SPEARFISH, S.D. – Heading into the first season under new softball coach Ashlyn Englehorn, the Black Hills State University softball team (0-0, 0-0 RMAC) is set to commence their 2024 season with a pair of five games again Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) at the 2024 Kelly Laas Memorial Tournament, hosted by St. Cloud State University.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Location: St. Cloud, Minn. (Husky Dome)
Watch: scsuhuskies.com // Live Stats: scsuhuskies.com

Black Hills State (0-0, 0-0 RMAC) v. Northern State (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
Date: Friday, February 2 // Time: 1:00 PM (MT)
 
Black Hills State (0-0, 0-0 RMAC) v. Sioux Falls (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
Date: Friday, February 2 // Time: 3:00 PM (MT)

Black Hills State (0-0, 0-0 RMAC) at St. Cloud State (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
Date: Saturday, February 3 // Time: 9:00 AM (MT)
 
Black Hills State (0-0, 0-0 RMAC) v. Northern State (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
Date: Saturday, February 3 // Time: 1:00 PM (MT)
Note: live stats may not be available due to other SCSU events on campus
 
Black Hills State (0-0, 0-0 RMAC) v. Bemidji State (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
Date: Sunday, February 4 // Time: 8:00 AM (MT)
 
START OF THE ENGLEHORN ERA

• Ashlyn Englehorn enters her first season at the helm of the Black Hills State softball program in 2024, taking over in July of last year.
• She comes to The Hills after a two-year stint as head coach at NCAA Division III Crown College in Minnesota, where she coached the 2023 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Player of the Year.
• Englehorn has a pair of returning All-RMAC performers to her roster this season in Shayla Tuschen (Sr., P/1B) and Kayla Lee (Sr., OF).

BHSU IN SEASON OPENERS

• Since transitioning to NCAA Division II, the Yellow Jackets are 1-10 in season openers.
• The lone season opening win at the DII level came back in 2021 with a 6-2 win over RMAC foe New Mexico Highlands.
• This season marks the second time BH opens up a season with Northern State, opening against the Wolves back in 2020 where NSU prevailed 5-3.
• Dating back to 2007, BHSU is 5-12 in season openers.

RMAC PRESEASON POLL

• Following an 8-36 record in 2023, the Yellow Jackets were picked to finish tied for 11^th in the RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced on January 24.
• BHSU was tied to finish along with Adams State in this year's poll.

SERIES HISTORIES

• Northern State (S.D.): Northern State leads 4-2
• Sioux Falls (S.D.): first-ever meeting
• St. Cloud State (Minn.): St. Cloud State leads 8-0
• Bemidji State (Minn.): Bemidji State leads 1-0

Up Next: Black Hills State will open Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) in two weeks with a trip to Denver for a four-game set with MSU Denver on Saturday and Sunday, February 17-18.