Spearfish, S.D. – The Black Hills State softball team was unable to cope with the offensive consistency of University of Nebraska-Kearney as they lost both games of the double header this Sunday afternoon.  The Yellow Jackets lost the first contest by a seven inning final score of 5-10 and fell in the second game 1-17 after five innings.

In the first game of the day, senior pitcher Katie Wagner took the mound for the Yellow Jackets. Kearney located Wagner's pitches early as they took a seven run lead through the first two innings. Wagner was momentarily relieved by pitcher Nikki Chacon, but would eventually return to the contest to finish on the mound. Black Hills State battled back in the fifth inning, scoring three runs and avoiding the early ending.  The Yellow Jackets were also able to pick up two late runs in the seventh inning, but would eventually fall by a score of 5-10. Wagner was tagged with the loss.

The Yellow Jackets five run offensive column was led by sophomore Kelsey Chambers. Chambers recorded two hits on the three at bats, including a home run in the seventh inning. Chambers also drove in three runs and scored a run of her own. The other two runs scored came at the bat of catcher Lenaya Vigil. Vigil earned two hits on four plate appearances while picking up two RBIs for Black Hills State.

In the second game of the day, it was Alex Huntington who started off on the mound for the Yellow Jackets. A big offensive push by the Lopers and costly errors by the Yellow Jackets gave Kearney a 14 run lead through the first half of the first inning. The Yellow Jackets would pick up a solo run in the first inning, but were unable to find any more offensive success through the remainder of the contest. Chacon relieved Huntington midway through the first and would go on to pitch the final 4.1 innings. Huntington was credited with the loss as Black Hills State fell 1-17.

The offensive leader for the Yellow Jackets in the back half of the double header was freshman Nia Shumpert. Shumpert picked up two hits on two at bats and was the only runner who scored for Black Hills State. Vigil connected on one of two appearances at the plate and recorded the RBI that brought Shumpert across in the bottom half of the first inning.

Black Hills State will return to the softball diamond next Friday and Saturday, April 6 and 7, as they travel to Colorado Springs to take on UCCS. The games are scheduled for 12:00 p.m. MT and 2:00 p.m. MT on Friday and 11:00 a.m. MT and 1:00 p.m. MT on Saturday.

For more information on Yellow Jacket Athletics please visit BHSUAthletics.com.