ELLENSBURG, WA. – In the conclusion to it's 2026 regular season, the Montana State University Billings softball would be bested twice by Central Washington University in MSUB's final games of Great Northwest Athletic Conference play this season.
 
The Yellowjackets (7-42, 5-19 GNAC) would be bested in five innings by the Wildcats (13-29, 7-13 GNAC) in the opening game of the doubleheader, falling 13-3 before turning around and keeping things close in a tightly contested game two. MSUB would lead early, but a late rally by Central Washington would take the games to extra innings, with both teams having their opportunities to close out the win before the Wildcats would finally walk things off in the bottom of the ninth inning, sweeping the 'Jackets on the day and in the series.
 
Game One: CWU 13, MSUB 3 (5 Innings)
 
The Wildcats would waste no time in jumping out to a three-run lead in the top of the first inning, but MSUB would get a pair of runs back in the top of the second inning, with Cazz Rankosky doubling down the left field line to plate a couple of runners and pull the 'Jackets back to within one. But a disastrous bottom of the second inning for MSUB would see the Wildcats plate five runs in the inning, before three more runs in the bottom of the third inning and two runs in the fourth would build up their cushion even further. The 'Jackets would get a run back with a solo homer from Wynter Hurst, but the Yellowjackets were too far back to rally back against the home team, dropping the opening contest of the day.
 
MSUB would total seven hits in the game, with Hurst going 1-3 with a run and an RBI, while Rankosky would hit 1-2 with a pair of RBIs. Kendall Klemp and Alexis Tovar each hit 1-2 with a run, while Josie Theilen and Marleigh Nieto each hit 1-3, and Emily Brevig hit 1-1.
 
Game Two: CWU 10, MSUB 9 (9 Innings)
 
The Yellowjackets would look to avenge their game one defeat, and after a scoreless first inning, Kendall Klemp would get the 'Jackets on the board with a solo shot to center, putting MSUB ahead in the top of the second. The 'Jackets would then add to their lead in the top of the third with five runs, with Marleigh Nieto starting the inning off with a two-run single, before Grace Hood would follow that up with an RBI single of her own. Klemp would punish the Wildcats once more with a double the following at bat, plating two more runs and building her team's lead to 6-0.
 
But the Wildcats would some storming back over the fourth and the fifth inning, scoring two runs in the fourth before a four-run fifth inning would see Central Washington even the score up once more. The 'Jackets would regain some momentum in the top of the sixth, with Josie Theilen doubling before a two-run shot from Wynter Hurst, her second home run of the day and sixth of the season would restore a 9-6 lead for the Yellowjackets. But that lead would be short-lived, with MSUB being unable to close the door and allowing three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, extending the game further to extras.
 
A scoreless eighth inning would keep the two squads locked up through the first inning of extras, but MSUB would get a chance to take the lead in the top of the ninth, with Hood reaching base to open the inning with a walk. Hood would advance to second before a two-out error would see the junior try to run home for the go-ahead run, but the Wildcats would recover and throw Hood out at the plate, keeping the game even going into the bottom of the ninth. And after the first runner reached base, a stolen base and sac bunt would advance the runner over to third, before an error would see the Wildcats advance the winning run home, completing the sweep of MSUB.
 
Klemp would finish the game 2-4 with a run and three RBIs, leading a group of four MSUB hitters with multiple hits in the game. Theilen would bat 2-4 with two runs and an RBI, also walking once and stealing a base, Nieto would hit 2-5 with a run and two RBIs, and Lina Delgado would bat 2-3 with a run. Hurst would bat 1-5 with two RBIs and a run on her homer, while Destiny Villas would also hit 1-5 with a run. Hood batted 1-4 with a run, an RBI, and a walk, while Cazz Rankosky went 1-2 with a run. Danica Butler would start in the circle, throwing four innings and allowing just three hits and two runs.
 
THE BUZZ: Rankosky would be named the Intermountain Health Player of the Game for game one, while Klemp would be recognized for game two.