SPEARFISH, S.D. – For the first time in three years, the Yellow Jackets (7-10, 4-5 RMAC) head down to southern Colorado to go head-to-head with Fort Lewis (6-19, 1-11 RMAC), on March 16 and 17.  First pitch is set for noon for Saturday's doubleheader.
 
Fort Lewis Skyhawks
The Yellow Jackets and Skyhawks meet on the diamond for the first time since the 2016 season.  In their last matchup, BHSU took two games of the four-game series by scores of 0-2, 5-2, 1-7, and 7-0. 

The Skyhawks hold a 6-19 overall record (1-11 RMAC), after falling in four games to Colorado Christian. 

As a team, Fort Lewis records a .285 batting average, led by Angelique Elemen with a .450 batting average.  The senior stands first in the RMAC in homeruns (11), hits (39), and slugging percentage (.964).

On the mound, the Skyhawks total a 7.51 earned run average, with opponents totaling a .351 batting average.
 
Last Time Out
With a 7-10 overall record, BHSU is off to the best start since joining the NCAA in 2012.   In the Yellow Jackets last outing, BHSU split a four-game series with Adams State to take two games from the Grizzlies for the first time since 2013. 

In the series opener, Adams State jumped out to an early 3-0 run before the Yellow Jackets responded with three runs to tie the game.  BHSU racked up two triples in the seventh inning to get a 5-3 lead over ASU.  The Yellow Jackets held the Grizzlies to secure a 5-3 victory.  In the second game on Saturday, the Green and Gold tied the score, 4-4, in the sixth inning, until the Grizzlies tagged on two runs to take the game, 6-4.  

BHSU tallied 24 runs in Sunday's doubleheader, taking the first game, 13-7, before falling to Adams State, 12-11.  In the Yellow Jacket's victory, Brittany Henricksen knocked a two-run home run to take the lead over the Grizzlies.  The Green and Gold put up six runs in the sixth inning, extending their lead to 13-5.  ASU added two runs, but BHSU defense held the Grizzlies to take another win in the series.  In BHSU's loss, Adams State brought in seven runs in the bottom of the third to lead the Yellow Jackets.  In the seventh inning, the Green and Gold rallied to tie the game, 11-11, but the Grizzlies scored an unearned run to earn the walkoff victory.
 
Paint the Corners
In the Yellow Jackets opener against Adams State (3/9/19), freshman Crystal Amaral struck out a career and season-high 11 batters.  Amaral is tied for fourth in the program's history for strikeouts in a single game and is second in the conference totaling 53 strikeouts and 17 looking strikeouts.  She averages 7.7 strikeouts per seven innings, which is 58^th nationally.
 
Run Jackets Run
BHSU scored a total of 33 runs in the four-game series against Adams State, which is the second most runs scored in a single series in the program's history.  The Yellow Jackets recorded 42 runs in the series against Dakota State in 2010. 
 
Swing Batter Batter Swing
The Yellow Jackets totaled a season-high 19 hits against Adams State, on March 10.  As a team, BHSU holds a .309 batting average, which is fifth in the conference and 73^rd nationally.  Kindall Bethke leads the Green and Gold with a .441 batting average, ranking 10^th in the RMAC and 121^st nationally. 
 
Gotta Be Quicker Then That
Maddie London has caught five runners stealing in 17 games to rank second in the conference. The junior has thrown out 22 runners in her career at BHSU.
 
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets look to host New Mexico Highlands for their first home series since the 2017 season, on March 23 and 24.