BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings softball team earned victories in both games as a part of the team's opening game doubleheader on Wednesday, taking down Black Hills State in both games to enter conference play on a high note.
 
The Yellowjackets (5-13) of MSUB would emerge victorious in both contests against the Yellow Jackets (15-9, 13-3 RMAC) of Black Hills State in two very different games. A low-scoring opening game would tilt the 'Jackets way behind a stellar game from pitcher Caitlyn James, while the MSUB offense did just enough to take home a 2-0 victory. Following that game, the Yellowjacket's bats would carry the load in game two, clobbering five home runs to help power the Yellowjackets to a 9-6 victory.
 
Game One: MSUB 2, BHSU 0
 
The pitchers would come out strong for both teams in the opening game of the day, but MSUB would receive an early run in the first inning to take an early lead in the bottom of the frame. After Marleigh Nieto would slap a leadoff single, and an error on the next play and walk two batters later would load the bases, Nieto would cross the plate for the opening run of the game when Wynter Hurst would draw the second walk of the inning. While it would be the only run the 'Jackets would plate after back-to-back strikeouts, Caitlyn James would provide the boost the Yellowjackets needed on the mound to stay in control. James would let at least a runner on in each of the first four innings, but would leave Black Hills State stranded on base every single time, with the defense behind her backing her up with quality play after overcoming a pair of early errors.
 
The offense for MSUB would slow down after the first inning, with three straight hitless innings leaving the Yellowjackets to hold a razor-thin margin. But they would get a little help in the bottom of the fifth, when Kennedy Dypwick would clear the fences with a solo home run, the first homer of her collegiate career. The two hits and two runs would be all the 'Jackets needed in the game, with James and the MSUB defense slamming the door closed over the final two innings to give the Yellowjackets the win in the team's first home game of the season.
 
James would pitch a complete game, allowing six hits and two walks while striking out a single batter. Dypwick would finish the game 1-2 with her home run accounting for an RBI and a run, while Nieto would finish 1-3 with a run. Hurst would collect her lone RBI on her first inning walk, with Bryn Lucht and Jazlyn Kalehuawehe also drawing walks. Kaylin Galvin and Mia Andersen would each collect a steal.
 
Game Two: MSUB 9, BHSU 6
 
The first three innings of game two looked to be shaping up in a similar way to the opening game of the day, with neither team managing to score a run in the early stages of play. The Yellowjackets would threaten in each inning, putting runners on in all three, but wouldn't get a runner past second as the game remained deadlocked. But after pitcher Emily Watters would once again shut down Black Hills State in the top half of the fourth inning, MSUB's offense would explode, kicking off the bottom of the fourth with back-to-back home runs from Ashley Akers and Avery Gray. The 'Jackets would add to that lead with two more runs, first with an RBI single from Marliegh Nieto before she would cross home following an RBI double from Kaylin Galvin, giving the 'Jackets a 4-0 lead heading into the fifth inning.
 
Black Hills State would bite back in the top of the fifth with a two-run double to cut the lead in half, but the Yellowjackets would promptly respond, with a two-run bomb from Jazlyn Kalehuawehe restoring the Yellowjacket's lead in the bottom of the inning. MSUB would expand their lead even further in the bottom of the sixth, with Akers collecting an RBI single before Gray would go yard for the second time in the game, pushing MSUB's lead to 9-2 going into the final inning of play. Black Hills State would begin to push for the comeback late, with the team scoring two more runs to chase Watters and bring in Caitlyn James to close the game. After two more runs on an RBI single would clear the bases, James would grab the final out to close the door, and seal a sweep on the day for MSUB.
 
Gray would finish the game 3-4 with a pair of home runs, adding three runs and three RBIs. Akers would go 2-4 with a run and an RBI, while Bryn Lucht would hit 2-2 with a pair of walks, a run, and an RBI. Kennedy Dypwick would also bat 1.000 on the game, hitting 3-3 with a run and two steals. Kalehuawehe would hit 1-3 with two RBIs and a run, while Nieto and Gavlin would hit 1-4 and 1-3 respectively with an RBI. Watters would go 6.2 innings, striking out four and allowing six hits.
 
THE BUZZ: James was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game for game one, while Gray was selected for game two.
 
UP NEXT: MSUB is set to open GNAC play on Friday, March 14 with a doubleheader against Simon Fraser University. First pitch of the opening game is scheduled for 1 PM, with live video available here, and live statistics available here. Tickets can be purchased online here.