SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University softball team's series against Colorado School of Mines has been moved to Denver, Colo.  The Yellow Jackets (3-5, 0-0 RMAC) will take on the Orediggers for a four-game series on Sunday, Feb. 24, and Monday, Feb. 25.  First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. for Sunday's double header. The games will be played on the campus of MSU Denver at the Regency Athletic Complex.

Colorado School of Mines
The Orediggers have a 1-7 overall record (0-0 RMAC), after defeating Montana State – Billings, 4-3, in eight innings to finish non-conference play. 
As a team, Colorado School of Mines has a .207 batting average, led by two players hitting above .300.  Katie Leiker leads the Orediggers with a .360 batting average (9-for-25), while Kendall Murphy is batting .333 (9-for-27). 

Claire Stringfellow leads the Orediggers pitching staff with a 3.04 ERA, which is eighth in the RMAC.  Through 24.0 innings, Stringfellow has allowed 20 runs (10 earned) on 24 hits, with 11 strikeouts and 18 walks.  Sophomore Sydney Marchando earned Colorado School of Mines' first victory, allowing three hits and two runs in her 5.0 inning performance.
Colorado School of Mines was selected to finish sixth in the RMAC Preseason Polls.  Junior Clara Larson was voted the Preseason Player of the Year and to the RMAC Preseason Team as a shortstop.  Kara Jones was also selected to the RMAC Preseason First Team as a utility player.

Last Meeting
BHSU and Colorado School of Mines last faced each other in the 2018 season.  The Yellow Jackets walked away with three wins in the four-game series against the Orediggers, to record the first victories over Mines since 2015.

The Series
The Yellow Jackets are 4-20 all-time against Colorado School of Mines, including 3-13 of games played in Golden, Colo.

Last Time Out
The Yellow Jackets completed non-conference play at the Cactus Classic Tournament, leaving Tucson, Ariz., with a 2-2 performance.

On Friday, BHSU split the first day of the tournament after falling to Simon Fraser, 4-0, before defeating Oklahoma Baptist, 2-0.  In the Yellow Jackets' victory over the Bison, Crystal Amaral (1-2) recorded her first career victory with a complete game shutout.  Amaral allowed just three hits in seven innings, while striking out five.   

The Green and Gold split the final day of the Cactus Classic, defeating the University of Texas – Permian Basin, 7-2, before falling, 12-1, to Saint Martin's.  Alex Wiley (2-2) earned the win in the circle against the Falcons, allowing two runs (one earned) in five innings, and striking out one.

Lead the Way
Five Yellow Jacket starters have above a .300 batting average.  Kindall Bethke leads the Green and Gold with a .481 batting average through eight games, which is 10^th in the conference and tied for 103^rd nationally.
  
Swing, Batter, Batter, Swing
As a team, the Yellow Jackets have a .298 batting average, which is seventh in the RMAC and 82^nd nationally.   

Paint the Corners
The Green and Gold's pitching staff is ninth in the conference with a 5.52 earned run average, and 171^st nationally.  Alex Wiley (2-2) leads the Yellow Jackets with a 2.86 ERA, which is fifth in the conference.

Road Warriors
The Yellow Jackets hold a 47-road game streak, after weather permitted the Green and Gold to play 40 straight games on the road in the 2018 season. 

Up Next
Black Hills State's series against CSU-Pueblo and Regis have been moved to Pueblo, Colo., on March 2 and 3.  The Yellow Jackets will take on the ThunderWolves at 10 a.m. on Saturday, before playing Regis at 2 p.m.