BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings softball team would take an emphatic victory in it's second game of action on Friday against Western Washington University, splitting the day of Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
The Yellowjackets (4-35, 2-12 GNAC) would rally and respond after the Vikings (21-14, 7-3 GNAC) took an 8-3 victory to open the day's doubleheader, with the 'Jackets jumping on Western Washington early in game two to take an early commanding lead, and ride the wave to a run-rule 10-2 victory in just five innings of work.
 
Game One: WWU 8, MSUB 3
 
The Yellowjackets and Vikings would start off the series with a tightly-contested opening to the first game of the day. Both teams would threaten early, with Western Washington putting a pair of runners on base in the first inning before Danica Butler would escape the jam in the circle, before the Vikings would prevent the an excellent scoring opportunity for the 'Jackets by gunning down a runner at home, keeping the game deadlocked at 0-0. And after the Vikings would finally get on the scoreboard with an RBI single to plate a run, the Yellowjackets would even things up with on an RBI groundout from Marleigh Nieto.
 
The Yellowjackets would go on to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the following frame on a leadoff solo shot from Ashley Akers. But the Vikings would make it a short-lived advantage, scoring four runs in the top of the fifth inning to take control of the game back from the home team. The 5-2 scoreline would then hold until the seventh inning, where Western Washington would plate three more runs to push their lead to six runs. Josie Theilen would get a run back for MSUB on an opposite-field RBI single in the bottom of the seventh, but it wouldn't be enough to spark a comeback for the Yellowjackets, who would fall short in game one.
 
Theilen batted 2-3 with a pair of singles, a run and an RBI, while Akers would reach base twice as well, going 1-2 with a walk, plating one run and one RBI on her home run. Wynter Hurst and Cazz Rankosky would each hit a double, with Hurst batting 1-4 and Rankosky batting 1-3, while Grace Hood finished the game 1-3. In the circle, Butler would finish the game with six innings pitched, allowing nine hits and being charged with just three earned runs.
 
Game Two: MSUB 10, WWU 2 (5 Innings)
 
After a scoreless first inning, MSUB would take advantage of the Viking's pitchers struggles to locate the zone, with the first three batters of the bottom of the second inning walking to load the bases. From there, Alexis Tovar would hit a sac fly to score the opening run of the game, setting up a five-run inning for MSUB. Jillian Karsjen would plate the second run of the inning on an RBI single before Avery Gray advanced home on a wild pitch, with a two-run double from Wynter Hurst clearing the bases and pushing the lead even higher for MSUB before the end of the inning, with the 'Jackets firmly in control.
 
Another sac fly in the bottom of the third, this time from Cazz Rankosky, would see MSUB tack on another run in the bottom of the third. Then on the next at bat, Tovar would add two more runs to the Yellowjacket's total with a two-run shot to right field, putting MSUB in run-rule territory. A two-run home run by the Vikings would see the visitors tack on a pair of runs to try and extend the game, but after a three up, three down top of the fifth inning in the field for MSUB, the 'Jackets first two at-bats would be a walk from Gray, and a double by Karsjen to put two runners in scoring position. Theilen would send one runner home on an RBI groundout, before the senior Marleigh Nieto would advance the winning run to home after hitting a ball through the infield the opposite way, giving MSUB an exciting walk-off win in dominant fashion over the Vikings.
 
In the circle, two pitchers would help the 'Jackets pitch a strong game, with Shelby Wasilewski collecting her first win on the season after throwing three innings, allowing just one run and striking out a pair of batters on four hits. She would then give way to Gray, who would allow only one run and one hit in the final two frames, striking out a pair of batters herself.
 
At the plate for MSUB, Tovar would bat 1-3 with three RBIs and a run, hitting her second homer of the year. Hurst would bat 2-3 with two RBIs, while Karsjen would also bat 2-3 with two runs and an RBI. Akers would hit 1-2, Theilen would hit 1-3 with a walk, an RBI, and a run, while Grace Hood would reach base three times, going 1-2 with two walks and scoring a pair of runs. Gray would reach base three times on walks, scoring one run, and Cazz Rankosky would plate an RBI while reaching base on a walk.
 
THE BUZZ: Theilen was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game for the first game, while Tovar earned the honor for game two.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets will conclude their series against the Vikings with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 11 at Yellowjacket Softball Field, with games scheduled for 12 PM and 2 PM. Live video is available on the GNAC Network, while live statistics are available here. Tickets can be purchased online here.