WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Montana State University Billings softball team were defeated twice on Saturday in their third consecutive day of doubleheader action, falling to Bemidji State 6-5 and University of Mary 8-3 in the team's third day of action at The Spring Games.
 
The Yellowjackets (4-11-1) nearly managed a late rally against the Beavers (4-6), coming up just a run short in their comeback attempt in their opening game of the day before coming up short against the Marauders (5-9) for the second time on their Florida road trip.
 
Game One: Bemidji State 6, MSUB 5
 
The Yellowjackets would be the ones to open the scoring in the top of the second inning when Marin Penney would make it home off a single from Kilee Imada, and subsequent error from Bemidji State. But the Beavers would respond with a trio of runs in the third inning to take the lead back, and despite an RBI double from Kaylin Galvin, would keep control of the game with a four-run fifth inning to take a 6-2 lead. The Yellowjackets would begin to mount a rally late, with Penney's two-run blast in the sixth giving the Yellowjackets life, and an RBI double from Alexis Tovar in the seventh bringing things to a one-run game. But with a runner in scoring position, the Yellowjackets were unable to bring the tying run across the plate, falling just short despite showing tremendous fight.
 
"This was a very good game overall," said MSUB head coach Lisa McKinney. "We struggled a little in the third and fourth innings on both sides of the ball, but made a number of great defensive plays in the game, including a couple of throwdowns to catch them stealing, a double play, and a pair of diving catches. We we're unfortunate not to finish the comeback, but I thought we came on strong in the final few innings."
 
Imada finished a perfect 3-3 with a run, while Penney finished 2-3 with a pair of runs and RBIs. Tovar batted 2-4 with an RBI and a run, while Kaylin Galvin had two hits and an RBI from the leadoff spot. Overall, the 'Jackets totaled ten hits in the game, while striking out just twice. Shelby Wasilewski had one of her best appearances of the year at pitcher, pitching the opening four innings and allowing just two earned runs, allowing six hits and striking out two batters. Caitlyn James pitched the final two innings of play, allowing just one hit overall.
 
Game Two: Mary 8, MSUB 3
 
MSUB once again showed early life on offense, picking up a run in the game's opening inning once more on a Marin Penney sacrifice fly. But the Marauders would jump out to a commanding lead in response, scoring six runs over the following two innings to build up a solid advantage. Penney would strike once again with an RBI double in the third, while Marleigh Nieto tacked on an RBI hit in the fourth inning. It wouldn't become the start of another comeback however, with the 'Jackets stranding nine runners on base as the Marauders would close out the win, their second on the season over MSUB in Florida.
 
"We played tough in game two today," said McKinney. "But we just couldn't come through with runners in scoring position. We did a great on of getting our leadoff batter on base, and stayed active on the basepaths all game, but couldn't put together enough clutch hits. On defense, we committed a few too many errors and issued too many walks, but our defense continued to have some quality plays, we just had a few tough bounces that didn't go our way. We're looking forward to a day off to recover, before hitting the field again on Monday."
 
The 'Jackets totaled four stolen bases in the game, with Riley Warden swiping two bags, and Nieto and Lauren Blaschak each taking one. Warden batted 2-4 overall with a run, as did Alexis Tovar. Nieto and Penney each finished 2-3, with Penney finishing with two RBIs and Nieto one. Kilee Imada and Jazlyn Kalehuawehe each had one hit.
 
THE BUZZ: Imada was chosen as Intermountain Health Player of the Game in game one, and Penney earned the honors for game two.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjacket take the day off Sunday before returning to action with two more games Monday, March 34with games against California University of Pennsylvania at 11:30 AM ET (9:30 AM MT), and Edinboro University of Pennsylvania at 1:45 PM ET (11:45 AM MT). Access to live video for all of MSUB's contest at The Spring Games can be found online here.