YAKIMA, Wash. – The Montana State University Billings softball team were defeated twice Sunday by Western Washington University, falling victim to a series sweep in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
The Yellowjackets (16-26, 8-12 GNAC) concluded their final road series of the season with a pair of defeats in Yakima against the Vikings (23-20, 12-10). The defeats gave the hosts a 4-0 record against MSUB on the weekend, and sole control of fourth place in the GNAC heading into the final week of regular season play. The Vikings took the first game of the day 2-0, and followed that up with a 4-3 victory in the series finale.
 
"Our pitchers threw the ball well today," said Yellowjacket's head coach Lisa McKinney. "Offensively we struggled to get momentum in the opening game, and missed some scoring opportunities in the following game. But I'm proud of the way we battled back at the end of game two."
 
Game 1: MSUB 0, WWU 2
 
Neither team was able to get much going offensively in the game. Mareena Ramirez held MSUB to just three hits in the game, while Alyssa Etheridge only allowed four WWU hits in the game. The difference came down to miscues in the field by the 'Jackets. The Vikings got their first run of the game after an error allowed McKenna Crum to score. They would tack one more run on in the sixth when an error in the outfield after a single by Hailey Rath would allow the Vikings shortstop to round the bases, putting Western Washington ahead 2-0. Ramirez pitched a clean top of the seventh, and the home team would take the win in the opening game of the day.
 
Etheridge finished with six innings pitched, allowed two walks and struck out a single batter. Teagan Seeton, Kilee Imada, and Payton Meyer each went 1-3 in the game, while Maycen O'Neal drew a walk in her first at bat, before laying down a perfect sacrifice bunt in the top of the fifth inning to put runners on second and third.
 
Game 2: MSUB 3, WWU 4
 
Hits were much more common in the second game of the day for both teams, as the offenses woke up a bit. Both teams had their opportunities early, with Western Washington getting two runners on in the first two innings, and loading the bases in the third, while MSUB got a pair of runners on in both the second and third innings. But after neither team was able to convert any of those baserunners into runs, the Vikings struck first with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Rath struck again with an RBI double to score the game's first run, and Brooke Fesenbek followed that up with a two-run single to put the Vikings up 3-0.
 
But the Yellowjackets would rally to tie things up in the bottom of the sixth inning. Imada got the Yellowjackets in the runs column for the first time on the day when her single to left field scored Marleigh Nieto. The next batter O'Neal brought Claire Bagnell home with a single of her own. Finally, Kayli Mueller was able to reach base on a fielder's choice to keep the inning alive, and score Imada to tie things at three. But Rath had one more clutch moment in her, knocking in the deciding run with a single in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Yellowjackets were unable to respond in the top of the seventh, and Western Washington locked up a series sweep.
 
Imada went 2-3 in the game with a run and an RBI. O'Neal was 1-2 with an RBI and a walk, and Payton Meyer was also able to draw a free pass in the game. Lauren Blaschak went 2-4 with a steal. Jazlyn Kalehuawehe was 1-3, while Shelby Martin went 1-4. Julia Qualteri pitched the full game for MSUB, allowing four runs and just a single walk in the game.
 
THE BUZZ: Imada was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day, going 3-6 between the two games… The Yellowjackets sit in fifth place in the GNAC standings heading into the final weekend of play, where they remain eligible to qualify for the GNAC Championships.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets conclude their season with a series against Simon Fraser University at Avitus Group Stadium, set to begin with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 29. The games are scheduled for 1 PM and 3 PM, with live video available here, and live statistics available here.