LACEY, Wash. – The Montana State University Billings softball team was dealt a pair of losses Saturday against conference foe Saint Martin's University, falling 9-0 and 9-3 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
Returning to action on the road after a bye week, the Yellowjackets (10-20, 5-5 GNAC) would struggle to find momentum in the opening game of the day against the Saints (21-9, 6-4 GNAC), falling in shutout fashion. MSUB would then grab hold of an early lead in game two, until a late inning rally from Saint Martin's would see the hosts emerge victorious once again, defeating the 'Jackets twice on the day.
Game One: SMU 9, MSUB 0 (5 innings)
The story of game one would be standout pitching and defense from the Saints, who would keep the Yellowjackets off the scoreboard for the entire game. MSUB would total just one hit in the game, coming from
Lauren Blaschak in the second inning, while the hosts would score at least one run in every inning they stepped up to the plate. Saint Martin's would collect a single run in the first inning, before plating four runs in the second inning, with three coming from an inside-the-park homer. After plating another run in the third, the Saints would put a trio of runs in the fourth inning, putting the score in run rule territory. MSUB would attempt to rally in the top of the fifth, but would be unable to draw any runs back, spelling an early end to the opening game of the series.
Blaschak would finish the game 1-2. Meanwhile,
Emily Brevig would steal one base in the game.
Caitlyn James would pitch a team-high 3.1 innings, while
Shelby Wasilewski and
Wynter Hurst would enter in relief.
Game Two: SMU 9, MSUB 3
The Yellowjackets would show more promise in the earliest stages of the second game of the day, taking an early lead in the game. After
Lauren Blaschak would reach base on a hit by pitch to open the top of the second,
Ashley Akers would hit a single into the outfield to score the senior, and get the Yellowjackets on the board. That lead would grow larger in the top of the third inning, when
Jazlyn Kalehuawehe would collect an RBI double to total her 100
th career hit as a Yellowjacket, before
Wynter Hurst would score her on a single to give MSUB a 3-0 lead. Saint Martin's would claw back a run in the bottom of the third, but MSUB would limit the damage to just a single run, with
Emily Watters continuing to limit the Saint's scoring opportunities, preventing runs from crossing in three of the opening four innings of the game for the Saints.
But disaster would strike in the bottom of the fifth inning, when the Saints would push three runs across the board, taking the lead away. They would push on from there in the bottom of the sixth inning, putting five more runs across the board behind five hits, extending the lead to 9-3. MSUB would be unable to mount a comeback in the late stages of the game, with the home team pulling out it's second victory of the day, and guaranteeing at least a series split for the Saints.
Marleigh Nieto would finish the game with a pair of hits, batting 2-4 to lead the 'Jackets. Meanwhile Akers, Hurst, and Kalehuawehe would each hit 1-3, with Akers and Hurst each collecting one RBI, and Kalehuawehe collecting a run and an RBI each. Blaschak hit 1-2 with a run, and Lucht would bat 1-4 with a run.
Kaylin Galvin would also hit 1-4 in the game. Watters would go 4.2 innings with the start, allowing eight hits and four earned runs while striking out two. Meanwhile, both Akers and Hurst would pitch in the remainder of the game, with Hurst throwing a scoreless inning of work.
THE BUZZ: Blaschak was selected as Intermountain Health Player of the Game for game one, while Hurst was selected for game two… Kalehuawehe becomes the 34
th player in program history to collect 100 or more hits in their Yellowjacket career.
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets and the Saints are set to square off in another doubleheader on Sunday, April 6, with the games scheduled for 12 PM MT (11 AM PT), and 2 PM MT (1 PM PT). Live video will be
available here, and live statistics
available here.
