PORTLAND, Ore. – The Montana State University Billings softball team had seven players earn All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference Honors for their efforts on the field this past season, as announced by the conference on Tuesday.
 
The total was the most individuals to receive All-Conference recognition for MSUB since the 2021 season. The outfield duo of Bryn Lucht and Marleigh Nieto received All-GNAC First Team honors, with Lucht being a unanimous selection, while Wynter Hurst was recognized as the GNAC Newcomer of the Year, to go with her All-GNAC Second Team selection. Rounding out the list of award winners were four All-GNAC Honorable Mention selections in Kennedy Dypwick, Kaylin Galvin, Jazlyn Kalehuawehe, and Emily Watters. All seven award winners earned All-GNAC honors for the first time in their careers.
 
Lucht has ranked as the top power threat both on the Yellowjackets roster and in the GNAC this season, leading both the team and the conference in home runs with 14, a total that ties for fourth most in a single season in MSUB history. The sophomore outfielder has also totaled a .786 slugging percentage on the year, with nine additional doubles contributing to her extra base hit total. Lucht has totaled 41 hits on the season, hitting .350, while 21 walks have boosted her on base percentage to .457. She has totaled 39 RBIs on the year, while scoring 29 runs. She was named the GNAC Player of the Week twice this season. Lucht has also further cemented herself in the record books by tying the MSUB record for RBIs in a game this season with seven.
 
Also breaking out in a big way for the Yellowjackets this season was Nieto, a Billings native, whose batting average of .391 tops the Yellowjackets roster on the year, while tying for fifth highest in the conference. Collecting a total of 50 hits so far on the campaign, Nieto has scored 28 runs atop the 'Jackets lineup, while driving in 14 RBIs and totaling ten doubles, a triple, and two home runs. She has also gone a perfect 5-5 on stolen base attempts this season, while playing quality defense in centerfield. With Lucht and Nieto's selections, MSUB receives multiple first team all-conference selections for the first time since 2021.
 
Hurst meanwhile becomes the fourth Yellowjacket in program history to earn the GNAC Newcomer of the Year award, following a season in which the sophomore cemented herself in right field for MSUB. The Missouri Western State transfer emerged as one of MSUB's most consistent hitters, batting .328 with 38 hits, while racking up ten doubles, four triples, and one home run on the year. Hurst would total 23 runs and 22 RBIs for a high-scoring MSUB offense, while also stealing three bases. Hurst would also prove herself as one of the most impactful defenders in the conference, ranking near the top of the conference with a .981 fielding percentage and totaling eight assists from the outfield.
 
Likewise bursting onto the scene was the freshman Dypwick, who as just a freshman cemented herself at shortstop for MSUB throughout the 2025 season. Starting every game during the regular season, Dypwick batted .297 for the 'Jackets, collecting 33 hits, a trio of doubles and triples, and four home runs. The Missoula native would drive in 20 RBIs and score 21 runs throughout the season, and would steal six bags, while ranking as one of the top freshmen in the conference across most stat categories.
 
The Yellowjackets preferred option behind the plate, the senior Galvin has put together a strong final season with the program, hitting .298 and ranking second on the Yellowjackets with an on base percentage of .420 after drawing a team best 23 walks. Galvin also leads the 'Jackets with 33 runs on the season, while collecting 34 hits, 11 doubles, six home runs, 23 RBIs, and six steals. Also appearing at third base and in the outfield on occasion defensively, Galvin would primarily set up at catcher for the Yellowjackets, throwing out a pair of runners attempting to steal and earning a fielding percentage of .914.
 
MSUB other senior award winner, Kalehuawehe currently ranks second on the team this season with nine home runs, hitting .276 overall with 27 hits and three doubles. She has totaled 31 RBIs and 13 runs this season, while slugging .582 and getting on base at a .352 clip. She also achieved rarified air with a five-hit game on the season, breaking the program record and tying the conference record for hits in a single game. Kalehuawehe also continued to be a steady presence at first base for the Yellowjackets in the field, with her .956 fielding percentage ranking as one of the top totals on the team this year. Kalehuawehe was also named GNAC Player of the Week just yesterday, for her efforts in the final week of the season where she hit three home runs and totaled seven RBIs, including a go-ahead two run bomb to plate the deciding runs in MSUB's postseason clinching victory.
 
Rounding out MSUB's selections would be Watters, who like Hurst would transfer from Missouri Western State to join the Yellowjackets this season. The sophomore would ascend to be the 'Jackets top pitcher in just her first season with the program, finishing with a team high nine wins, 104.1 innings, and 74 strikeouts. Watters would also earn one save on the season, finishing with an overall ERA of 4.63. She would improve her numbers even more in conference play, holding a 3.03 ERA and six wins against GNAC opponents, and finished the regular season with a 1.55 ERA and 20 strikeouts in the final three weeks of play.
 
The Yellowjackets (16-26, 11-11 GNAC) will continue their season this week at the GNAC Championships, making their first postseason appearance since 2015. They will open the tournament on Thursday, May 1, taking one No. 1 Seed and #9 nationally ranked Western Washington University at 2:30 PM in Nampa, Idaho. Live video of the game will be available here, and live statistics will be available here. Tickets can be purchased online here. The full GNAC Championships homepage can be found online here.