her, kept it simple and kept the inning going with that base hit. It was really nice to see that from the get-go."
 
Working with a five-run cushion, Martin faced four batters in the top of the second, striking out two and walking one. The 'Jackets put two more runs on the board in the second inning with more quality at-bats. Quimby got aboard to start the inning, Tovar reached on a fielder's choice, then Kalehuawehe drew a four-pitch walk that put runners at first and second with one out. Blaschak's second single of the day brought Tovar in to score and pinch-runner Claire Bagnell to third, then Blaschak stole second for her first collegiate stolen base. Bagnell scored on O'Neal's RBI single, giving MSUB a 7-0 lead after two innings.
 
Academy of Art took two runs back in the top of the third inning, prompting a pitching change that sent Julia Qualteri in the circle for her season-debut. With the bases loaded and only one out, Qualteri got the 'Jackets out of a jam, struck out the first batter she faced on three pitches, then got out of the inning with a groundout to third base.
 
Leading 7-2, MSUB put another run on the board with Tovar's two-out RBI double, then the Urban Knights stranded a runner in a brief half-inning. Blaschak led off the bottom of the fourth by showing her speed on a triple to center field; four pitches later, O'Neal's RBI double made it a 9-2 ballgame. Pinch-running for O'Neal, Payton Meyer advanced to third on a pop fly, then Sydney Norwood's single brought Meyer home for MSUB's tenth and final run of the afternoon.
 
Needing to keep its lead for the run-rule to go into effect, the Yellowjacket defense quickly got two outs on a groundout to shortstop, then with Qualteri's second strikeout of the day. Academy of Art threatened to score one final time by putting runners on first and second, but Qualteri won a seven-pitch at-bat, earned her third strikeout of the afternoon and finished the game.
 
For her efforts, Qualteri was credited with the win for pitching 2.2 of the five-inning contest, while Academy of Art's Haley Arnold-Jolley took the loss. Qualteri finished with three strikeouts in 2.2 innings of work while walking zero batters and only giving up two hits.

UP NEXT: The 'Jackets play two more at the Concordia Kickoff Classic tomorrow morning: first against Cal State Monterey Bay at 11:30 a.m. PT, then against Cal State Dominguez Hills at 4:45 p.m. PT. Live stat links can be found on the MSUB softball schedule page at msubsports.com.