DENVER, Colo. – The Black Hills State University softball team lost two RMAC games on Sunday to wrap up their weekend in Denver. The Yellow Jackets (2-13, 1-7 RMAC) lost to Dixie State (17-5, 5-3 RMAC), 9-2 in the first game of the bay before dropping their final game of the weekend to MSU-Denver (14-6, 6-2 RMAC), 6-1 in the second game.  
 
Dixie State 9, BHSU 2
 
After a scoreless start to the game, Dixie State jumped ahead of the Yellow Jackets in the bottom of the third inning. A Shea Clements single drove in one run to give the Trailblazers a 1-0 lead and load the bases with only one out. Dixie State's scoring threat was shut down however when Crystal Amaral recorded back to back strikeouts for the Green and Gold.
 
The Yellow Jackets answered quickly, scoring two runs of their own in the bottom of the third. Maddie London hit a double to left field that drove in Kindall Bethke, and London was able to advance to third base on the throw as Bethke scored. A few batters later, London stole home to score the second run of the inning for the Green and Gold. After three innings, the Yellow Jackets lead 2-1.
 
Dixie State pulled back ahead 3-2 in the top of the fourth when Hannah Hughbanks and Malory Eldredge each drove in one RBI apiece. The Trailblazers extended their lead to 4-2 in the top of the fifth when a Kaylan Walker flyout drove in one run. The Green and Gold remained within striking distance until the top of the seventh when a Destiny Diaz double drove in three runs and extended the Dixie State lead to 7-2. A Yellow Jackets error allowed the Trailblazers to score two more runs and pushed the final score to 9-2.
 
London was 1-for-3 with one double and one RBI in the game, and Bethke was 2-for-4. Taryn Moan, Brittany Hendricksen, and Dominique DiManna recorded one hit each for the Green and Gold.
 
Amaral (1-5) struck out three batters in the loss and allowed three earned runs on six hits in 4.0 innings of work. Halie Litwin pitched 2.0 innings and gave up three earned runs on four hits. Darian Gottfried pitched the final 1.0 inning for the Yellow Jackets, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits.
 
MSU-Denver 6, BHSU 1
 
The Yellow Jackets fell behind early when Laney Sheppard drove in one run in the bottom of the first to start the scoring for MSU-Denver. The Roadrunners would add to their lead in the bottom of the second with an Ari Valdez RBI that extended the MSU-Denver lead to 2-0.
 
The Green and Gold would cut MSU-Denver's lead in half in the top of the fourth when a Hailey Franklin single drove in Kindall Bethke. However, the Roadrunners quickly answered and were able to extend their 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Rebecca Gonzales singled to drive in two runs for MSU-Denver who held a 4-1 advantage after four innings.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, the Roadrunners distanced themselves from the Yellow Jackets with a two-run home run by Sheppard. The Green and Gold were unable to score any runs the rest of the way, and MSU-Denver finished the game with a 6-1 victory.
 
Franklin went 1-for-3 with one RBI. Bethke, Samantha Schoen, and Dominique DiManna each had a hit for the Yellow Jackets.
 
Breanne Henricksen (0-3) went the distance in the circle for the Yellow Jackets. The junior gave up six earned runs on nine hits and struck out two.
 
The Yellow Jackets will return home on Saturday, March 7 for the first two contests of a four-game series with RMAC foe Adams State University. Saturday's games are set for noon and 2 p.m. The final two games of the series are scheduled for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 8.