SPEARFISH, S.D. – Playing on the BHSU Softball Field for the first time in 719 days, the Black Hills State University softball team fell to Colorado Christian University in a doubleheader. The Cougars (31-12, 24-6 RMAC) took the first game, 9-1, before the Yellow Jackets (10-25, 7-20 RMAC) dropped game two, 6-3.  

CCU 9, BHSU 1 (5 innings)

The game remained scoreless through three complete innings. However, in the top of the fourth the Cougars got on the board, scoring five runs on five hits. In the bottom of the fourth, Maddie London came up for the Yellow Jackets and hit a one-out homerun to trim the lead to 5-1. The junior now has three homers on the year.

CCU added four insurance runs in the top of the fifth to lead 9-1. In the bottom of the inning, Samantha Schoen drew a walk and Alex Wiley singled, however, they were both stranded on base, and the Cougars ultimately earned the RMAC victory.

Along with London and Wiley, Caitlyn Graves also tallied a hit in the game, while Schoen recorded two bases on balls.

Wiley (3-11) took the loss for the Yellow Jackets. She allowed five runs (three earned) in the first 3.2 innings. Darian Gottfried allowed three runs, while Breanne Henricksen gave up one run in 1.0 innings pitched.

CCU 6, BHSU 3

After shutting the Cougars down in the top of the first inning, the Green and Gold took a lead in the bottom of the inning. Wiley opened the frame with a single. Morgan Smith pinch ran, and immediately stole second. Katelyn Odle then took a 0-2 pitch to right center field, doubling and allowing Smith to come across the plate. The next batter, Kindall Bethke, placed a single between the left fielder and shortstop, as Odle scored to put BHSU up, 2-0.

In the third inning, the Cougars came alive. Four straight singles tied things up, before a two-out RBI single from Shelby Fusich gave CCU a 3-2 lead. The visitors tacked on a run in the fourth on a home run by Stephanie Day, and scored twice more in the fifth inning.  

In the bottom of the sixth, Brittany Henricksen got things started with a one-out double. Two batters later Wiley stepped up to the plate and snuck a single up the middle, as Henricksen motored around the bases. CCU would end the threat, however, and secure the 6-3 win.

Wiley and Bethke each had two hits in the game, while Odle, Schoen, Brittany Henricksen, and Fidler each tallied a base knock.

Crystal Amaral (7-8) took the loss in the circle. She struck out four in 4.1 innings, while allowing six runs. Breanne Henricksen threw the final 2.2 innings, allowing just a hit.

The Green and Gold and Cougars will play another doubleheader on Sunday, April 20. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.

###

Black Hills State is located in the Northern Black Hills of South Dakota, sponsoring 13 NCAA sports with membership in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the NCAA emerging sport of women's triathlon and NIRA rodeo. For all information regarding Yellow Jacket Athletics, please visit BHSUAthletics.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @BHSUAthletics.

---BHSUAthletics.com---