BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings softball team tied it's first game in the program's history Sunday, with it's second game against Carroll College being called at 9-9 after six innings due to lack of light following a loss in game one.
 
The Yellowjackets (3-6-1) were blanked by the Saints (3-6-1) by a score of 12-0 in opening game of the doubleheader, before responding with a strong offensive showing in game two, rallying back to finish the day with a competitive game. It gave MSUB a 2-1-1 record in their first four home games, before they head down to Florida to compete in ten games from February 29-March 5 as a part of The Spring Games
 
Game One: Carroll 12, MSUB 0
 
The two teams batted evenly over the first three innings, locked at 0-0 with both pitchers letting runners reach base early, but preventing anyone from crossing home plate. That would change in the fourth inning, with the Saints plating three runs to take the lead. The visitors wouldn't look back after that, adding one run in the sixth inning before exploding for eight runs in the top of the seventh to see out the win, with Carroll pitcher Kennedy Venner striking out nine Yellowjackets in the shutout.
 
"I thought Caitlyn and our defense started strong," said Yellowjackets head coach Lisa McKinney. "We kept it close for most of the game, and had our chances, but gave up some big hits and had some miscues late in the game that cost us. Our offense needed to make adjustments sooner in the game, their pitcher was throwing us strikes but we were unable to take advantage of them."
 
Lauren Blaschak, Jazlyn Kalehuawehe, Marin Penney, Kaylin Galvin, and Malia Cavan all finished 1-3 in the game, with Blaschak collecting the Yellowjacket's lone extra-base hit with a double. Riley Warden drew a walk, while Teagan Seeton reached base twice via a hit by pitch. Caitlyn James pitched a complete game for MSUB.
 
Game Two: MSUB 9, Carroll 9
 
The 'Jackets would start hot, picking up five hits in their first five batters of the game to take a 1-0 lead. But the Saints threatened to make the second game of the doubleheader a repeat of the first, plating five runs in the second inning to force the Yellowjackets to play catch up. And while both teams would score a run in each remaining inning in the game, MSUB outscore the Saints 8-4 over the final four innings of play, continually chipping away at the Saints lead until they would tie the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. With the game running north of two hours, and light quickly fading in the later stages of the game, the two teams would agree to end the game there, resulting in the first tie in MSUB program history.
 
"We had a few too many errors and walks in the game early on," said McKinney. "But I was very proud of how our team fought back and found different ways to push runs across the plate. Shelby and Lainey did a good job coming out of the pen for us, and Kendall and Kaylin did great behind the dish."
 
The Yellowjackets collected 14 hits in the game, including home runs form Lauren Blaschak and Alexis Tovar. Tovar finished 2-3 with a double, a run, a walk, and two RBIs in addition to her long ball, while Blaschak went 2-4 with two runs and an RBI. Malia Cavan led the 'Jackets in hits, batting 3-4 in the game with an RBI. Teagan Seeton went 2-5 with a pair of runs and an RBI while Kaylin Galvin went 2-4 with a steal and a run. Marin Penney finished 3-3 with a run and RBI, and Riley Warden had two runs, battling 1-4 in the game. Shelby Wasilewski went 3.2 innings in relief, allowing just two earned runs and striking out a single batter, while Elaina Troxell allowed one run and struck out a batter in a single inning of work.
 
THE BUZZ: Blaschak was chosen as the Intermountain Health Player of the Game in game one, while Tovar was selected for game two.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets are scheduled to begin The Spring Games with a pair of games on Thursday, February 29, matching up first against Minnesota State at 11 AM ET (9 AM MT), before taking on University of Mary at 1:15 PM ET (11:15 AM MT). Full links to coverage of MSUB softball can be found online here.