NAMPA, Idaho – The Montana State University Billings softball team kept it's postseason dreams alive on Friday in a doubleheader against Northwest Nazarene University, splitting the day's doubleheader in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
With the Yellowjackets (14-26, 9-11 GNAC) and Nighthawks (23-21, 11-11 GNAC) battling it out for the final spot in the GNAC Championships, the two teams would share victories on the day, with NNU taking down the 'Jackets 10-5 in the opening game of the day, before the 'Jackets would respond with a 4-1 victory to round out the second game of the day. With one more doubleheader left in the regular season, the Yellowjackets will need to defeat the Nighthawks in both games tomorrow to advance to postseason play for the first time since 2015, with MSUB owning the tiebreaker over NNU.
 
Game One: NNU 10, MSUB 5
 
The opening two innings of the day's action would see MSUB and NNU battle in scoreless fashion, with both teams threatening to score early, but being unable to plate any runners. The 'Jackets would put a pair of runners on base in the first inning, but the Nighthawks would escape the jam and leave those runners stranded. The home team would then put runners of their own on in the opening two innings, but MSUB pitcher Caitlyn James would likewise strand both runners, leaving the game in a scoreless deadlock.
 
The Yellowjackets would be the first team to break that deadlock though, striking in the top of the third inning. After Kennedy Dypwick and Kaylin Galvin would walk to reach base, Jazlyn Kalehuawehe would blast a ball down the left field line, clearing the fence to give the Yellowjackets a 3-0 lead. The Nighthawks would close that gap to just one run though, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning on a two-RBI double. And in the next inning, Northwest Nazarene would explode offensively, scoring eight more runs to take a large lead, with the majority of the innings damage coming on a pair of three-run homers. Kalehuawehe would look to spark a rally with another home run; her second of the game and eighth of the season, scoring two more runs to close the gap to five. But it would be the last hit MSUB would have in the game, with the Nighthawks retiring seven consecutive MSUB batters to claim victory in game one.
 
Kalehuawehe would finish with MSUB's only two hits in the game, batting 2-3 overall and totaling a pair of runs, along with a career-high five RBIs. Kaylin Galvin would reach base on a pair of walks, while Marleigh Nieto, Bryn Lucht, Wynter Hurst, and Kennedy Dypwick walking once in the game. Galvin, Lucht, and Dypwick would each total one run. In the circle, Caitlyn James would throw 3.2 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits and striking out one, while Ashley Akers would allow just one hit and strike out one in the final 2.1 innings of the game.
 
Game Two: MSUB 4, NNU 1
 
With their backs to the wall and needing a win to keep their GNAC Championship hopes alive, Marleigh Nieto would open the game with a leadoff double, with back-to-back walks loading the bases for MSUB with just one out on the board. It would set up Lauren Blaschak to score the 'Jackets opening run early, singling to shortstop to score MSUB's opening run of the game. After the Nighthawks would escape the jam with just one run allowed in the first, the Yellowjackets would strike again in the top of the second, this time behind a single to centerfield from Kaylin Galvin to drive in Kennedy Dypwick and double the visitor's lead.
 
The Nighthawks would look to climb back into the game, but Yellowjacket pitcher Emily Watters would dominate the Nighthawk's batters throughout the game. The sophomore would allow just one hit and two baserunners over the first five innings. MSUB would tack on two more insurance runs in the top of the fifth, with an error allowing Galvin to cross home before Peyton Roberge would single to rightfield to score Blaschak, and build up the lead to 4-0. The Nighthawks would get a run back on a solo shot in the bottom of the seventh inning, but would never come close to making a comeback as Watters would finish out the game to give MSUB an all-important win.
 
Watters would be credited with her eighth win of the season, allowing just three hits and a run in the game while striking out five batters. Galvin and Blaschak would each hit 2-4 with a run and an RBI each, while Roberge would hit 1-3 with an RBI. Nieto would go 1-4 with a run, while Bryn Lucht would hit 1-3 with a double.
 
THE BUZZ: Kalehuawehe would be named Intermountain Health Player of the Game in game one, while Watters would be recognized in game two… Kalehuawehe now sits at 26 career homers, ranking eighth in program history… MSUB is now up to 47 home runs on the season, most in the GNAC and two away from top ten in program history… the team's .300 batting average currently ranks as their single season highest since 2017.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets will conclude the regular season and hope to qualify for postseason softball with a doubleheader Saturday, April 26 against Northwest Nazarene. First pitch of the opening game is scheduled for 12 PM, with live video available here, and live statistics available here.