BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings softball team defeated Western Oregon twice on Friday, winning both Great Northwest Athletic Conference games in dramatic fashion late.
 
The Yellowjackets 15-21, 7-7 GNAC) clinched both their victories against the Wolves (21-21, 10-6 GNAC) in walk-off fashion. In MSUB's opening game, a Lauren Blaschak single would prove the difference as the 'Jackets claimed a 4-3 win. They would follow that up with an even more exciting conclusion to game two, with back-to-back home runs from Blaschak and Teagan Seeton swinging the game back in MSUB's favor.
 
"I loved how we came together to find a way to win today," said Yellowjacket's coach Lisa McKinney. "We played fantastic team softball today, and to win like we did twice in the same day is special. I'm very pleased with how we competed as a group, and we'll look to keep it rolling into tomorrow."
 
Game One: MSUB 4, WOU 3
 
The Yellowjacket's offense got off to a hot start in game one. After the first two batters reached base for MSUB, Marin Penney would open the scoring, sending both runners home after an error in left field cleared the bases and put Penney on third. Shelby Martin's groundout the following plate appearance would be enough to send Penney home, and the Yellowjackets would exit the first inning with a 3-0 advantage.
 
But Western Oregon would climb back into the game, taking advantage of the long ball to do so. Logan Carlos would strike first, with her solo shot to centerfield in the top of the third inning putting the Wolves in the runs column, before a two-run blast from Maddie Doig in the top of the sixth would tie things up once more. Alyssa Etheridge would recover in the circle for the 'Jackets, throwing a clean seventh inning to keep things tied heading into the bottom of the frame. After putting immediate pressure on the Wolves, MSUB found themselves with the bases loaded and nobody out. That would bring up Blaschak, who would send the ball into left field, plating the winning run and giving the Yellowjacket's a victorious start to the day.
 
"We came out hot in the first inning and got some big hits," said McKinney. "Alyssa did a good job of keeping their batters off the bases, and our defense played well behind her. I loved our team approach in the final inning, where we found ways to get on base and put Lauren in a good position to make something happen."
 
Blaschak went 1-2 in the leadoff spot, reaching twice more on walks. Also walking twice was Jazlyn Kalehuawehe. Penney went 2-3 with a pair of RBIs and a run, while both Teagan Seeton and Payton Meyer finished with a run. Kilee Imada and Maycen O'Neal went 1-3. Etheridge picked up the win, striking out eight batters and allowing seven hits over the entire seven innings.
 
Game Two: MSUB 8, WOU 7
 
Offense once again came early in the second game, but it was Western Oregon who would open the scoring. A four-run top of the second inning would set the Wolves up early, and force the 'Jackets to find a way to respond and stay in things. They would do just that, thanks to the bat of Marin Penney. With two runners on, the GNAC's home run leader sent a ball deep to centerfield, clearing the Jares Fence Co. fence and closing Western Oregon's lead to 4-3.
 
The score would remain that way until the final two innings of action, where things got wild. The Wolves went up 6-3 in the top of the sixth inning with Isabelle Lewis's two-run double. MSUB followed that by tying the game in the bottom of the sixth. Teagan Seeton homered to lead off the inning, before a Shelby Martin RBI single and Marleigh Nieto run on an error would even things up. Western Oregon responded by loading the bases in the top of the seventh, before Logan Carlos knocked the go-ahead run. But after Alyssa Etheridge entered to finish the seventh inning, keeping the 'Jackets behind by just one run, the Yellowjackets found a way to walk it off once again. MSUB hot back-to-back solo home runs in the bottom of the seventh, with Lauren Blaschak tying the game before Seeton's second home run of the day would bring the dugout to home plate, celebrating a second walk off win of the day.
 
"We struggled some offensively," McKinney said. "But I like how we adjusted and continued to put good at bats together. We put it all together at the end, our defense helped us escape a tough jam in the top of the seventh, and the power in our lineup proved crucial today.
 
Seeton finished 2-3 with three runs, both of her hits being solo home runs. Penney was 2-3 with a trio of RBIs. Both she and Nieto stole a base in the bottom of the sixth, proving crucial getting their runs across to tie the game. Martin was 1-3, while Blaschak went 1-4. Etheridge picked up her 11^th win of the year and second of the day, entering for the final two outs in the seventh inning.
 
THE BUZZ: Seeton was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day… The Yellowjacket's have now won three games this season on walk-off hits, all of which have occurred at home… MSUB leads the GNAC in home runs with 27.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets and the Wolves match up in a second doubleheader on Saturday, April 15 at Avitus Group Stadium. Opening pitch for the first game is set for 12 PM, with live video available here and live statistics available here.