DENVER, Colo. – The Black Hills State University softball team fell to Metropolitan State University of Denver on Friday afternoon by scores of 4-3 and 8-0.

Black Hills State falls to 5-29 on the season and 3-23 in conference action while MSU Denver improves to 32-13 and 24-6 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Game One: MSUD 4 BHSU 3

After two scoreless innings, MSU Denver takes a 1-0 lead over BHSU in the third. Colissa Bakovich hit a leadoff triple through the right side to land in scoring position for the Roadrunners. Annika Anderson followed behind Bakovich and grounded out to the shortstop but scored Bakovich for the 1-0 lead.

In the fifth, Maddie London stepped up to the plate and smashed a home run over the left field fence to tie the game 1-1. MSU Denver then reclaimed the lead back. With two outs, Bakovich hit a single up the middle to land on base. Bakovich then put herself closer to scoring position by stealing second. Anderson then reached on an error by the Green and Gold but advanced to third allowing Bakovich to score to give MSUD a 2-1 lead.

In the sixth, the Roadrunners increased their lead with Harley Huser stepping in at the plate for Carissa Terry and hitting a triple out to left field. From there, Daisy Collins pinch hit for Cassidy Smith and grounded out to the pitcher but pushed Huser home to take the 3-1 lead.

Heading into the seventh inning, the Yellow Jackets looked to make a comeback as Kindall Bethke singled through the right side to start for BHSU. London walked advancing Bethke to second. Alex Wiley then hit a sacrifice bunt to the catcher pushing Bethke to third and Morgan Vasquez, who pinch ran for London, to second.

With one out and one runner on, Katelyn Odle grounded out to the shortstop to advance Vasquez to third and score Bethke to trail 3-2. Following Odle, Madison Young stepped in at the plate for Morgan Smith and got hit by the pitch to land on first. Smith entered back in and stole second base. Pamela Sakuma reached on fielder's choice and scored London to tie the game 3-3.

The comeback effort was not enough to push the Yellow Jackets to victory as MSU Denver scored the final run in the seventh to win 4-3. Brooke Lovas scored the final run on a single to right field by Anderson.

Maddie London went 2-for-2 at the plate scoring two runs for the Green and Gold. Odle and Bethke each tallied a hit for the BHSU offense as well.
Wiley was charged with the loss after six innings pitched and striking out four batters. Wiley only gave up two earned runs. Darby McGhee picked up the win for MSU Denver after striking out six batters.

Game Two: MSUD 8 BHSU 0

Eight runs carry Metro State past Black Hills State in game two.

In the first inning, Bakovich led off with a single to center field to take first base. Anderson stepped up and doubled to right center allowing Bakovich to score to take a 1-0 lead.

In the second inning, the Roadrunners scored three runs to increase their lead. Huser started by drawing the walk to land on first. Collins then stepped up and singled up the middle to advance Huser to second. Both Collins and Huser placed themselves in scoring position by stealing second and third. Ashlee Kim hit a double through the left side scoring Huser for the 2-0 lead and pushing Collins to third.

With one out, Hayley Fields hit a sacrifice fly to score Collins and pushed Kim to third. An error by the Yellow Jacket defense caused Kim to score and give the Roadrunners a 4-0 lead. From there, MSU Denver went on to score four more runs in the fourth inning to take the 8-0 victory.

Katelyn Odle and Makenzi Strong each tallied a hit for the Yellow Jackets.

Witman was charged with the loss after pitching 3.2 innings while Fields picked up the win for MSUD after giving up just two hits in five innings.

Black Hills State returns home to host Regis University in its final home stand of the season Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23. First pitch is scheduled for noon on Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday.