(Editor's note: MSUB Athletics release)
PORTLAND, Ore. – After leading the Montana State University Billings softball team offensively over a six-game stretch, senior rightfielder Hailee Gregerson was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week.
Gregerson hit four home runs and had a team-leading 10 RBIs during the Yellowjackets’ six games last week.
“These past couple of weekends Hailee has been really fun to watch up to bat,” said MSUB head coach Lisa McKinney. “She had a phenomenal weekend at the plate for us coming up with several clutch hits. We are proud of her for receiving this award and look forward to what she will do at the plate the rest of the season.”
Gregerson hit .389 while reaching base at a clip of .450 and slugging 1.056 in her 18 at-bats. She had zero strikeouts in 20 plate appearances, and played perfect defense in right field with six putouts and no errors. Gregerson also led the team in runs scored with seven.
The biggest moment of Gregerson’s highlight week came on Monday, when she delivered a walk-off home run to give the ‘Jackets their first GNAC win of the season. With the score tied at 12-12 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Gregerson crushed the game-winning solo shot over the fence in center at Avitus Group Stadium.
In the weekend series against Humboldt State University, a game-tying home run in the bottom of the fifth inning stood out as her biggest swing of the bat.
Gregerson has already reached her career season highs with four home runs and 11 RBIs, and is hitting .304 while slugging .587 through the first 18 games of the year. This is her first-career GNAC Player of the Week award and the first of the season for the Yellowjacket softball team.
MSUB (5-15, 1-3 GNAC) returns to conference play this weekend with a four-game series at Western Washington University. Doubleheaders are scheduled for noon (PST) on Friday and Saturday in Bellingham, Washington, with live coverage available online here.
