Jackets Fall in Twinbill, 6-1 and 6-3

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

NAMPA, Idaho – The Montana State Billings softball squad was out-hit 20 to 10 and held to just four runs in dropping a pair of games to Northwest Nazarene Friday afternoon at Halle Field in Nampa, ID. The Yellowjackets, 15-22 overall, fell to 12-14 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play and have dropped seven of their last eight.

“We were unable to find a rhythm offensively,” said head coach Anthony Stone. “We had too many errors in the second game and weren’t really able to get things going as the games went on. We need to come back tomorrow and find a way to get some victories.”

Defensively, MSUB committed four errors in both games combined. Stevie Howard led the way for the Yellowjacket offense, recording the only multi-hit game and was the only player to record hits in both games.

Northwest Nazarene jumped out to a 4-0 lead with runs in the second, third and fifth innings. The Yellowjackets scraped their lone run across the plate in the sixth when an errand throw by Cara Duckworth allowed Whitney Whittemore to score from second.

Lindsey Trenary took the loss to drop to 10-8 on the season, allowing six earned runs on 10 hits, in six full innings of work. Trenary struck out four while issuing one free pass, while Nicole Grummons allowed just one unearned run on four hits for the Crusaders.

In the night cap, MSUB had six different players record a hit as Crusader’s pitcher Chelsey Anderson limited the Yellowjackets to just three runs on those hits. Josie Grotbo took the loss for the Yellowjackets after tossing six innings, allowing six runs, four earned, on 10 hits, while striking out one.

The Yellowjackets struck first in the second inning when Whittemore hit a two-out double to center to score Angela Lingle from second. However, NNU answered back in the bottom of the frame with a pair of runs and then tacked on four more in the third for a 6-1 lead.

After scoring a run in the fifth, MSUB attempted to rally in the seventh down 6-2. With one away, Becca Frank walked followed by a Howard single up the middle. Amanda Hood then advanced the runners with a single toward the hole to load the bases.

The Jackets seemed to have momentum when Kaycee Hoffman hit a soft dribbler down the third base line that allowed the Crusaders to throw Frank out at home for the second out. Kelly Parsons came through on the next at bat with a single to center, scoring Howard. In that same play however, Hood was thrown out at home on a relay throw, ending the comeback and the game.

The Yellowjackets will seek a second day sweep tomorrow afternoon, taking on the Crusaders at 12 p.m. at Halle Field. MSUB is currently on an eight game road swing, heading to Lacey, WA next week to take on Saint Martin’s University.