SPEARFISH, S.D. – With continuous freezing temperatures, the Black Hills State University softball team will host the tripod with CSU-Pueblo and Regis in Pueblo, Colo., on Friday, March 1, and Saturday, March 2.  

The ThunderWolves (1-7, 0-4 RMAC) and Rangers (5-4, 2-1 RMAC) will face each other to kick off the tripod, followed by the Yellow Jackets (4-7, 1-2 RMAC) doubleheader against the two teams.  First pitch is set for noon against CSU-Pueblo, before facing Regis at 2 p.m. on Friday. 
 
CSU-Pueblo ThunderWolves
CSU-Pubelo started RMAC with a 0-4 conference record after falling in a four-game series against UCCS.

In their last meeting, the Yellow Jackets and ThunderWolves split the series, 2-2.  On the first day, CSU-Pueblo took game one (2-0) and game two (3-1), while BHSU took game one (13-5) and game two (8-2), to outscore the ThunderWolves, 22-12.

The ThunderWolves have three players batting above .300, led by Michaela Burpee with a .417 batting average (10-for-24), followed by Marissa Piatt (.381) and Sabrina Felix (.350).   Burpee's batting average ranks her 17^th in the conference. 

As a team, CSU-Pueblo records a .233 batting average through eight games of play, and has a .940 fielding percentage.
 
Regis Rangers
The Rangers hold a 5-4 overall record (2-1 RMAC), after taking two wins against New Mexico Highlands in a three-game series. 

Last season, Regis swept the Yellow Jackets in a four-game series and went on the play in the RMAC Tournament.  The Rangers were eliminated from the tournament by Colorado Christian, just one game away from competing for the RMAC Championship.

Regis has three players with an above .400 batting average, led by Carly Beard with a .444 batting average.  Following her is Allisha Martinez (.409) and Analece Apodaca (.400).  As a team, the Rangers have a .279 batting average, which is ninth in the conference.

Maisie Mortimer leads the Rangers pitching staff with a 1.17 earned run average through 18 innings, totaling eight strikeouts.  Regis tallies a 4.53 earned run average through eight games, which is fifth in the RMAC.
 
Last Time Out
The Yellow Jackets opened conference play with a three-game series against Colorado School of Mines.  The Orediggers took the series 2-1, winning by scores of 11-3, 4-5, and 3-0.

In the first game of the series, BHSU got on the board first with two runs in the first two innings.  Colorado School of Mines responded with a bases clearing double to take a 3-2 lead.  Maddi Fidler doubled to center field to bring in Kindall Bethke to tie the game.  The Orediggers added insurance runs in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings to secure a 11-3 opening series victory.

On Monday, the Yellow Jackets started the game with a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, before the Orediggers tied the game in the third.  CSM then went ahead to lead, 4-2, in the sixth inning.  In the bottom of the sixth, the Green and Gold scored three runs to take back the lead.  The Orediggers would get a runner on base with two outs, but the Yellow Jackets were able to hold on to record the first conference victory of the season.

Unable to keep the momentum from the first game, the Yellow Jackets would fall, 3-0, for Colorado School of Mines to walk away with the series.
 
Lead the Way
Five Yellow Jacket starters have above a .300 batting average.  Kindall Bethke leads the Green and Gold with a .444 batting average through 11 games, which is 10^th in the conference.  Alex Wiley stands in 12^th in the RMAC with a .438 average, while Brittany Henricksen has .324 and Samantha Schoen records .308.  
 
Swing, Batter, Batter, Swing
As a team, the Yellow Jackets have a .280 batting average, which is eighth in the RMAC and 131^st nationally.  
 
Paint the Corners
The Green and Gold's pitching staff is eighth in the conference with a 5.37 earned run average, and 181^st nationally.  Alex Wiley (3-3) leads the Yellow Jackets with a 3.64 ERA, which is 11^th in the conference.
 
Up Next
Black Hills State will continue on the road for a doubleheader against Regis on March 7, for non-conference action.  Following the games against the Rangers, the Yellow Jackets will take on Adams State in Alamosa, Colo., on March 9 and 10.  First pitch of Thursday's doubleheader is set for 12 p.m.