TRACY, Calif. – The Montana State University Billings softball team fell just short of collecting a win in it's final game of the day on the second day of action at the NorCal Crossover, falling to Stanislaus State University and Chico State University on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Yellowjackets (2-16) would battle hard in both games, generating more offensive momentum after being shut out twice in it's first day of action on Friday. It wouldn't be enough for MSUB to take the win in it's opener against the Warriors (10-5) however, falling by a score of 9-4 in game one. The second game of the day between the 'Jackets and Wildcats (6-5) would be a nailbiter though, with the teams needing an extra inning to sort things out. But it would be Chico State who would get the winning run across in the eight, sinking MSUB in heartbreaking fashion.
 
Game One: STAN 9, MSUB 4
 
The Warriors would score a pair of runs in the top of the first to take an early lead over MSUB, but the 'Jackets would cut that advantage in half, with a sac fly from Ashley Akers scoring Marleigh Nieto to keep MSUB close. But after a scoreless second inning, Stanislaus State would jump out to a bigger lead after plating a pair of runs in the top of the third, before a three-run top of the fifth would put MSUB in an 8-1 hole.
 
MSUB would begin to find some offensive momentum late. After a leadoff double from Nieto, Wynter Hurst would score her with an RBI single the following at bat for the 'Jackets second run of the game. In the bottom of the sixth, MSUB would see Kendall Klemp and Lina Delgado walk to put runners on, before Nieto would hit another single to advance those runners. Klemp would cross home, but the relay from left field would be in time as Delgado was caught going home, ending the inning and seeing MSUB plate just one run on the play. MSUB would get another run after Klemp would walk with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, but it would be the final run the Yellowjackets would be able to push across, with the Warriors holding firm in the seventh inning to seal a victory.
 
Nieto would bat 3-5 in the game with a double, two runs, and one RBI, while Akers would go 2-3 with a run driven in. Four other Yellowjackets would collect hits in the game, with Avery Gray going 1-2, Josie Theilen and Emily Brevig hitting 1-5, and Wynter Hurst finishing 1-5 with an RBI. Gray would also start the game in the circle, going the first 3.1 innings before Akers shifted over from first to pitch the remainder of the game, throwing 3.2 innings allowing just three hits with one unearned run. Klemp would score a run and have one RBI, reaching base with three walks, while Delgado reached base twice on walks of her own.
 
Game Two: Chico 3, MSUB 2 (8 innings)
 
After each squad who throw hitless frame to open the first inning, the Wildcats would jump on the board first, scoring their opening run of the game in the bottom of the second inning on a wild pitch from the 'Jackets. It would take little time for MSUB to find it's response though, with the 'Jackets evening the score in the top of the third inning. After Emily Brevig would reach base on a two-out walk, Marleigh Nieto would smoke a triple down the right field line to score the runner, leveling the game at one. That break would be short-lived though, with an inside-the-park home run by Chico State to lead off the bottom of the third, taking back a narrow advantage.
 
The pitchers would then lock in for both sides, with Wynter Hurst settling in the finish regulation with four consecutive scoreless innings to keep MSUB in the fight. Meanwhile, MSUB would threaten to score in the top of the fifth inning after a leadoff single from Josie Theilen, with a sac bunt putting the tying run in scoring position with one out. But two consecutive groundouts would leave the runner stranded, and the 'Jackets running out of time. In the top of the following inning, MSUB would finally catch it's break, this time with a triple from Hurst who would find herself standing on third base with one out. The following at bat, Destiny Villas would score her on an RBI groundout, evening things up. After a scoreless bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh, a leadoff walk would place the winning run on first, with a steal moving Chico State even closer to grabbing the win. But Hurst would clutch up once more, stranding the winning run with a flyout and a groundout, sending the game to extra innings.
 
The top of the eighth inning would see MSUB start with a runner on second, advancing the winning run to third on a sac bunt to lead off the inning. But an infield hit the following at bat would see the runner held at third, while a fielder's choice the following at bat would see MSUB's best chance to take the lead tagged out at home plate. The 'Jackets would finish the top of the inning scoreless, and after the Wildcats would see their runner on second advance to third on a wild pitch, the first batter in the bottom of the eight would send a single down the left field line, plating the winning run and sealing defeat for MSUB.
 
Hurst would finish the game with seven innings pitched, allowing seven hits and just two earned runs, while striking out three. At the plate, the junior went 1-3 with a run and a walk, while Nieto would go 1-4 with an RBI. Brevig would hit 1-1 with a run, reaching base once more on a walk, while Theilen went 1-3.
 
THE BUZZ: Nieto was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game for game one, while Hurst received the honor for game two… Klemp tied a number of Yellowjackets with her three walks in game one for the fifth most walks in a single game in program history.
 
UP NEXT: MSUB wraps up the NorCal Crossover with a morning game on Sunday, March 1, taking on Cal Poly Humboldt at 10 AM MT (9 AM PT) at Tracy Sports Complex, the team's final contest before the beginning of GNAC play. Live stats for the game will be available here.