DENVER, Colo. – The Montana State University Billings softball team opened it's 2025 season on Saturday with a doubleheader against Metropolitan State University of Denver, falling in both legs of the days action 13-2 and 15-7.
 
The Yellowjackets (0-2) had their share of promising moments in both games as they opened the season, but would be unable to collect a victory in either game against the Roadrunners (2-0), opening the season with a pair of five-inning defeats.
 
Game One: MSU-Denver 13, MSUB 2 (5 Innings)
 
The Yellowjackets got off to a promising start, putting two of their first three batters on base with singles before Jazlyn Kalehuawehe would plate Marleigh Nieto to give MSUB an early 1-0 lead. But it wouldn't take long for the Roadrunners to respond, taking control of the action with a five-run first inning, and scoring multiple runs in each of the remaining innings to jump out to a commanding lead. MSUB would find some stability in the circle with Emily Watters, who pitched 2.1 innings and allowed just one earned run, but errors would provide MSU-Denver with extra opportunities at the dish. Bryn Lucht would get one back for MSUB in the top of the fifth inning with the first home run of her career, but the Yellowjackets would be unable to score any more runs, dropping their season opener.
 
Lucht finished 2-2 in the game, her first career multi-hit game. The sophomore finished with a single and a home run, totaling one run and one RBI from her solo shot. Nieto and Lauren Blaschak would finish with both of MSUB's other two hits, each going 1-2 with Nieto collecting one run. Kalehuawehe finished with an RBI from her first inning groundout. Watters would finish with 2.1 innings in relief after taking over for starter Caitlyn James, striking out three batters in the game.
 
Game Two: MSU-Denver 15, MSUB 7 (5 Innings)
 
Looking to turn around their fortunes in game two of the day, MSUB would start strong after a scoreless first inning from freshman Avery Gray, before turning around in the top of the second inning to plate four runs. After Kaylin Galvin and Alexis Tovar would reach, with both Galvin and pinch runner Emily Brevig stealing a bag to put runners on second and third, back-to-back singles from Wynter Hurst and Kennedy Dypwick would plate runs to total their first RBIs as Yellowjackets. Jazlyn Kalehuawehe would drive in another run on a single before Dypwick would make her way home on a passed ball, giving the Yellowjackets an early 4-0 lead.
 
And despite the Roadrunners scoring two in the bottom the frame, MSUB would look to remain in control with another RBI single from Hurst in the third inning. But things would fall apart for the 'Jackets when MSU-Denver would respond with a nine-run bottom of the third inning, taking another big lead. MSUB would look to battle back at the plate as the game wore on, with both Dypwick and Marleigh Nieto picking up RBI doubles in the top of the fifth inning, but Roadrunner's lead would prove too much to overcome, and a walk-off three run blast from Denver in the bottom of the fifth would spell an early end to the game, handing MSUB their second loss of the day.
 
Both Hurst and Dypwick finished the game 2-3 at the plate with two RBIs, with Hurst scoring one run and Dypwick two. Nieto would also collect two hits, going 2-4 with an RBI, while Kaylin Galvin would score three runs and steal two bases, reaching base on an error and two walks. Kalehuawehe went 1-2 with an RBI and a walk, while Tovar finished 1-3. Brevig finished with a steal and a run in her pinch-hit appearance, while Bryn Lucht reached once on a walk. Avery Gray went the longest of any MSUB pitcher, going two innings.
 
THE BUZZ: Lucht was named the Intermountain Health Player of the Game for game one, while Dypwick earned the honors for game two.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets return to action against MSU-Denver tomorrow, February 2, with another doubleheader against the Roadrunners scheduled. First pitch of the opening game is scheduled for 11 AM, with the series finale set to start after. Live video for the games will be available here, while live statistics will be available here.