SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University softball team heads to Colorado School of Mines for a four-game series this weekend. The Yellow Jackets and Orediggers are scheduled to play a double-header beginning at noon on Saturday, March 17, before playing two games on Sunday, March 18.

Scouting the Orediggers (14-10, 8-4 RMAC)
Colorado School of Mines, located in Golden, Colorado, most recently swept a four-games series from UCCS. Prior to that, they lost three of four to Regis in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play.

The Orediggers are currently hitting .306 as a team, led by Clara Larson (.415). Larson also leads the squad with seven home runs and 29 runs batted in, slugging .805 in the process. Her RBI total is fourth best in the RMAC this season. Six other players hit over .300, while four Orediggerse have hit two homers this season. Katie Leiker (.299) has a team-leading 10 stolen bases for CSM.

The Mines pitching staff has a combined 3.84 earned run average. Hallie Smith (5-4) has started 10 games, throwing six complete games, and holds a 4.18 ERA. She has struck out 39 in 60.1 innings pitched. Claire Stringfellow (6-3) has a 2.08 earned run average, which is third best in the league, with two complete games. In 43.2 innings of work, Stringfellow has struck out 21 batters.  

CSM is currently in fourth place in RMAC standings with an 8-4 conference record.

The Last Time Out
After splitting a four-game series with CSU-Pueblo, BHSU traveled to league-leading Colorado Christian, falling in four games. The Yellow Jackets lost in five innings in the first three games against the Cougars, but used a big four-run inning in game four to put the pressure on CCU, ultimately falling, 6-4. Morgan Smith and Maddie London each had two RBI on the weekend, while Brittany Henricksen, and Alex Wiley each recorded one run batted in.    

Jacket Leaders
Maddi Fidler leads the Green and Gold with a .404 batting average. Alex Wiley (.333) leads the squad with five homers and nine runs batted in, while Kindall Bethke has four home runs.

Wiley (1-4) leads the squad with a 5.82 ERA, striking out 13 in 27.2 innings, while Melissa Gellermann (1-7) has a 6.36 ERA. She has struck out 37 in 50.2 innings of work.

Next Up
After the four-game series with the Orediggers, the Yellow Jackets are scheduled to open their home schedule by hosting Chadron State College for four games. The Green and Gold welcome the Eagles for two games beginning at noon on Saturday, March 24, before playing a doubleheader on Sunday, March 25, with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m.