Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

BILLINGS, Mont. — Coach Rich Wagner knew his team needed to come out swinging against high-powered host Montana State Billings.

Unfortunately, a few missed chances proved costly for the Crusaders who fell 8-6 and 9-7 to the Yellowjackets on Friday in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader.

"We need to do a better job with runners in scoring position," Wagner said as NNU stranded 18 runners on base in the two games. "When you're playing the team that leads the conference in most offensive categories you have to score runs when you have the opportunity."

The 'Jackets did that, and it led to the sweep, as MSU Billings hit five home runs on the day and scored in bunches, rallying to wipe out a 6-1 NNU lead in the opener and a 5-2 Crusader advantage in the nightcap.

In the opener, Anna Olson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and a Lauren Bassett ground ball chased home two more to put NNU up 3-1 in the top of the third inning.

Two more NNU runners came home on a Lisa Sylvester grounder in the top of the fourth, and a throwing error on a double steal allowed Sylvester to score, making it a 6-1 game in the same frame.

But MSU Billings answered with a sixth-run rally in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead for good, as the Crusaders left a runner aboard in both the fifth and sixth innings as they tried to rally.

It was more of the same in the second game as Cassidy Fifield scored on an Ali Schauer grounder in the top of the fifth inning, then Sylvester blasted a three-run homer to cap the charge and give the Crusaders (16-28 overall, 10-16 GNAC) a 5-2 lead.

But once again the Jackets (13-35, 5-21) scored in bunches to erase NNU's advantage as four runs came home in the bottom of the fifth, and three more in the sixth for a 9-5 MSU Billings lead.

Morgan Thome had an RBI fielder's choice in the top of the seventh inning, and Morgan Buchanan scored on a fielding error, closing the gap to 9-7 before NNU's late comeback ran out of steam.

"I thought we did a better job offensively in game two," Wagner said, adding, "we will look to continue that tomorrow."

That's when NNU plays its final two games of the season, a doubleheader at MSU Billings on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m. (Mountain Time).

Lily Paschal, Kylie Orr and Sylvester each had a hit in the opener for NNU, as the Crusaders collected just three hits in the game, while Fifield led the way going 3-for-4 in the nightcap, and Schauer and Sylvester added two hits apiece for NNU in the second game.