LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The Black Hills State University softball team dropped a doubleheader to New Mexico Highlands University on Friday afternoon. The Cowgirls (7-23, 3-18 RMAC) took the first game, 7-4, before the Yellow Jackets (6-20, 6-12 RMAC) fell, 5-2, in eight innings, in game two.

NMHU 7, BHSU 4
The first two innings remained scoreless, but in the top of the third inning, the Yellow Jackets took a 1-0 lead. Melissa Gellermann reached base on an error to open the inning, and was standing on third when Katelyn Odle came up to bad. Odle singled to left center, allowing Gellermann to come across and score.

The Cowgirls responded, scoring a run of their own in the bottom of the third. New Mexico Highlands then used a four-run fifth inning to take a 5-1 lead. In the top of the sixth, BHSU scored three runs of its own on back-to-back home runs by Maddi Fidler and Kindall Bethke. In the bottom half of the inning, NMHU added two insurance runs.

Down to their last chance, the Yellow Jackets got to runners on in the top of the seventh, but were unable to score, and ultimately fell, 7-4.

Odle, Maddie London, and Bethke all had two hits, while Fidler, Brittany Henricksen, and Gellermann each recorded one hit in the game. Fidler had two runs batted in off her fourth homer of the year. Bethke's bomb was her fifth of the season, which is now tied for the team lead.

Melissa Gellermann (3-10) took the loss in the circle. She allowed seven runs (six earned) in 6.0 innings of work. She struck out five and walked three.

NMHU 5, BHSU 2 (8 innings)
The Yellow Jackets got runners on base in each of the first three innings, but were unable to plate a run. The Cowgirls took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third, but the Green and Gold immediately responded, tying the game up, 2-2, in the fourth. With two outs, Brittany Henricksen got things going with a single up the middle. Bryce Henricksen followed with a walk, before Morgan Smith doubled, allowing both Henricksens to come around and score.

Both teams got runners in scoring position in the next three innings, but with no runs scored, the game went to extra innings, the second of the season for BHSU. In the top of the eighth, Gellermann got on with a single, but two flyouts ended the threat. In the bottom of the inning, with runners on the corners and one out, Desiree Madrid hit a three-run home run, sealing the win for the Cowgirls.

Odle, London, Gellermann, Brittany Henricksen, and Smith each recorded hits for the Yellow Jackets.

Alex Wiley (3-7) took the loss for BHSU. She allowed five runs in 7.1 innings, while striking out one.  

The Green and Gold play another doubleheader against New Mexico Highlands on Saturday, March 31. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
  Black Hills State is located in the Northern Black Hills of South Dakota, sponsoring 13 NCAA sports with membership in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the NCAA emerging sport of women's triathlon and NIRA rodeo. For all information regarding Yellow Jacket Athletics, please visit BHSUAthletics.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @BHSUAthletics.