BILLINGS, Mont. - MSU Billings scored 14 runs during the doubleheader against Western Washington, but it wasn't enough as the Vikings blasted out to a 15-1 (5 innings) win in the first game and used a big seventh inning to defeat MSUB in the second game, 18-13, during the conference twin bill against WWU Friday at Avitus Group Stadium.

Western Washington (14-14 9-9 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) capitalized on MSU Billings (8-18, 1-9 GNAC) miscues in both games to lift the team's record to an even .500 on the season.

The Yellowjackets had 13 hits in the second game, but the Vikings scored 18 runs on 19 hits during the latter part of the doubleheader to pick up the sweep on Day 1 of the four-game series.

MSUB second baseman Myrissa Prince hit her second grand slam of the season during the second game and right fielder Heather Tracy finished 4-for-4 with two home runs during the late part of the day.

Game 1: WWU 15, MSUB 1 (5 innings)

MSUB was outhit 13-6 in the first game, although just six of the total 15 runs from the Vikings were earned runs.

The 'Jackets plated a run in the second inning. Designated player Nicole Tiffany won a long battle at the plate for MSUB, hitting a single into the left center gap. Reigning GNAC Player of the Week, Prince hooked a double into the left center gap that allowed Tiffany to come in from second.

A huge fifth inning raised the Vikings to the 15-1 win in five innings. MSU Billings was within striking distance through four innings, down 4-1, but Western Washington took off in the fifth inning, taking advantage of three errors from the 'Jackets to score 11 runs.
 

The Vikings led off the inning with Lynsey Amundsen reaching base on an error. She was followed by Emma Blauser on a walk and Taylor Clark brought them both home with a home run to center field. A second MSUB error put third baseman Arianna Barrio on base. Another walk and an error put two runners on base for Lexie Levin who pushed the second WWU home run of the inning over the center field fence for an 8-1 lead. MSUB made a pitching change to try and halt the momentum.

Undeterred, the Vikings added four more unearned runs on two singles and three doubles for the 15-1 lead.

MSU Billings was unable to answer as the Vikings ended the game early on the 8-run mercy rule.

Both teams left seven runners on base. MSUB committed four errors with WWU playing clean.

Centerfielder Bella Rovens was 3-for-3 with two putouts for the Yellowjackets. Tiffany finished 2-for-3 with a run. Prince was the other MSUB player with a hit on her RBI double.

Makinlee Sellevold (5-7) tossed the complete game for Western Washington, scattering six hits, allowing one earned run, and fanning seven.

Amanda Roark finished 4 and 1/3 innings of work, scattering eight hits and fanning three.

Game 2: WWU 18, MSUB 13

The second game was a much more even affair with the Vikings and 'Jackets trading the lead three times before WWU clinched the win with a 5-run seventh inning.

Western Washington put three runs on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning, but the 'Jackets answered back with five.
 

Senior Cori Gammon started the offensive drive with a double to left center. Tracy hit a home run for the first runs of the game for MSUB. A single from Prince and one from Ryland Estrada put two runners on for Kelsey Devlin. The first baseman hit a long single to right center to plate Prince from second. Catcher Haley Rowe hit the second double of the inning for the 'Jackets, plating both Devlin and Estrada for the 5-2 MSUB lead.

WWU tied the game in the second inning and added three more runs in the next two inning for an 8-5 lead. At the top of the fourth inning, WWU loaded the bases with a single and two walks. In what was the defensive play of the game, MSUB's Rovens went way back to the center field fence and reached over the railing to steal a grand slam away from Sarah Morrow, keeping the play to a single run on a sacrifice hit.

On that momentum, the Yellowjackets put up three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to knot the game at eight. Gammon reached on an error and Rovens drew a walk to put two runners on. On a 2-1 count, Tracy swung big for her team, smashing her second home run of the game, a 3-RBI shot over the left field fence to tie the game.

Roark got three straight outs at the top of the fifth inning to hold the game tied. At the top of the sixth inning, the Vikings collected two runs on a home run from first baseman Emily Benson.

The Yellowjackets scored four runs on two hits in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull within one, 13-12. Gammon led off the inning battling through seven pitches to draw a walk. On six pitches, Rovens hit an infield single. Behind in the count, 0-2, Tracy next drew four straight balls to load the bases.

In her second weekend at home, Prince crushed her second grand slam of the year to pull her team to just one run under WWU, but that would be it.

The Yellowjackets couldn't add to their total at the end of the inning, and the Vikings put up five more runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Tracy finished 4-for-4 in the second game with 3 runs and 6 RBI. Prince was 2-for-3 with 2 runs and 4 RBI. Devlin and Rowe were both 2-for-4.

In the circle, WWU's Aspen Ison (1-1) tossed four complete innings in relief for Shearyna Labasan earning the win, holding MSUB to five earned runs on four hits.

Roark (2-9) tossed 5 and 1/3 inning for the Yellowjackets, scattering nine hits and fanning four.

THE BUZZ: Rovens earned St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day honors, batting 4-for-6 and making the defensive play of the day saving a grand slam over the center field fence.

UP NEXT: MSU Billings goes back to work against the Vikings with another doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 12:00 p.m.