BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings softball team would split it's doubleheader against Central Washington University, taking a 14-3 victory in the series opener before falling 18-9 in the second iteration of Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
With the teams meeting for the second time this season following a pair of non-conference matchups three weeks earlier, the Yellowjackets (9-17, 4-2 GNAC) jumped out to a hot start, taking the first game of the day behind a combination of their high-powered offense collecting 15 hits, including four home runs, and another solid start from Caitlyn James. MSUB would set out on a similar path in the second game of the day, but the Wildcats (4-20, 2-8 GNAC) would flip the script late, exploding for 15 runs in the final three innings to rally and make the 'Jackets settle for a split on the day.
 
Game One: MSUB 14, CWU 3 (5 Innings)
 
The 'Jackets would waste no time before picking up an early lead, with Lauren Blaschak putting an exclamation on the bottom of the first inning with a three-run homer to put MSUB ahead early. The Wildcats would bite into that lead in the top of the second inning with a two-run blast of their own, but that hope would prove short-lived, with the Yellowjackets scoring the game's next five runs across the second and third innings to jump out to a 8-2 lead. MSUB would benefit from it's ability to collect extra-base hits on the run, with Kaylin Galvin and Bryn Lucht each driving in runs in the bottom of the second inning on RBI doubles, before Kennedy Dypwick would send a drive to centerfield over the wall in the following inning to score three runs, and build up a cushion for the Yellowjackets.
 
The Wildcats would collect a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning to pull back another run, but it would only prove to be a small blip on the Yellowjacket's road to victory in the game. In the bottom of the frame, MSUB would recover that run in the form of an RBI single from Avery Gray, before growing their lead once more behind the long ball. First would come the second three-run homer of the day from Dypwick, who this time would take the first pitch of the at bat opposite field. Then following a Marleigh Nieto single, Galvin would also go deep to right field, scoring two more runs and putting the Yellowjackets ahead 14-3. James would enter once more to make quick work of Central Washington in the top of the fifth, and MSUB would seal a run-rule victory, officially tying the program's win mark from last season and cementing a year of growth and improvement.
 
Of MSUB's 15 hits, eight would go for extra bases, while the Yellowjackets would add four walks to reach base 19 times in the contest. Dypwick and Galvin would each hit 3-3 at the dish, with Dypwick collecting six RBIs and three runs off of her two home runs and a double, while Galvin would add three runs and three RBIs to go with a walk, a double, and a home run. Dypwick would tie for the second most RBIs in a single game in program history, becoming just the 11^th Yellowjacket in program history to drive in at least six RBIs in a single game… Nieto and Gray would go 2-3, with Nieto scoring a pair of runs and Gray collecting two runs and an RBI. Blaschak would bat 1-2 with a run and three RBIs, reaching base once more on a walk, and Wynter Hurst would likewise bat 1-2 with a walk, scoring one run. Jazlyn Kalehuawehe and Ashley Akers would both finish 1-3 at the plate, and Lucht would go 1-4 with an RBI. In the circle, James would finish the game with three earned runs in five innings of work, allowing just five hits while walking no batters and striking out one.
 
Game Two: CWU 18, MSUB 9
 
The second game of the day would open in a similar fashion to the first, with the high-powered offense of MSUB jumping out to another early lead when Jazlyn Kalehuawehe's double would score the games opening run in the bottom of the first inning. The following inning, MSUB would grow it's lead to 6-0, starting with Avery Gray's three-run home run to left field, followed by a two-run blast from the GNAC's home run leader in Bryn Lucht. And after a three-run homer from the Wildcats would halve the 'Jackets advantage, Peyton Roberge would get MSUB a run back with a solo shot, the first home run of the freshman's collegiate career.
 
But disaster would strike in the fifth inning, with the Wildcats taking advantage of a strong wind and struggles at the mound for MSUB. Central Washington would take the lead and control of the game behind an eight-run swing, including five home runs in the inning, while the Yellowjackets were forced to use four pitchers to escape the side. MSUB would close the gap in the bottom of the frame behind two more homers, beginning with a leadoff homer from Lucht; her second of the day, followed by another first career homer for a Yellowjacket in Wynter Hurst. But after closing the gap to 11-9, the Wildcats would blow the game open once more with seven runs in the final inning of action, including two more home runs, to extend their lead and eventually sink the 'Jackets.
 
Lucht, Hurst, and Marleigh Nieto would each bat 2-4 in the game. Lucht's two home runs would mark her second multi-homer game in as many weeks, while adding a pair of runs and three RBIs. Hurst would score two runs along with one RBI, while Nieto would score one run. Gray would go 1-3, with her home run contributing her three RBIs and one run in the game, while Kalehuawehe and Lauren Blaschak would each hit 1-4 in the game. Emily Watters would collect a team-high three strikeouts for MSUB, while throwing four innings and allowing four earned runs.
 
THE BUZZ: Dypwick was selected as Intermountain Health Player of the Game for the first game of the day, while Lucht received the honor for game two… MSUB's five home runs in the second game of the day tied a program record for homers in a single game, and marked the third time the Yellowjackets have combined for five home runs this season… MSUB's 15 hits in game one also tied a season high, along with the teams 14 runs, and four doubles.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets and Wildcats will round out their four-game series with a second doubleheader, scheduled for Saturday, March 22 beginning at 12 PM at Avitus Group Stadium. Live video of the games will be available here, and live statistics available here. Tickets for MSUB home games can be purchased online here.