MINOT, N.D. – The Montana State University Billings softball team would take part in a pair of one-run contests on Saturday in a doubleheader against University of Mary on day two of the Beaver Bubble Invite, falling 17-16 in the first game of the day before rebounding to collect their first win of the season to round out the day, winning 9-8.
 
The Yellowjackets (1-3) would take an early lead after putting up 11 runs in the top of the first inning in game one, but Marauders (2-2) would spoil the 'Jackets electric start in a high-scoring affair, slowly chipping away at MSUB's lead throughout the contest before walking things off with a three-run bottom of the seventh to claim the win. But despite a disappointing ending to their first game of the day, the Yellowjackets would avenge themselves in the second game of the day, taking the lead in the fourth inning and seeing off a late attempt at a rally from the Marauders to collect the team's opening win of the 2026 season.
 
Game One: Mary 17, MSUB 16
 
In what was a dream start for the Yellowjackets, MSUB would open the game with a dominant top of the first inning, wasting no time in asserting its control of the game early. 11 runs would cross the plate for the 'Jackets in an inning which saw them collect five hits and draw five walks, while four errors compounded issues for the Marauders. Grace Hood would walk home the game's opening run, followed by an RBI fielder's choice by Josie Theilen and walk from Ashley Akers. Following that, RBI singles from Jillian Karsjen, Delainey Vazquez, and Wynter Hurst would continue to boost MSUB's lead, before Hood would send a towering home run over the center field wall to score three more runs, collecting her first home run of the season and bring her up to four RBIs just in the first inning.
 
But the Marauders wouldn't roll over, continuing to chip way slowly at the 'Jackets lead as the game wore on. One run in the bottom of the first gave way to a five-run bottom of the second, followed by a three run third that would close MSUB's lead to just two runs. The Yellowjackets would push back, with Brooklyn Brauer driving in a run on an RBI single in the top of the fourth, but the Marauders would collect another run of their own in the bottom of the frame, maintaining their two-run deficit.
 
The Yellowjackets would boost their cushion in the top of the fifth with a pair of home runs, with Hood blasting a solo shot for her second of the game, followed by a two-run shot from Ashley Akers to build their lead up to five. But in the bottom of the sixth in need of some runs to complete their rally, the Marauders would close the gap to one run, with a pair of RBI singles giving way to a two-run double into right field. Hood would drive in her sixth run of the game in the top of the seventh to give MSUB one more run, but the 'Jackets would let the first three batters collect hits, with the Marauders driving in one run before walk would load the bases. The 'Jackets would then get the first two outs of the inning on a pair of fielder's choices at the plate, but the Marauders would finally even the game up at 16 on an RBI single, before MSUB would walk home the final run of the game, falling short in the contest despite an impressive offensive showing from the lineup.
 
Hood finished the contest 3-4 at the plate with two home runs, three runs, and six RBIs while drawing a walk, finishing with career single game highs in home runs, RBIs, runs, and times on base. Vazquez would also collect three hits, going 3-4 with a run and an RBI. Akers would go 1-3, reaching base twice more on walks and collecting her first homer of the season, three runs, and three RBIs. Hurst would hit 1-4 with a walk, and a pair of runs and RBIs, while Karsjen and Brauer would each hit 1-4 with a run and an RBI. Marleigh Nieto batted 1-5 with a run, while Alexis Tovar scored a pair of runs. Josie Theilen and Emily Brevig each would steal one base. In the circle, Theilen would go a team-high 3.1 innings, tying faith Howard for a team-best two strikeouts in the game.
 
Game Two: MSUB 9, Mary 8
 
After starting the game on fire to open the first contest, the Yellowjackets would start slower in game two, falling behind after RBI singles from Mary in the first and third innings put MSUB in a 2-0 hole early. But after being held hitless through the first three innings of action, the 'Jackets would come to life in the bottom of the fourth, with the team loading the bases with nobody out. From there, Vazquez would open the scoring for MSUB after being hit by a pitch, before an RBI bunt from Brevig evened the game up at two. Hurst would plate two more on an RBI single, before Cazz Rankosky would drive in another run on a walk before Destiny Villas collected another run on an RBI single to flip the game to a 6-2 Yellowjacket lead. Meanwhile in the circle, Ashley Akers would settle in to throw a quality start, throwing five innings of quality work to start the game.
 
Three more runs would cross the plate for MSUB in the bottom of the fifth, with Hurst driving in two more runs on a double before Hood would push the lead to 9-2 on a single through the left side to plate a run. But in a way reminiscent to the game before the Marauders would begin clawing back, scoring a pair of runs on a homer in the top of the sixth before beginning to close the gap further in the top of the seventh, closing MSUB's lead to 9-8 with one out remaining. With the game on the line, MSUB would turn back to Akers in the circle after exiting in the sixth, who would reenter and collect back-to-back outs to strand a pair of runners, and seal the Win for MSUB.
 
Akers would finish with 5.2 innings of work, collecting both the win and the save while allowing eight hits, three earned runs, and striking out a pair of batters. Meanwhile at the plate, Hurst finished the game 2-3 with four RBIs and a pair of runs, while Villas batted 2-4 with a run and an RBI. Vazquez was 1-3 with two runs and an RBI, while Brevig and Hood were each 1-3 with an RBI. Rankosky had a run and an RBI after entering as a pinch hitter.
 
THE BUZZ: Hood was named the Intermountain Health Player of the Game for game one, while Akers received the honor for game two… Akers win and save were both career firsts… MSUB's 16 runs scored were the most plated by the 'Jackets since MSUB posted 17 runs on April 16, 2025 against Western Oregon… The win marked head coach Joe Yegge's 800^th career win as a collegiate head coach.
 
UP NEXT: MSUB rounds out the Beaver Bubble Invite with it's final set out doubleheaders Sunday, February 1, taking on Black Hills State. Game times are set for 9 AM and 11 AM MT (10 AM/12 PM CT) in Minot, ND, with live video available here, and live statistics available here for game one, and here for game two.