SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University softball team fell in its home debut Saturday afternoon to Colorado Mine by scores of 4-1 and 4-3.
Black Hills State falls to 3-15 on the season and 1-9 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference while Colorado Mines improves to 15-5 overall and 12-2 in conference action.
Game One: CSM 4 BHSU 1
In the first inning, the Orediggers lead off hitter Paige Noehring walked. Noehring stole second to advance to scoring position. At bat, Clara Larson grounded out to the pitcher but advanced Noehring to third. A triple to center field by Sonoma Toot scored Noehring to give CSM the 1-0 jump over the Yellow Jackets.
In the fourth inning with no outs, the Yellow Jackets got themselves out of a bases loaded jam giving up just one unearned run. An error by the Green and Gold allowed Pua Fujinaga to load the bases with Stefanie Brunello on second and Boston Ludlow on third. From there, Taylor Klauser grounded into a double play but scored Ludlow to give CSM a 3-0 over the Yellow Jackets.
Witman led off the batting for the Yellow Jackets in the bottom of the fifth inning striking a double down the left field line. Claire Fergusson stepped up to the plate and hit a single through the left side, and advanced to second on an error by the Orediggers. Alex Wiley, who pinch ran for Witman, scored off the play and gave BHSU its first run of the game to trail 3-1.
In the seventh inning, Toot started the Orediggers batting and got walked. Ludlow stepped up to bat and reached on an error by the Yellow Jacket defense advancing Brielle Asato, who pinch ran for Toot, to third. Kara Walling pinch ran for Ludlow and stole second which allowed Asato to score and give Colorado Mines the win at 4-1.
Witman went 2-for-3 tallying a double and Wiley scored a run for the Yellow Jackets.
Witman was charged with the loss striking out nine batters while Claire Stringfellow picked up her seventh win for the Orediggers after pitching 3.2 innings and striking out two.
Game Two: CSM 4 BHSU 3
A three-run inning was not enough to push the Yellow Jackets to victory over the Orediggers.
Trailing 1-0 in the second inning, Pamela Sakuma stepped up to the plate and advanced to first after being hit by a pitch. Odle hit a single up the middle to advance Sakuma to second. With a 2-2 count, Maddie London smashed a home run over the left field fence scoring Sakuma and Odle, giving the Yellow Jackets a 3-1 lead. It was London's second home run of the season.
In the seventh inning trailing 3-2, Clara Larson walked. Sonoma Toot hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Larson to second. In the next at-bat, Katie Leiker singled to second base putting Larson in scoring position at third. Leiker stole second base to setup the Orediggers for the game winning run.
From there, Kara Jones singled to right field allowing Larson and Leiker to score and gave CSM the go ahead run for the victory.
London led the Yellow Jacket offense in game two going 1-for-2 from the plate and tallying three RBIs.
Alex Wiley was charged with the loss after pitching seven innings and striking out two while Hallie Smith picked up the win after striking out nine.
Black Hills State returns to action tomorrow to close out the four-game series versus Colorado Mines. It will be raising funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m.
