MISSOULA, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings softball team rounded out it's slate of non-conference games Wednesday against University of Montana, dropping a pair of well contested games on Wednesday.
 
Heading to Missoula to face off against the DI Grizzlies (7-21), the Yellowjackets (8-16, 3-1 GNAC) would prove that they would not go down easily, giving Montana a battle in both sides of doubleheader action. MSUB would kick off the day by nearly pulling off a surprise victory before the Griz would rally to take a 3-2 victory. They would hang close in the second game of the day as well, trailing by just a few runs for the majority of the game before a fifth inning explosion by the hosts would see MSUB fall 9-1 in five innings.
 
Game One: UM 3, MSUB 2
 
Despite coming into the game as an underdog, the Yellowjackets would waste no time asserting themselves into the game. After Marleigh Nieto would single on just the second pitch of the game, MSUB would see four of it's first five batters in the game reach base. The final two hits would help give MSUB an early lead, with Jazlyn Kalehuawehe and Lauren Blaschak hitting back-to-back RBI singles to pull the Yellowjackets ahead 2-0 early. The Grizzlies would look to recover, taking a run back in the bottom of the inning, but Caitlyn James would help prevent further damage and preserve MSUB's lead.
 
From there, the game would be a tightly contested affair, with both team's pitchers keeping runs off the board. The Yellowjackets would threaten to score, putting runners on base early in both the second and third innings, but the Griz would recover reach time to strand those players on base, and keep MSUB off the scoreboard. But James would match at every step, pitching three consecutive scoreless innings to help MSUB preserve a narrow lead. That would change in the fifth inning though, with Montana finally breaking through on a two-RBI double to take the lead back from the 'Jackets. MSUB would look to try and even up the game, but would be unable to find a tying run, falling 3-2 despite putting up an impressive team effort.
 
James would go six innings for the 'Jackets, striking out two batters and not allowing a walk. She would give up just three earned runs on ten hits. Kalehuawehe would go a perfect 3-3 at the plate with a double, plating one RBI. Blaschak would go 1-3 with her RBI, while Nieto would finish the game 2-4 with a run. Bryn Lucht would collect the Yellowjacket's other run in the game, while Kaylin Galvin and Riley Warden would reach base on walks. Warden would also steal a base.
 
Game Two: UM 9, MSUB 1 (5 Innings)
 
The Yellowjackets would start a bit shakier in the second game of the day, with Montana homering and tripling in the first inning on their way to scoring three runs and taking the lead. But after getting out of the jam, Emily Watters would flash her skill in the circle, not allowing a run for the next four innings of action. After allowing a walk in the bottom of the second, Watters would retire eight consecutive batters, with MSUB's defense backing her up well as the 'Jackets looked to find a way back into the game. Hope would come in the top of the fourth inning in the form of a solo home run to right field from Jazlyn Kalehuawehe, who would pull MSUB to within two, but after retiring the side in the top of the fifth, the Griz would find their rhythm at the plate, plating six runs on four hits in the bottom of the frame. The last four would come from a grand slam, closing the book early on game two and giving the hosts a sweep on the day.
 
Kalehuawehe would go 1-2 in the game, with her opposite field blast accounting for MSUB's lone run and RBI in the game. It marked the senior's third long ball of the season, and the 21^st home run of her career. Lauren Blaschak would also go 1-2 in the contest, with both her and Kalehuawehe finishing as the only two Yellowjacket hitters to get a hit in both games. Watters would end up with 4.1 innings pitched and a pair of strikeouts in the game, with Elaina Troxell coming in the relieve her in the fifth.
 
THE BUZZ: James was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game for game one, while Kalehuawehe was named Player of the Game for game two… the games marked the first two regular season meetings between the Yellowjackets and Grizzlies in both program's respective histories.
 
UP NEXT: MSUB returns home to jump back into conference action, taking on Central Washington University in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play later this week. The 'Jackets will open up a four-game series versus the Wildcats on Friday, March 21, with a doubleheader kicking off at 1 PM at Avitus Group Stadium. Live video of both games will be available online here, and live statistics available online here. Tickets for home MSUB softball games can be purchased online here.