LACEY, Wash. – The Montana State University Billings softball team would fall once more to Saint Martin's University in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on Sunday, falling by a score of 4-3.
The Yellowjackets (10-21, 5-6 GNAC) would battle back after a slow start at the plate, scoring runs in the fifth and seventh inning to get back into the game. But the Saints (22-9, 7-4 GNAC) would not be denied at home, walking off the game in the bottom of the seventh inning to clinch the series victory. In what was originally scheduled to be a doubleheader however, inclement weather conditions would force the second game of the day to be cancelled, spelling an early conclusion to the series.
Saint Martin's would waste no time before taking the lead, loading the bases in the bottom of the first inning with three consecutive singles. From there, the Saints would score twice in the inning, scoring on an RBI groundout and an MSUB error. Looking to battle their way back into the game, the 'Jackets offense would be stymied across the first four innings, with the Saints retiring 12 consecutive batters to open the game.
Caitlyn James would recover after a tough first inning to keep MSUB in the fight, putting together a pair of three up, three down frames in the second and third innings, but the Saints would manage to plate another run in the fourth inning, making the score 3-0 heading into the fifth inning.
But after
Jazlyn Kalehuawehe would lead off the inning with a single to collect MSUB's first hit of the game, the 'Jackets would continue to show signs of life.
Wynter Hurst would single to left field to put a pair of runners on, and
Ashley Akers would send both baserunners home with a two-RBI single, closing the gap to 3-2. James would continue to deal in the circle, retiring each batter she faced in the fifth and sixth innings, to set MSUB up with an opportunity to complete a comeback in the seventh inning. The Yellowjackets would find life once more from the bats of Hurst and Akers, with the former singling to put the tying run on base before Akers would send her home with an RBI double, evening up the contest in the late stages of the game. But despite allowing their lead to slip away, the Saints would get on base to open the bottom of the seventh inning, and sacrifice bunt a runner into scoring position with no outs. Saint Martin's would take advantage of the opportunity, blasting a double to left centerfield to plate the winning run, and walk off the contest.
Akers would finish the game 2-3 at the plate, driving in each of MSUB's three runs to set a new career-high, and collected the team's lone extra base hit in the contest. Hurst would likewise hit 2-3, scoring a pair of runs, while
Emily Brevig would get a run after entering as a pinch runner for Kalehuawehe. Kalehuawehe would hit 1-3 in the contest, as would
Marleigh Nieto. James would pitch 6.1 innings for the Yellowjackets in an unfortunate loss, allowing five hits, and four runs (three earned) in her appearance.
THE BUZZ: Akers was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game… following the conclusion of the weekend's action, MSUB ranks fourth in the GNAC Standings.
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets remain on the road for their next conference series, heading to Bellingham, Washington for a four-game series with #11 Western Washington University. The series will open with a doubleheader on Friday, April 11, with first pitch of the opening game set for 1 PM MT (12 PM PT). Live video for each game will be available
online here, and live statistics
online here.
