SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University softball team (2-11, 1-7 RMAC) is set to host their earliest home opener at Yellow Jacket Field since the 2020 season, playing host to the Thunderwolves of CSU Pueblo (5-14, 3-5 RMAC) for a four-game set on Friday and Saturday, March 1-2 in the backdrop of the Black Hills. The Yellow Jackets will celebrate Senior Day on Saturday for the four seniors on this year's roster.
GAME INFORMATION
Black Hills State (2-11, 1-7 RMAC) vs. CSU Pueblo (5-14, 3-5 RMAC)
Date: Friday-Saturday, March 1-2
Time: 12:00 PM (MT) (DH) // 11:00 AM (MT) (DH)
Location: Spearfish, S.D. (Yellow Jacket Field)
Watch: rmacnetwork.com //
Live Stats: bhsuathletics.com
FIRST PITCH BH NOTES
- This weekend marks the earliest home opener for BHSU since the 2020 season (Feb. 22-23).
- Kayla Lee enters the CSUP series with a three-game hitting streak.
- Audrey Fouras looks to keep up the hot bat after her pair of home runs last weekend, now leading the team in the long ball.
- A pair of Yellow Jackets are hitting over .300 on the young season: Alyssa Wong (.364) and Lily Simmons (.308).
- Tyler Whitlock and Ashlynn Pauwels lead the team with their six RBIs each, Fouras and Gianna Haley both have five to their name.
- Shayla Tuschen has both wins in the circle for the Yellow Jackets this season.
- BHSU has put the most runs up this inning in the fifth (11).
SENIOR DAY
SWIPIN' BAGS!
- BHSU is 18-for-20 in stolen bases this season, a mark that sits T6th in the RMAC this season.
- Tyler Whitlock continues to lead the team in stolen bases with her six swipes (8-for-8).
- She has tied her stolen base mark from the entirety of the 2023 season in just three weekends of 2024.
- Kayla Lee sits 4-for-4 in the category, while Taylor Dowden is 3-for-3.
100 HITS CLUB
- A pair of Yellow Jackets on the 2024 roster have joined the 100 hits club in their BH careers: Shayla Tuschen (121) and Gianna Haley (112).
- Tyler Whitlock is on the 100 Hits watch list, currently entering the weekend with 78 hits to her name.
- Note: Counting only hits had in a BHSU uniform, hits at other institutions not included.
BIG WEEKEND AT THE PLATE FOR FOURAS
- Sophomore Audrey Fouras went 4-for-9 (.444) last weekend against UCCS, while also working three walks.
- She hit her first-career home run in Game 2 on Day 1 and ended the series with two long balls.
- Fouras also scored four runs herself, culminating in Female Yellow Jacket of the Week honors.
SERIES HISTORY – CSU PUEBLO
- CSU Pueblo leads the all-time series, 14-10.
- The Yellow Jackets hold a 6-3 record with games played in Spearfish at Yellow Jacket Field.
- The Thunderwolves have won the four meetings in the series, sweeping the series in 2023.
- It marks the first meetings with the Thunderwolves for Englehorn.
SCOUTING THE THUNDERWOLVES
- CSU Pueblo enters 3-5 in RMAC play this season (5-14 overall) after taking the 3-1 series win over Chadron State last weekend.
- The Thunderwolves tout the reigning RMAC Player of the Week in Caitlyn Cole.
- CSUP leads the RMAC with 41 stolen bases this season (41-for-46).
- Cole leads the team in multiple offensive categories: batting average (.500), on-base percentage (.500), and stolen bases (12-for-14).
RMAC PRESEASON POLL
- Following an 8-36 record in 2023, the Yellow Jackets were picked to finish tied for 11th in the RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced on January 24.
- BHSU was tied to finish along with Adams State in this year's poll.
Up Next: Black Hills State will remain in Spearfish next weekend when they play host to the Grizzlies of Adams State University (2-15, 0-8 RMAC) on Saturday and Sunday, March 9-10 at Yellow Jacket Field.
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