SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University softball teams sets out to Colorado to kick-off a 10-road game stride, starting with a non-conference doubleheader against Regis on March 7.  First pitch is set for noon on Thursday against the Rangers.

Following the games against the Regis, the Yellow Jackets (5-8, 2-3 RMAC) will head to Alamosa, Colo., to take on Adams State in a four-game series on March 9 and 10.

Regis Rangers
Regis ranks fourth in the conference with an 4-1 RMAC record (7-4 overall) after defeating CSU-Pueblo, 10-7, and Black Hills State, 3-1. 

The Rangers have six players hitting above .300, including Carly Beard with a .500 batting average (12-for-24), through 11 games, which is third in the conference.  Maisie Mortimer leads Regis' pitching with a 2.80 earned run average to rank seventh in the RMAC. 

As a team, the Rangers are third in the RMAC with a .320 batting average, while totaling a 4.07 earned run average.

Adams State Grizzlies
Adams State holds a 3-5 RMAC record (3-17 overall), after taking three of four games in the series against Fort Lewis.

Brittany Phillips leads the Grizzlies offense with a .429 batting average (15-for-36), which is 13^th in the league. 

Through 20 games, the Grizzlies total a .286 team batting average, while opponents tally a .409 batting average.  Adams State's pitching staff rounds out a 9.35 earned run average, led by Phillips with a 7.83 ERA.

Last Time Out
BHSU fell to Regis, 3-1, before defeating CSU-Pueblo, 8-7, to split the first day of the tripod. Due to weather, the second day of the tripod was canceled.

The Yellow Jackets jumped on the board first, taking a 1-0 lead over Regis in the bottom of the third.  Kindall Bethke knocked a double to right center to get things going for the Green and Gold, before Sami Schoen grounded out to second to move the runner to third.  Maddi Fidler drilled her own double to bring in the run.  The Rangers immediately responded with a two-run home run to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth.  Regis added an insurance run in the seventh, before holding the Yellow Jackets to secure the victory. 

CSU-Pueblo attacked early in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead, before Brittany Henricksen singled to bring in a run to tie up the game.  The Yellow Jackets took the go ahead lead in the third inning; with the bases loaded Maddie London hit a two-run double, before Kindall Bethke singled for the Green and Gold to lead, 7-1.  The ThunderWolves were able to bring in six runs in the final innings, but the Yellow Jackets held on, ensuring an 8-7 win.   

Darian Gottfried (0-2) recorded the loss against the Rangers after allowing seven hits and three runs, while Crystal Amaral received the victory over the ThunderWolves, allowing seven runs and striking out eight.

Up Next
The Yellow Jackets will remain on the road to take on Fort Lewis in a four-game series in Durango, Colo., on March 16 and 17.