Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Black Hills State University softball team dropped both games Friday morning against Minot State and the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The Yellow Jackets fell to Minot State by a score of 8-1 followed by a 3-2 loss to Minnesota, Crookston.

A full box score will be available in the near future.

The Yellow Jackets fall to 2-6 on the season as Minot State improves to 4-5 overall and UMC improves 2-2 on the season.

Lexi Baker led the Yellow Jacket offense going 3-for-5 on the day while Alex Wiley and Pamela Sakuma each tallied an RBI.

Game One: Minot State 8 BHSU 1
Black Hills State led the game off with Morgan Smith hitting a single to land on base. Following Smith, Lexi Baker walked to advance Smith to second. An error by the defense caused Pamela Sakuma to reach first and score Smith to give the Yellow Jackets the first run of the game to lead 1-0.

In the bottom of the first inning, Minot State answered back scoring two quick runs in Jordan Grant and Lauren Cowden. Grant walked to take first followed by Cowden hitting a double to send Grant home for the Beavers first run of the game. Cowden scored behind Grant to give Minot the go-ahead run at 2-1.

Skyla Neubaur stepped up to bat later in the first and hit a 3-run home run to give the Beavers a 6-1 lead after Cowden and Zimmerman both scored earlier to end the first inning. Minot State went on to score two more runs in the fourth inning to take an 8-1 lead over the Yellow Jackets.

In the top of the seventh inning, Maddie London hit a double but the offense was just not enough to overcome the Beavers.

Stefanie Witman was charged with the loss after striking out five batters. Jenn Spencer for the Beavers picked up the win after striking out four batters.

Game Two: UMC 3 BHSU 2
In the top of the third, Hailey Fitzpatrick led off with a single to land on first base. Following Fitzpatrick, an error by the defense allowed Victoria Bayliss to reach first base and advance Fitzpatrick to third.

The next at-bat, Gabriel Antolok doubled sending Fitzpatrick home to give the Golden Eagles the first run of the game. On the double, Bayliss advanced to third. Maggie Morales stepped up to the plate and sacrificed the hit to allow Bayliss to score to give the Golden Eagles a 2-0 lead over the Yellow Jackets.

The University of Minnesota, Crookston went on to score one more run in the top of the sixth but the Yellow Jackets responded to close in on the 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Lexi Baker led off for the Green and Gold hitting a single to take a base.

At the plate, Alex Wiley wacked a double to score Baker to give the Yellow Jackets their first run of the game and bring the score to 3-1. Following Wiley, Pamela Sakuma singled to allow Wiley to advance home and trail the Golden Eagles 3-2. It was not enough though to claim the victory over UMC.

Wiley was charged with the loss after striking out six batters and giving up just one earned run while Bailey Braatz picked up the win for the Golden Eagles with just striking out two batters.

Black Hills State begins Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play starting with a doubleheader at Adams State February 25 and 26. First pitch on Saturday is slated for noon followed by 11 a.m. Sunday.