GOLDEN, Colo. – The Montana State University Billings softball team finished with a pair of hard-fought losses against Colorado School of Mines on Sunday afternoon, falling 3-2 in game one and 11-3 in game two.
 
The Yellowjackets (2-8) would nearly pull off a seventh inning comeback in the first game of the day, falling just a run short of completing their rally against the Orediggers (4-3). Then in game two, the Yellowjackets would take an early lead, but it wouldn't last for long, with Mines taking back the lead in the bottom of the second and finishing the game an inning early after a six-run bottom of the sixth.
 
Game One: Mines 3, MSUB 2
 
The Yellowjackets would threaten to take the lead in the top of the first inning with runners on second and third, but after the Orediggers would strand those runners, they would tack on three runs of their own to claim an early lead. After the first inning though, Ashley Akers would settle in for MSUB in the circle, going the full game without allowing another runner to cross home. Her strong pitching, and some quality defense behind her, would help the 'Jackets remain close, but would struggle to get a run on the board to kick off a rally.
 
That would change in the sixth inning though, with Grace Hood tripling to right field with two outs in the top of the sixth, scoring on the following at bat when she took advantage of a wild pitch, cutting the lead to two. And after a three up-three down bottom of the sixth, MSUB would continue to push the Orediggers after Delaney Vazquez would reach base on a hit by pitch, before Danica Butler would come in with a pinch-hit double to put runners on second and third with one out. Marleigh Nieto would close the gap to 3-2 with a sac fly to drive in a run, but the 'Jackets would be unable to get Butler across the plate, grounding out for the final out of the game as Mines closed out the victory.
 
Hood would bat 1-3 with a run, while Nieto would bat 1-2, reaching base an additional time with a walk and driving in one run. Destiny Villas and Kendall Klemp would each also bat 1-3, while Butler went a perfect 1-1 in the game. Akers would finish the game with six innings pitched, allowing eight hits and three earned runs while striking out one batter.
 
Game Two: Mines 11, MSUB 3 (6 Innings)
 
The Yellowjackets would jump out to an early lead in the top of the second inning of game two. Jillian Karsjen would reach base to open the inning, while Marleigh Nieto would extend the inning after drawing a two-out walk to put runners on first and second. The subsequent at bat, Wynter Hurst would make the Orediggers pay, plating both base runners with a double to give MSUB a 2-0 lead. But MSUB's lead would be short lived, with the Orediggers posting three runs in the bottom of the frame to take control of the game.
 
From that moment, the game would shift firmly in favor of the home team, with Mines tacking on two more runs in the bottom of the third, extending their lead to three. Destiny Villas would add another run for the Yellowjackets in the top of the fourth inning, but Mines would keep the Yellowjackets off the basepaths in the fifth inning, and despite a pair of MSUB baserunners reaching in the top of the sixth, they would prevent the Yellowjackets from scoring in the top half of the frame, before turning around and scoring six runs on five this in the bottom of the sixth, spelling an early end to the game for the 'Jackets.
 
Nieto would reach base in each of her four plate appearances, going 2-2 with a pair of walks and runs, hitting one double. Hurst would go 2-3 with a pair of RBIs and a walk, while Grace Hood hit 1-3, collecting base in eight of MSUB's ten games this season. Karsjen would go 1-3 with a run, and Mia Anderson would go 1-1 with a pinch-hit single. In the circle, Shelby Wasilewski would go 2.2 innings in her start.
 
THE BUZZ: Akers was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game for the first game, while Nieto earned the honors for game two.
 
UP NEXT: After a week off to regroup, the Yellowjackets head to Kansas to take part in the Washburn Invitational, opening their five-game round robin on Friday, February 20 with a pair of games against Fort Hays State University, and host school Washburn University. Games are schedule for 11 AM MT (12 PM CT), and 1 PM MT (2 PM PT). Live coverage links will be made available on the MSUB Softball schedule online.