CHADRON, Neb. – The Black Hills State University softball team split a doubleheader with Chadron State College to begin the final weekend of the regular season. The Eagles (14-33, 11-26 RMAC) took the first game, 5-2, before the Yellow Jackets (11-28, 8-23 RMAC) came back to win the second game, 12-7.  

CSC 5, BHSU 2

The Yellow Jackets got two runners on in the first inning, but were unable to capitalize, and the Eagles jumped on the board first, going up 3-0 after one. The home team would add two more runs in the third inning on a home run and a sacrifice fly, and lead, 5-0.

In the fifth inning, Samantha Schoen started the frame with a base hit, and moved to second when Morgan Smith drew a walk. Alex Wiley next stepped to the plate and doubled to left center, allowing Schoen to score. With Smith on third, Katelyn Odle hit a deep fly to center field, allowing plenty of time for Smith to tag and score, cutting the lead to 5-2.

In the seventh inning, Schoen was hit by a pitch to open the inning. However, the next three batters flew out, and the Eagles held on to win the opening game of the series.

Wiley and Odle each recorded an RBI, while Wiley, Maddie London, and Schoen each tallied a hit in the game.

Wiley (3-13) took the loss for the Yellow Jackets, allowing five runs in 4.0 innings, striking out four. Breanne Henricksen threw the final 2.0 innings, striking out one. Peyton Propp (4-7) earned the complete game win for the Eagles.

BHSU 12, CSC 7

The Eagles scored first in the second game, going up 2-0 in the first inning. They would add one run in the second.

In the top of the third, Odle hit an RBI single to bring Smith in and cut the lead to 3-1. The Yellow Jackets would even things up in the fourth inning. Caitlyn Graves opened the frame with a single. Maddi Fidler then hit a homer to left field to tie up the game, 3-3.

In the fifth inning, after a pair of two-out walks, Dominique DiManna hit a three-run dinger to give BHSU a 6-3 lead. The visitors blew the game open in the sixth inning, scoring five runs, including two on an Odle homer.

In the bottom of the sixth, with the Eagles down to their final out, Angelica Maples hit a grand slam to buy some time, however, the Green and Gold would get one run back in the seventh, and shut CSC down in the bottom of the seventh to win, 12-7.

Six different Yellow Jackets recorded runs batted in, including three by both Odle and DiManna. London and Fiddler brought in two, and Wiley and Graves each tallied one RBI. Graves and Odle both finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate.

Crystal Amaral (8-9) earned the win in the circle. She threw the final 6.2 innings, allowing five runs while striking out eight.   

The Green and Gold will wrap up the regular season with a doubleheader against the Eagles on April 27. First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 11 a.m.  

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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---