NAMPA, Idaho – The Montana State University Billings softball team concluded it's 2025 season on day two of the GNAC Championships Friday, falling to Simon Fraser University 9-0 in postseason play.
The No. 4 seeded Yellowjackets (16-28, 11-11 GNAC) would be unable to extend their postseason run past the second day of the GNAC Tournament, falling to the No. 3 seed Red Leafs (23-24, 13-11 GNAC) in the morning's elimination game. It would spell an end to what has been a season of improvement for the 'Jackets under first year head coach
Joe Yegge, with MSUB qualifying for postseason play for the first time since 2015, and improving upon the team's win total from last season.
After a scoreless first inning for both teams, Simon Fraser would find their way on the scoreboard in the top of the second inning, scoring on a fielder's choice to score the game's opening run. Looking to tie things up in the third, the Yellowjackets would have their best opportunity to score in the bottom of the frame after
Kennedy Dypwick would lead the inning off with a single, then stealing back-to-back bases to put a runner on third with one out. But after putting runners on the corners with a walk, MSUB's next two batters would be retired to keep the Red Leafs ahead by one run.
Simon Fraser would take firm control of the game in the fourth inning however, jumping on a trio of Yellowjacket pitchers to score seven runs on five hits, growing their lead to 8-0 and putting the 'Jackets squarely on the ropes. While MSUB would look to get on the scoreboard once more and extend the game with a two out double from
Grace Hood, but would once again be kept off the scoreboard by Simon Fraser, before the Red Leafs would add another run to their total with an RBI single. Needing two runs to avoid an early end to the game, MSUB would put those runs on base with back-to-back singles from
Marleigh Nieto and
Kaylin Galvin. But the Red Leafs would once again avoid letting eighter of those players cross home plate, turning the final two outs to spell the end of MSUB's 2025 campaign.
Dypwick would finish 1-2 with the pair of steals, while
Kaylin Galvin would reach base three times, batting 1-1 with a pair of walks. Nieto would hit 1-3, while Hood would go 1-1 in her pinch hit appearance. Her double would be MSUB's lone extra base hit in the game.
Emily Watters would make the start for MSUB, throwing 3.1 innings and allowing three hits and four runs with a strikeout, while
Ashley Akers would throw the final 1.1 innings for the 'Jackets, striking out a team high two batters.
THE BUZZ: Dypwick was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game… MSUB finishes the 2025 season with seven more wins than last season, and their most conference wins since the 2018 season… the game spelled the final appearances as Yellowjackets for MSUB seniors
Lauren Blaschak,
Jazlyn Kalehuawehe,
Kaylin Galvin,
Caitlyn James, and
Madelyne Elbert… Blaschak finished her career with 143 hits, 20
th in program history, while her 35 steals rank second in MSUB history, her 28 doubles rank 11
th, and her 91 runs rank 15
th… Kalehuawehe finishes her MSUB career with 28 home runs total, ranking 8
th in program history…
Bryn Lucht finished the season with 14 home runs, tying for fourth most in a season in team history… MSUB clobbered 50 home runs as a team in 2025, eighth most in program history.
UP NEXT: MSUB could play up to two games tomorrow on day two of the GNAC Championships, depending on results. The Yellowjackets will open the day with a matchup against No. 3 Seed Simon Fraser University in an elimination game set for 12:30 PM at Halle Softball Field. If the Yellowjackets win that game, they will advance to face off against the loser of the morning's contest between No. 1 Seed Western Washington University and No. 2 Seed Saint Martin's University at 3:00 PM, with that game determining who will advance to the GNAC Championships. Live coverage for all MSUB softball action at the GNAC Championships can be found both on the
MSUB Softball Schedule, and the
GNAC Championships Homepage.
