SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University softball team split its doubleheader against the University of Colorado Colorado Springs by scores of 9-1 and 6-5 on Saturday afternoon.

Black Hills State improves to 6-36 on the season and 4-30 in conference action while UCCS falls to 16-27 and 15-23 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Game One: UCCS 9 BHSU 1

A seven-run inning carried the Mountain Lions over the Yellow Jackets.

In the second leading 1-0, Makenna Smith hit a leadoff single down the left field line. Jordan Cusimano reached first on a fielder's choice causing Smith out at second. Meghan Waidler drew the walk to advance Cusimano. The next at-bat, Leigh Lancaster singled up the middle to load the bases. Melissa Martinek's single to right field pushed Cusimano home to score the second run and take a 2-0 lead.

From there, Whitney Weber singled to the pitcher to keep the bases loaded and score Waidler for a 3-0 lead. Lexi Belligan kept the hitting streak going for the Mountain Lions with a single to right field and scored Martinek and Lancaster to increase the lead 5-0.

UCCS continued from there to score three more runs in the second to lead 8-0 and scored one run in the sixth to end the game 9-1.

The Yellow Jackets scored their only run in the fourth to end the shutout. Kindall Bethke drew a walk to start for the Green and Gold. Alex Wiley reached first on a fielder's choice while Bethke advanced to second on a defensive error by UCCS.

From there, Bethke and Wiley each advanced a base due to a wild pitch to land in scoring position. Katelyn Odle stepped up to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Bethke and get the Yellow Jackets on the board to trail 8-1.

It was not enough for the Green and Gold to claim a victory though.

Pamela Sakuma registered her first career-stolen base when she stole second in the third inning. Lexi Baker and Maddie Druse each tallied a hit for the offense.

Stefanie Witman was charged with the loss after striking out three batter while Stephanie Chitkowski picked up the win for UCCS after striking out nine in six innings.

Game Two: BHSU 6 UCCS 5

A walk off home run by Kindall Bethke carried the Yellow Jackets to victory in game two of the day avoiding extra innings.

BHSU trailed 4-0 in the fourth inning until Pamela Sakuma smashed a three-run homer over the left field fence to put the Yellow Jackets on the board 4-3.

The run started with a two out single by Katelyn Odle to right center. Jordyn Ballard stepped up behind Odle and drew the walk to place runners on first and second. After putting Makenzi Strong in to pinch run for Ballard, Sakuma cracked one out of the park to left field to score Strong, Odle and herself to trail by one.

In the fifth inning, BHSU took its first lead of the series. Morgan Smith and Bethke each hit one out singles to land on first and second. With two outs, Ballard cracks a double to right center to score Smith and Bethke for the 5-4 lead.

In the seventh, UCCS tied the game at 5-5. Whitney Weber hit a leadoff single to shortstop to land on base. Lexi Belligan stepped up and hit a double to right field to score Weber for the tying run.

However, extra innings were avoided when Kindall Bethke stepped up to the plate. With two outs, Bethke smashed a walk off homer over the left field fence to give BHSU the victory 6-5.

The Yellow Jackets tallied nine outs in 29 at-bats. Sakuma and Bethke each had two of those nine hits while Sakuma led with three RBIs. Sakuma went 2-for-3 from plate while Bethke went 2-for-4 with two runs.

Wiley picked up the win for the Green and Gold with four strikeouts after seven innings while Stephanie Chitkowski was charged with the loss after just two innings pitched and one strikeout.

BHSU celebrates the seniors on Sunday in its final doubleheader of the season against UCCS with first pitch set for 11 a.m.