BURNABY, B.C. – The Montana State University Billings softball team opened it's final road series of the year with a pair of games against Simon Fraser University, being defeated twice in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
The Yellowjackets (8-33, 1-17 GNAC) flashed their power at the plate in both games, with the team combining to hit four home runs across the two games, including Teagan Seeton's home run in game one to tie the MSUB record for home runs in a season. But the 'Jackets would be unable to keep pace with the Red Leafs (8-28, 3-15 GNAC) as they were defeated in both games of a doubleheader, falling 11-5 in game one, and 18-9 in game two of the day.
 
Game One: SFU 11, MSUB 5
 
The Yellowjackets started strong in the top of the first inning, with Teagan Seeton opening the scoring with an RBI double before scoring a run on a groundout to give MSUB a 2-0 lead after the first inning. But the Red Leafs would respond with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to even things up. MSUB wouldn't have to wait long to break the tie, scoring a pair of runs in the third on a wild pitch, followed by an RBI double from Kilee Imada, before Seeton would strike again in the fifth inning with a solo home run to give MSUB a 5-2 advantage, and tie the MSUB single-season record with 15 home runs on the season. But the Red Leafs would not give up, battling back to tie things up once more with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, before a six run sixth inning would hand Simon Fraser a solid lead that they would hold onto throughout the final frame, opening the four-game series with a win.
 
Seeton finished 2-4 with a pair of RBIs and runs, to go with a steal. Payton Meyer and Imada each batted 1-3, with Meyer collecting an RBI and a run, while Imada had one RBI. Lauren Blaschak hit 2-3 with a pair of runs, one walk, and one steal.
 
Game Two: SFU 18, MSUB 9 (5 Inn.)
 
The Red Leafs were the team who got off to a quick start in game two, scoring three runs in the first inning before following that up with a five run second, taking an early 8-0 lead. MSUB would battle back with an impressive third inning, highlighted by a three-run homer from Marin Penney and RBI singles from Lauren Blaschak and Malia Cavan to close the lead to within one run, and after a two-run homer in the bottom of the third, would pull back to within one after back-to-back home runs from Jazlyn Kalehuawehe and Kaylin Galvin. But the wheels would fall off in the bottom of the fourth, with four more Simon Fraser runs crossing the plate before tacking on four more runs the following inning, walking off the game with a two-run homer to compete the run-rule victory.
 
Blaschak finished 3-3 with three steals in the game, totaling one run, walk, and RBI each. Kalehuawehe went 2-3 with a run and an RBI, while Teagan Seeton was 2-4 with a run. Penney batted 1-3 with a run and three RBIs, and Cavan went 1-3 with two RBIs. Galvin batted a perfect 2-2 with two runs, a walk, and an RBI in the game, and Payton Meyer went 1-3 with a run and RBI.
 
THE BUZZ: Seeton and Blaschak were selected as the Intermountain Health Players of the Game for game one and two respectively… Seeton joined Theresa Campbell in 2005 and Meg Harasymczuk in 2012 as the only players to reach the mark… Blaschak's three steals were tied for the most in a single game, and the second time a Yellowjacket has reached that mark this season... Penney, who ranks fourth all-time in home runs for MSUB with 34 career blasts, is now one away from tying Kelly Parsons for third in program history.
 
UP NEXT: MSUB finishes it's road games for the season with two more games against the Red Leafs tomorrow, April 20, with first pitch of the opening game set for 11 AM PT (12 PM MT). Live video of both games can be found online here, and live statistics can be found online here.