BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings softball team concluded it's four-game series against Central Washington with a pair of contests Saturday, dropping the first game 12-2 before finishing the day with a 15-14 extra-innings victory in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
After dropping the opening game of the day, the Yellowjackets (10-18, 5-3 GNAC) would collect a win in the second game of the day after pushing the game to extra innings, with Marleigh Nieto's ninth inning single breaking the deadlock and giving the 'Jackets a win and series split versus the Wildcats (5-21, 3-9 GNAC). The win would also officially guarantee MSUB more wins than the program achieved last season, marking what has been a season of progress under first year head coach Joe Yegge.
 
Game One, CWU 12, MSUB 2 (5 Innings)
 
With the wind and rain playing a major effect on the early proceedings, the Yellowjackets would find themselves stuck in an early hole after three Central Washington home runs in the top of the first inning would see the Wildcats hold a 6-0 lead before the 'Jackets could record an at-bat. That lead would grow to 8-0 the following inning after another home run from the visitors, who would score all of their runs but one on homers in the game. MSUB would look to spark some form of rally in the bottom of the third inning, with Kaylin Galvin and Bryn Lucht hitting back-to-back home runs to give MSUB a pair of runs, but the two blasts would mark the Yellowjackets only runs in the game, with the Wildcats scoring four more runs down the stretch to take their second victory in the series in five innings.
 
Galvin and Lucht would each bat 1-3 with an RBI and a run. Marleigh Nieto, Avery Gray, and Kennedy Dypwick would each hit a double meanwhile, with Nieto hitting 1-3 and the freshmen duo both batting 1-2. Lauren Blaschak would reach base in both of her at-bats, batting 1-1 and drawing a walk.
 
Game Two: MSUB 15, CWU 14 (9 Innings)
 
Looking to respond and guarantee a series split, the Yellowjackets would flip the script from the beginning of game one, with the home team scoring six runs of their own in the bottom of the first, all coming with two outs on the board. Lauren Blaschak would open the scoring with an RBI single, before sparking a stretch of extra base hits. Wynter Hurst would plate two more runs on an RBI double, before back-to-back home runs from Avery Gray and Grace Hood would add three more runs, and put the Yellowjackets ahead early. With Emily Watters controlling the plate early, striking out four batters in the first four innings, MSUB would look to have the game under control. The Wildcats would collect a three-run homer of their own, but MSUB would continue to cushion their advantage, with Jazlyn Kalehuawehe homering in the bottom of the second inning to drive in a pair of runs, before Bryn Lucht would likewise drive in two runs on a home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to give the Yellowjackets a seven-run lead.
 
But disaster would appear to strike in the top of the fifth, with the Wildcats beginning to jump all over the Yellowjacket's pitchers as the home team struggled to escape the inning. Central Washington would send ten runs across the plate in the inning, with the long ball once again proving to harm the 'Jackets as they withstood both a grand slam, and a three-run shot in the inning. Now trailing, and having used four different pitchers in the inning, the 'Jackets would pick themselves up and look to rally back, with Caitlyn James entering and reinstalling some order at pitcher. MSUB would find a lifeline in the bottom of the sixth from the bat of Kalehuawehe, who sent a towering shot deep to left field for her second home run of the game, and would close the gap to 13-12. Just two batters late, MSUB would regain the lead, with a Blaschak single giving way to Wynter Hurst, who would tie the game on an RBI triple before advancing home on a throwing error to give MSUB a 14-13 lead. But the Wildcats would respond once more, with another home run evening up the game. MSUB would advance a runner to second base in the bottom of the frame, but would be unable to push her home, sending the game into extra innings.
 
After sitting Central Washington down in 1-2-3 fashion in the top of the eighth, the Yellowjackets would threaten to end the game in the bottom of the inning, with Kalehuawehe leading off the inning with her fifth hit of the game. But the subsequent three batters would each be retired, with the game moving on to the ninth inning. James would once again take care of business in the circle though, retiring three consecutive batters to give MSUB another chance to walk it off in the ninth inning. This time however, the 'Jackets would take care of business, with pinch hitter Peyton Roberge drawing a walk, before Kennedy Dypwick's bunt single and a Wildcat throwing error would place runners on the corner with nobody out. That would set up Marleigh Nieto to play the hero, with the Billings local slapping a hard hit ball that the Wildcats would be unable to field, scoring the game-winning run and sparking the celebrations for MSUB, who would lock up a series split with the Wildcats and move to 5-3 in GNAC play.
 
Kalehuawehe would make history in the game, hitting 5-5 to break the MSUB record for most hits in a single game, and tying the conference's all-time mark. The senior first baseman would collect four RBIs and a pair of runs in the game, while creating a run for Watters who would step in to pinch run for her. It also marked the third two-homer game in Kalehuawehe's career. Meanwhile, Lucht, Hurst, Gray, and Blaschak would all finish the game 2-5 at the plate. Kennedy Dypwick would hit 2-4, while Hood and Galvin would bat 1-4. Nieto would go 1-5 in the game with a walk, a run, and an RBI. MSUB would score it's 15 runs in the game on 18 hits, a season-high and tying for the seventh most in a game in program history, while marking the most runs the Yellowjackets have scored in a single game since the 2017 season.
 
James would finish with the win for the game, throwing 4.2 innings in relief and striking out two batters, while allowing two earned runs and three hits.
 
THE BUZZ: Galvin was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game for game one, while Kalehuawehe received the honor for game two… Kalehuawehe now sits at 99 career hits, while her 24 career home runs rank ninth in team history… MSUB would hit five home runs for the second time this series and the fourth time this season, once again tying the program record for home runs in a game… the Yellowjackets as a team would hit 16 home runs in the past four games… MSUB leads the GNAC in home runs this season with 40, with Lucht ranking first int eh conference with 12, Kalehuawehe ranking fourth with six, Galvin and Gray tied for fifth, and Dypwick tied for seventh.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets take to the road for their next GNAC series, squaring off against Saint Martin's University in Lacey, Washington. The teams will face off in a four-game series, opening with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 5 at 1 PM PT (2 PM MT). Live video of the games will be available here, and live statistics available here.