GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Black Hills State softball earned its first win of the season in game one of Sunday's doubleheader at Colorado Mesa, 6-5.
 
The Yellow Jackets (1-7, 1-7 RMAC) ended up splitting the doubleheader after falling in game two, 10-2. However, the offense came alive as the team slugged three home runs, including two from Ashlynn Pauwels on her birthday.
 
Game One (W, 6-5)
Shayla Tuschen had a career game in game one of Saturday's doubleheader with a career-high 11 strikeouts, while hitting the game-winning home run.
 
She finished 2-4 with the home run, two RBI and two runs scored at the plate, and in the circle, went 7.0 innings, allowing only four earned runs on six hits, and walking just one.
 
Ashlynn Pauwels also slugged a home run in the game, which was the team's first home run of the season, going 1-3 with two RBI and a run scored.
 
Shylee Moxey, Taylor Klein and Tyler Whitlock each also recorded a hit, and Kayla Lee walked and scored a run.
 
The game remained scoreless over the first two inning of play as Tuschen racked up four punchouts early.
 
BHSU got on the board in the third with a double-steal that plated Gianna Haley before they tacked on another to take a 2-0 lead in the third.
 
CMU answered with four runs in the bottom of the third, though, moving on top 4-2 before a solo home run in the fourth stretched their lead to 5-2.
 
In the top of the fifth, an RBI single by Tuschen brought home Lee to pull the Yellow Jackets within 2. Then on the very next pitch, Pauwels hit a 2-run home run out to left center to even the game at 5-all.
 
Tuschen took over from there, shutting down the Mavericks in the circle, before helping herself out in the top of the seventh with what would be the game-winning solo home run out to right as the Yellow Jackets went on to win 6-5.
 
Game Two (L, 10-2)
The Yellow Jackets struck first again in game two, and Pauwels went yards for her second time of the day, a two-run shot, to take a 2-0 lead in the first.
 
The Mavericks got one back in the bottom of the second to make it 2-1, but took a 6-2 lead an inning later using a 5-run third, before eventually going on to win 10-2.
 
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets now look to next weekend when they will take on New Mexico Highlands on Saturday, March 4 at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., and Sunday, March 5 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
 
Due to weather and field conditions in Spearfish, these games may be moved. Continue to check BHSUAthletics.com for updates as further details are made available.