MINOT, N.D. – Opening it's season with a doubleheader Friday evening, the Montana State University Billings softball team was defeated in a pair of contests against Minot State as it opened it's time at the 2026 Bubble Invite.
 
The Yellowjackets (0-2) and Beavers would play two very different games, despite a pair of similar results. The hosts would take an early lead in game one, seeing out a five-inning, 9-1 victory over MSUB. But despite falling behind again in game two, the 'Jackets would overcome that deficit to even the game up at 10-10 late as they pushed to split the day. The Beaver would tack on a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning though, taking down MSUB 12-10 to round out the day's action.
 
Game One: Minot State 9, MSUB 1 (5 innings)
 
The Yellowjackets would threaten to score in the top of the first after putting a pair of runners on base. Wynter Hurst would collect the team's first hit of the year, before Destiny Villas would reach base for the first time on a walk. But the 'Jackets would strand runners on second and third to close the top of the frame. Meanwhile, the Beavers would capitalize on their bases loaded opportunity in the first, taking an early 3-0 lead with a bases-clearing triple. Three more runs in the bottom of the second would give the home team a commanding lead that they would continue to build on as the game wore on. MSUB would add back a run in the top of the fifth with Kennedy Dypwick stealing third to move a base away before scoring on a wild pitch. But it would simply be a consolation run for the 'Jackets, as the Beavers ran away with the win in five innings to open the season.
 
Dypwick would finish 1-2 with a single, a run, and a steal. Behind her, MSUB would see outfielders Marleigh Nieto and Wynter Hurst each bat 1-3 as well. In the circle, Avery Gray would start and finish with a pair of strikeouts, while freshman Josie Theilen would come in as a reliever to throw a team leading 2.2 innings of work.
 
Game Two: Minot State 12, MSUB 10
 
After getting runners on base early to open the top of the first in game two, the Yellowjackets would plate a pair of runs on fielding errors in the early stages, with Alexis Tovar and Grace Hood both crossing home to help the 'Jackets take the early lead. That lead would be short-lived however, with the Beavers batting through the order in the first with five hits, posting six runs and immediately taking back momentum. Another run in the bottom of the second had the Beavers threatening to run away with the game in similar fashion to the first of the evening, but an RBI groundout from freshman Josie Theilen plated her first career RBI in the top of the third, before Grace Hood would single to drive in another run, closing the gap to three.
 
The Yellowjackets would face another set back after allowing a three-run shot in the bottom of the third, but the offense would continue to find it's rhythm, loading the bases in the top of the fourth. After Marleigh Nieto would drive in one run on a fielder's choice, Wynter Hurst would drive in a pair on an RBI double, advancing to third next on a throwing error before Theilen would knock her home for her second RBI of the game. The following batter, the Yellowjackets would even the game up for the first time since the first inning, with senior Alexis Tovar sending a shot deep to center field, clearing the fence for the team's first homer of the season, and tying things up at 10-10. The pitchers would then control the next few innings, with Shelby Wasilewski stepping in for some big innings for the 'Jackets. But in the bottom of the sixth inning, Minot State would retake the lead after loading the bases, scoring a pair of runs on an RBI single, while MSUB would go three up-three down in the top of the seventh to come up just short of the victory despite their impressive rally.
 
Hurst would finish the game 3-4 at the plate with a double, plating a pair of runs and RBIs in the game. Nieto would also finish with a multi-hit game, batting 2-4 with a double while scoring a trio of runs and driving in one RBI. Theilen finished the contest 1-3 with two runs and RBIs each, while Tovar drove in three runs and scored one while going 1-3 and drawing one walk. Grace Hood would hit 1-3 in the game and steal her first base of the season. Lina Delgado and Brooklyn Brauer would score a run each in the game after reaching base on walks. In the circle, Wasilewski would pitch solid despite collecting the loss, going 2.2 innings and striking out three batters.
 
THE BUZZ: Dypwick was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game for the first game, while Hurst was selected for game two…
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets play their second of three days of doubleheader action in Minot, taking on University of Mary in a pair of games Saturday, January 31. The games are schedule for 11 AM and 1 PM MT (12 PM/2 PM CT), with live video available here.