Black Hills State softball has released its non-conference schedule for the 2024 season, which will include five games at St. Cloud State from Feb. 2-4.

"It has been a great Fall and the team has done a great job learning a new system and competing at a high level," said Head Coach Ashlyn Englehorn. "I think traveling to Minnesota will be a good test to see where we are at and prepare us for RMAC competition."

The team is returning All-Conference Honorable Mention, Kayla Lee, and All-Conference Second Team honoree, Shayla Tuschen.

"It's exciting to be able to travel closer to home for me and get some games in before we start our conference schedule," said Tuschen. "Normally we go into the season behind because everyone else has played already, so it will be nice to start on a more even playing field."

Englehorn is excited about how the young talent is developing this fall, and how they will mesh well with the more experienced members of the team.

"I am excited for preseason games because the last few years we have gone directly into RMAC play while other teams in our conference already have 12 games under their belts," said senior centerfielder, Gianna Haley. "I think this will be incredibly beneficial for us to work out all the last-minute kinks and to see live pitching before we head into conference. It's also exciting that we get to travel to Minnesota and play in a dome while facing some new competition. We are all so excited to get out and start playing some games. This is going to be a really good year for Yellow Jacket Softball."

The team's season opener will be on Feb. 2 against Northern State at 2 p.m. before taking on Sioux Falls immediately after at 4 p.m.

The following day, Saturday, Feb. 3, BHSU takes on the host school St. Cloud State at 10 a.m., and then plays Northern State again at 2 p.m.

BHSU rounds out their non-conference games on Sunday, Feb. 4 against Bemidji State at 9 a.m.

RMAC play begins for the Yellow Jackets on Saturday, Feb. 17.