MINOT, N.D. – The Montana State University Billings softball team would split a pair of contests against Black Hills State University on Sunday, winning the day's opening game 5-2 before following it up with an 11-6 loss to close out the final day of action at the 2026 Beaver Bubble Invite.
 
The Yellowjackets (2-4) of MSUB would overtake the Yellow Jackets (3-3) of Black Hills State in the opening game of the day behind a strong start from the bats in the opening innings of action, paired with a strong start from Ashley Akers in the circle. The 'Jackets would look to keep that momentum rolling as the second game commenced, but after taking an early lead, Black Hills State would finish the game with eight unanswered runs, coming from behind and swiping away victory from MSUB to round out the first weekend of action in the 2026 regular season.
 
Game One: MSUB 5, Black Hills State 2
 
The Yellowjackets would waste no time before claiming the lead in the top of the first, with Marleigh Nieto leading off the game with a double before Destiny Villas would send her home one batter later with another double down the left field line. Following her, Grace Hood would clear the bases with a two-run homer, her third of the young season. Then in the top of the second inning, Wynter Hurst would provide additional insurance with an RBI double of her own, scoring Nieto to increase MSUB's lead to 4-0 early in the contest.
 
Black Hills State would half that lead in the third with a two-run home run of their own, but it would be the only blemish against Ashley Akers on the day, who would throw an impressive outing in her first career complete game on the mound. The junior would strike out three batters over seven innings of work, allowing seven hits and just the pair of runs as she kept the other Yellow Jackets at bay all game. Black Hills State would not manage to plate another run for the remainder of the game, with the Yellowjackets adding one more run in the sixth on a RBI single from Nieto to add to their lead before Akers would close the door with a shutdown seventh inning, helping MSUB collect the win, it's second in a row.
 
Hood and Nieto would each finish the game 3-4 at the plate. Nieto would hit a pair of doubles with two runs and an RBI, while Hood would post two RBIs and a run. Hurst and Villas would each 1-4, with Villas driving in and scoring one run each, while Hurst would collect one RBI. Vazquez would hit 1-3, reaching base once more on a walk, while Jillian Karsjen and Kendall Klemp would each draw a walk. Klemp scored one run in the game. Josie Theilen would hit 1-4 and steal a base.
 
Game Two: Black Hills State 11, MSUB 6
 
MSUB would leap out to an early lead in just it's first at bat of the game, with Marleigh Nieto hammering a leadoff home run. And the Yellowjackets would add three more runs in the second inning, all with two outs, with Wynter Hurst and Grace Hood smacking RBI doubles, and Destiny Villas collecting an RBI single to grow the 'Jackets advantage. But after a 1-2-3 first inning, Black Hills State recovered in the second inning to post three runs of their own, cutting into the lead.
 
The top of the fourth inning would see MSUB strike again after loading the bases, with Delainey Vazquez scoring a run on a fielder's choice before Hood would score on a wild pitch, restoring a three-run cushion for the 'Jackets. But that swing would be short-lived, with Black Hills State flipping the game on it's head with a five-run bottom of the frame, taking the lead and never looking back. The Yellow Jackets would score three more runs to build onto that lead as the game wore on, never letting MSUB cross home plate over the final three innings to pull out the win, and lock up a series split for the doubleheader.
 
Nieto finished the game 1-2 with a pair of walks and runs, with her home run contributing for her lone RBI in the game. Hurst and Villas would each bat 2-5 with a run and an RBI, with Hurst hitting both a double and a triple.  Vazquez meanwhile would steal a base, as would Emily Brevig. Hood hit 1-4 with a double, a run, and an RBI, while Kendall Klemp, Jillian Karsjen, and Josie Theilen each went 1-3 at the plate. Theilen would be an effective option in relief for MSUB at pitcher as well, striking out three batters in two innings of work where she allowed two hits and one earned run, while Shelby Wasilewski pitched 1.2 innings of two hit, no run ball.
 
THE BUZZ: Hood was named the Intermountain Health Player of the Game for game one, while Hurst received the honor for game two… The sophomore is leading the Yellowjackets at the plate early this season, hitting .450 (9-20) over the first six games with three home runs, five runs, and 11 RBIs… behind her, Hurst is hitting .434 (10-23), totaling four doubles, a triple, seven runs, and ten RBIs through the first weekend of action… Akers is now 2-0 as a pitcher for the 'Jackets, holding a 3.73 ERA through four appearances.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets return to action next weekend with four games in Colorado, starting off the trip with a doubleheader on Saturday, February 7 against Metropolitan State University of Denver. The games are scheduled for 12 and 2 PM at the Assembly Athletic Complex in Denver, with live video available here, and live statistics available here.