BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings softball team split it's doubleheader against Simon Fraser University on Saturday, taking game two to clinch the series victory in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
It marked the first series victory for the Yellowjackets (8-14, 3-1 GNAC) since the 2023 season, with the team moving just one win away from matching it's win total from last season. Following a 14-5 defeat to the Red Leafs (13-16, 4-4 GNAC) in game one of the day, MSUB would rebound for a series clinching victory in the final game of the series, with five home runs providing a pathway to victory in the game.
 
Game One: SFU 14, MSUB 5 (5 Innings)
 
The opening game of the day would begin with a pair of scoreless innings. MSUB would get into a jam early with two runners in scoring position and nobody out in the top of the first, but pitcher Caitlyn James would help MSUB escape the jam and remain tied. The deadlock would be broken in the top of the third inning though, with the Red Leafs putting up seven hits and six runs to take a large lead early. They would grow that lead to 11-0 in the following frame, tacking on five more runs to place themselves firmly in the driver's seat.
 
But MSUB would show signs of life in the bottom of the fourth inning, with the 'Jackets pulling back five runs. Wynter Hurst would open the scoring for the Yellowjackets with an RBI double to score Avery Gray and Lauren Blaschak. Just one batter later, Jazlyn Kalehuawehe would plate two more runs on a single to score Hurst and Riley Warden, before another RBI single from Marleigh Nieto would help give life to MSUB's comeback attempt. But three more runs by the Red Leafs in the top of the fifth would build the gap back up to nine runs, and the Yellowjackets would be unable to score in the bottom of the frame to extend the game further, spelling an early end to game one of the doubleheader.
 
Kalehuawehe would finish the game 2-3 with a pair of RBIs, while Marleigh Nieto would finish 2-4 with an RBI and a stolen base. Hurst would hit 1-3 with a run and two RBIs, while Gray and Blaschak would each go 1-3 from the plate with a run. Kennedy Dypwick would also hit 1-3 in the contest. Emily Brevig would steal one base in her appearance as a pinch runner. James would finish with two innings of work for an MSUB team that would also use Eliana Troxell, Wynter Hurst, and Shelby Wasilewski in the circle during the game. Wasilewski would put together a scoreless inning of work in her appearance.
 
Game Two: MSUB 12, SFU 3
 
The final game of the series would see the Yellowjackets waste no time in looking to take the series win, with two home runs in their first three at bats. After Marleigh Nieto drew a walk, Kaylin Galvin would hit a home run to get the 'Jackets on the board early, with Bryn Lucht making it back-to-back home runs with a solo shot. The run parade would just be getting started in the second inning, with Jazlyn Kalehuawehe plating two runs on an RBI single. Two more runs would cross on another second inning single from Ashley Akers, who would drive in Lauren Blaschak before Grace Hood would advance home on a throwing error. Then in the third inning, Avery Gray would go yard to open the bottom of the frame, with Lucht sending a three-run blast over the wall just four batters later for her team-leading eighth homer of the campaign to grow MSUB's lead to 10-0.
 
The Red Leafs would scrap back a pair of runs in the top of the fourth, and one more in the fifth to try and get back into the game late, but they would prove no match for the Yellowjackets, who would put three runners on base in the first four batters of the fifth inning to get up to Blaschak in the order. The senior infielder would then take a ball deep to right center, clearing the fence for her second home run of the year, and blasting the Yellowjackets to a walk-off victory to clinch the conference series.
 
Blaschak would finish the game 3-4, with her home run accounting for both of her RBIs and her run in the game. Lucht would also bat 3-4, collecting three runs and four RBIs in the game, while Kaylin Galvin would reach base in each of her at bats, batting 3-3 with a walk and collecting three runs and two RBIs. Avery Gray would hit 2-3 with a run and an RBI. Marleigh Nieto collected a pair of runs in the game while batting 1-3 with a walk, while Kalehuawehe went 1-1 with a run, two RBIs and a pair of walks. Meanwhile, Akers and Wynter Hurst would each hit 1-3, with Akers plating a lone RBI. Emily Watters would put together another quality performance on the mound to claim her fifth victory on the season, throwing all five innings and striking out three while allowing just six hits and two earned runs.
 
THE BUZZ: Kalehuawehe was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game for the opening contest, while Lucht earned honors for game two… The Yellowjackets currently rank second in the conference in batting average at .316, while their 23 home runs are seven more than any other team in the conference… Lucht currently leads the GNAC in home runs with eight, while also ranking first in slugging percentage (.931), OPS (1.479), and third in batting average (.431).
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets round out non-conference play next week in a midweek matchup against University of Montana, heading to Missoula to face off on Wednesday, March 19. Game times are scheduled for 12 PM and 2 PM, with live video available on ESPN+, and live statistics available here for game one, and here for game two.