NAMPA, Idaho. – The Montana State University Billings softball team split it's two games on Saturday, taking down Central Washington 13-5 in the day's opening game before dropping the second game 9-1 against Northwest Nazarene University.
 
The Yellowjackets (3-9), playing both teams for the second time in as many days, opened the day with a mercy-rule five inning victory over the Wildcats (3-8), with every batter in the lineup collecting a hit in the game. They would then struggle to carry that momentum into game two, falling to the Nighthawks (10-7), likewise in five innings.
 
Game One: MSUB 13, CWU 5 (5 innings)
 
The Yellowjackets would waste no time before getting on the scoreboard, dropping five runs in the bottom of the first inning. A Bryn Lucht two-RBI double would open MSUB's account, plating Marleigh Nieto and Lauren Blaschak after the pair reached base on back-to-back singles. From there a pair of 'Jackets would draw walks to load the bases, before another set of back-to-back singles from freshman duo Grace Hood and Kennedy Dypwick would clear the bases, giving MSUB an early advantage. The Wildcats would respond back with four runs in the top of the second to cut the lead to one, but MSUB would restore it's cushion again in the bottom of the frame, with a double from Ashley Akers scoring both Blaschak and Kaylin Galvin to make it a 7-4 contest.
 
From there, the Yellowjackets would continue to build upon their lead, scoring two runs in each of the remaining three innings. An RBI triple from Nieto would open the scoring in the third inning for MSUB, with the centerfielder making it home on an error the following at bat. In the fourth, it would once again be the freshman pair of Hood and Dypwick scoring runs, with Hood collecting an RBI triple before Dypwick would knock her home with an RBI single. The Wildcats would tack on one more run as they looked to stay in the game, but following a sac fly from Hood in the bottom of the fifth, Dypwick would walk the game off with her third RBI single of the day, giving the Yellowjackets two wins against Central Washington in as many days.
 
Dypwick would finish the game 3-4 with four RBIs, setting career highs in both hits and RBIs in the game. Hood would also set a career best in RBIs with three, batting 2-3 with a triple and adding a run. Lucht and Nieto would each finish the game 2-4 at the plate, with Lucht collecting a run and two RBIs, while Nieto would get two runs and one RBI. Akers would bat 1-2 with a walk, a run, and a pair of RBIs, while Lauren Blaschak would go 1-3 with two runs, a walk, and an RBI, and Emily Watters would hit 1-2 with a run. Wynter Hurst would go 1-2 with two walks and a run, while taking over for Caitlyn James at pitcher midgame to throw the final 3.2 innings of action, allowing just four hits and one run over 3.2 innings of work. The win would mark the first of her collegiate career.
 
Game Two: NNU 9, MSUB 1 (5 innings)
 
Game two would see the 'Jackets fall behind in the first inning, with a leadoff home run setting the tone for the Nighthawks. NNU would plate three runs in the opening frame, and would continue to add to their lead as the game wore on, scoring one more run in the third inning before sending five more runners across the plate in the bottom of the fourth. MSUB would manage just three hits in the game, with four errors making things even more difficult. While a Marleigh Nieto sac fly would help the 'Jackets claw a run back, it wouldn't be enough to extend the game, with the mercy rule coming into effect to end the game at the conclusion of the fifth inning.
 
Nieto would bat 1-2 in the game with an RBI, extending her hitting streak to eight games. Mia Andersen would score MSUB's lone run. She would enter as a pinch hitter, reaching on a hit by pitch. Wynter Hurst would also go 1-2 in the game, while Riley Warden would reach twice, batting 1-1 and drawing a walk. Emily Watters would go 2.1 innings allowing four runs, before Elaina Troxell would see out the remaining 1.2 innings of work, allowing just two hits and one earned run in that span.
 
THE BUZZ: Dypwick was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game for game one, while Nieto was selected for game two.
 
UP NEXT: MSUB travels to Ashland, Oregon for it's next games, taking on Southern Oregon University in a doubleheader scheduled for Monday, March 3. Games are scheduled to start at 12 PM MT (11 AM PT) and 2 PM MT (1 PM PT), with live video available here and live statistics available here.