It was a rough start to conference play for the YVC softball team, which dropped three of four to Spokane and Big Bend over the weekend. But after a slow start, the Yaks found the magic formula on Saturday afternoon to claim a 15-3 win over Big Bend. Seven players recorded multiple hits as YVC got on the board early, plating six runs in the first inning and five more in the second.

Addison Flynn went 3-for-4 with two RBI and Madalyn Telles went 3-for-4 with three runs scored to lead the 18-hit offensive attack. Cheyenne Justice, Ellie Urlacher, Kylee Bradley and Riley Eckhardt each drove in a pair of runs, Rillee Huber went 2-for-3 with two runs, and Kassidy Van Soest and Abbygale Sheridan each delivered RBI hits. Van Soest was solid in the circle, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out seven.

The Yaks were within striking distance of the Vikings in Saturday's game one, trailing 6-3 through five innings, but a four-run sixth proved to be the difference in a 10-4 loss. Telles went 3-for-4 with an RBI, Justice finished 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI singles, and Sheridan and Eckhardt each notched a pair of base hits as YVC outhit Big Bend 14-13. Van Soest allowed five runs and six hits with five strikeouts over 2 1/3 innings, and Kathryn Prest pitched the final 4 2/3, striking out five while giving up seven hits and five runs.

Friday's opener against Spokane started off well, with the Yaks bringing home four runs in the second to take a 4-2 lead. But Spokane roared back with a five-run sixth to hand the Yaks a 9-6 defeat. Huber had a big day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a two-run homer in the sixth inning and an RBI single in the second. Flynn added a two-run double in the second, while Justice went 3-for-4 and Telles was 2-for-4. Van Soest went the distance in the circle, allowing six earned runs and 13 hits while striking out five.

The Yaks recorded just two hits in Friday's game two against the Sasquatch and lost 10-1 in five innings. The Sasquatch got to the YVC pitchers for seven runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth. Prest surrendered 10 hits and seven earned runs in 3 1/3 innings of work and Van Soest gave up three earned runs and four hits over 1 2/3. The Yaks scored their lone run in the first inning on an RBI fielder's choice by Telles.

Next up, YVC (1-3 NWAC East, 7-11 overall) hosts Walla Walla for two on Friday and Columbia Basin on Saturday.