MINOT, N.D. – The Black Hills State University softball team recorded its first victory of the 2019 season on Sunday afternoon. The Yellow Jackets (1-3) fell to Minot State (4-2), 14-5, in the first game of the day, before defeating the University of Minnesota-Crookston (1-2), 7-5, in the second game.
GAME 1: Minot State 14, BHSU 5 (6 innings)
The Yellow Jackets jumped on the board first, as Maddi Fidler singled to right center to drive in Katelyn Odle, followed by Alex Wiley, to lead the Beavers, 2-0, at the end of the first inning.
Minot State responded in the top of the second to tie the game, before the Beavers pushed ahead to take a 6-2 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Maddie London hit a single to center field, followed by a single from Lizzy Johnson. A double to left center by Brittany Henrickson drove in a run to cut the Beavers lead. Wiley singled to drive in two runs, bringing the score within one.
The Beavers added insurance to their lead, scoring eight runs in the top of the sixth to lead the Green and Gold, 14-5, securing their victory.
Wiley (2-for-4) and Fidler (1-for-3) each tallied two RBI, while London also went 2-for-4. Caitlyn Graves also recorded a hit.
Darian Gottfried (0-1) took the loss in the circle for the Green and Gold. Gottfried threw 3.0 innings, allowing four runs (three earned), and struck out one. Kyndal Wallace threw the final 0.2 inning, allowing two runs.
GAME 2: BHSU 7, Minnesota-Crookston 5
Neither team was able to score in the first or second inning, until the Yellow Jackets scored off a throwing error to lead the Beavers, 1-0, in the top of the third inning.
In the top of the sixth inning, a single to left field by London kept the Green and Gold's momentum. Makenzi Strong entered the game to run for London. After stealing third base, Strong scored off a sacrifice fly by Caitlyn Graves, pushing the Yellow Jackets ahead, 4-1. The Golden Eagles responded with a ground ball to second to drive in a run, bringing the score within two.
A two-run home run for Maddi Fidler added insurance for the Yellow Jackets in the top of the seventh inning. Jordan Peterson hit a bases clearing double, adding three runs for Minnesota-Crookston. The Eagles were able to load the bases, but the Green and Gold held on to win, 7-5.
Kindall Bethke led the Yellow Jackets, going 4-for-4 at the plate, while Sami Schoen went 3-for-3. Maddi Fidler recorded two RBI.
Alex Wiley (1-1) took the win for BHSU, allowing one run through 5.0 innings and striking out four. Darian Gottfried threw the final two innings, allowing four runs.
The Green and Gold will next head to Tucson, Ariz., for the Cactus Classic on Feb. 15 and 16. The Yellow Jackets will play Oklahoma Baptist at 12:30 p.m., before taking on Simon Fraser at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
BHSU will finish non-conference play against Texas-Permian Basin and Saint Martins, on Friday. First pitch is set for 12:30 p.m. against the Falcons, and at 3 p.m. against the Saints, on Saturday.
