SPEARFISH, S.D. – History continued to be made on another beautiful day at the ballpark with the Black Hills State University softball team (9-12, 8-8 RMAC) picking up their first sweep of a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) opponent with two more wins over Adams State University (3-22, 1-15 RMAC) Sunday afternoon at Yellow Jacket Field. The Yellow Jacket offense put up 19 hits on the day, scoring 14 runs in the two victories.
The win in Game 1 set the Black Hills State Division II era record for most wins in a row at six-straight, while the Game 2 victory tied the program-best mark of seven-straight games done in 2007 during the NAIA era. After the sweep, BH slides up to sixth-place in the RMAC standings.
"I'm very proud of this team and their fight this weekend!" noted head coach
Ashlyn Englehorn. "Our defense was solid and our hits came together when we needed them to sweep the series."
GAME 3: BHSU 4, Adams State 3
PITCHING DECISIONS:
Win: Shayla Tuchsen (3-4)
Loss: Aubree Davis (2-9)
Black Hills State played most of the first game today from behind but never was out. Adams State used a pair of long balls to take a 3-0 lead after 2.5 innings. The Grizzlies struck first with a two-run blast before another solo shot in the third would complete their scoring for Game 3.
In the bottom half of the second, trailing 2-0, BHSU got a runner to third and almost cut the deficit in half with a hard-hit ball back up the middle from
Audrey Fouras (So., Jackson, Wyo.) that would, unfortunately, find a home in the Grizzlies pitcher's glove.
Trailing 3-0 heading to the bottom half of the third, the Yellow Jacket would begin to chip away using small ball tactics.
Malaya Coleman (So., Johnstown, Colo.) would reach base via being hit-by-pitch with one away. A sacrifice bunt later would set up
Alyssa Wong (R-Fr., San Antonio, Texas) who would deliver with a base hit up the middle to make it 3-1 after three.
Adams State would threaten again in the fourth, with a single and double both to right center, putting a pair of runners on with one out. Englehorn would make the call to the bullpen, calling on the arm of senior
Shayla Tuschen (Sioux Falls, S.D.) who would pick up a pair of massive strike outs to keep the runners stranded and the runs off the board.
The bottom half of the fourth would see BH pull to within a run as a one-out double from
Gianna Haley (Gr., Arvada, Colo.) would be later drove in by an RBI single up the middle from Fouras to make it 3-2, Grizzlies after four complete.
There would be a two-inning scoring hiatus for both sides, but, just like last weekend, the Yellow Jackets would cook up a massive bottom half of the seventh inning. The frame began, still trailing 3-2.
Taylor Dowden (Jr., Surprise, Ariz.) began the frame with a single down the left field line and advancing to second on a Grizzly error in the outfield. Tuschen would help her own cause with a double down the left field line herself, to knot the game up at 3-3.
Lily Simmons (So., Frederick, Colo.) worked a walk and Wong would be hit by a pitch to load the bases with still no one out. Finally, the Grizzlies were able to get an out but still faced a world of hurt with the bases packed and just one out.
Ashlynn Pauwels (Jr., Tallahassee, Fla.) would be the hero with the game-winning single into left center field, as Black Hills State won an exciting 4-3 game to set the new program record for consecutive wins in the DII era.
"Ashlynn has been putting in work and dialing into her swing," commented Englehorn. "She came up in big moments for us today!"
GAME NOTES
- Ashlynn Pauwels picks up her first three-hit game of the season (fifth multi-hit game).
- It marks the sixth three-hit game by a Yellow Jacket this season.
- Gianna Haley (3) and Shayla Tuschen (2) both hit doubles in the contest.
- Audrey Fouras, Pauwels, Tuschen, and Alyssa Wong all drove in a run in the come-from-behind victory.
- Lily Simmons worked the lone walk of the contest for BH.
- It's the second-straight weekend the Yellow Jackets have scored multi runs in the bottom of the seventh to either continue or win the game.
- Malaya Coleman (ND) started her second game of the weekend, and fifth of the season, going 3.1 innings and surrendering the three runs.
- Tuschen (3-4) enters the circle in relief, her first relief appearance of the season and eighth total appearance, pitching the final 3.2 innings and picked up the win.
- She recorded five strike outs in the victory and surrendered just one hit and no runs.
GAME 4: BHSU 10, Adams State 2 (F/5)
PITCHING DECISIONS:
Win: Laci Peskey (4-5)
Loss: Dani Hood (1-10)
Game 4 of the series saw the Grizzlies play with an early lead again as a wild top half of the first inning resulted in a run scoring on a wild pitch, but would still be credited as an unearned run. This time, however, the Jacket bats didn't waste much time to punch back, pulling out to a run-rule victory to end the series with a pair of five-run frames.
The scoring barrage for the Yellow Jackets would begin in earnest in the second with a five-spot to take control of the contest. Aided by Grizzly errors and three hits in the inning, it stated with a pair of runs scoring on a defensive miscue in the outfield following a Fouras single, giving BHSU the lead at 2-1, a lead they would not surrender.
A
Tyler Whitlock (Jr., Erie, Colo.) would drive in a third unearned run as BH extended their lead. To no one's surprise, Wong's hot bat stayed hot as she roped her second double of the day to right center field to score the final two runs of the inning. All five Jacket runs would be unearned.
"Laci has been incredibly focused and adaptable in the circle," said Englehorn. "She is continuously learning and working to be the best she can for us in the circle every day."
A solo home run in the fifth inning would be the last Adams State run of the day, making the score 5-2. Black Hills State put up another crooked number in the bottom half to end the game early. Dowden picked up an RBI single to start the scoring, while a
Laci Peskey (Fr., Waller, Texas) double down the left field line would make it 8-2. The frame would continue with a Coleman single, and another Grizzly mishap in the outfield would score, yet another, unearned run. Simmons would put a bow on the contest with an RBI single to left field to end it as BHSU took the series finale 10-2 to complete their first RMAC sweep since 2016 and tie the program's all-time win streak record of seven-straight games.
GAME NOTES
- Alyssa Wong ends the weekend on an eight-game hit streak, followed closely by a six-game streak for Gianna Haley.
- Lily Simmons, joining Wong and Haley, has reached base safely in seven-straight games after this weekend.
- The 10 hits in Game 2 if the fifth time this season BH has recorded double-digit hits in a game, resulting in a 4-1 record.
- BHSU records four stolen bases in the Game 4 victory, highlighted by two from Taylor Dowden.
- Dowden led the offense going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored; marking her third multi-hit game.
- Alyssa Wong and Laci Peskey both pick up doubles, being the first of the season for Peskey and fifth for Wong.
- Peskey also records her first-career multi-RBI game of the season with two; Wong notches her third multi-RBI game of the year also with two.
- Wong is now tied with Pauwels for the team lead in multi-RBI games (3).
- Peskey (4-5) picked up her fourth-straight win in the circle this afternoon, and her second of the weekend.
- She threw all five innings, picking up three strike outs and allowing just two runs (only one earned) and scattered just three Grizzly hits.
Up Next: Black Hills State will hit the road next weekend for a four-game RMAC set with the Cowgirls of New Mexico Highlands down in Las Vegas, New Mexico on Saturday and Sunday, March 16-17.
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