SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University softball team (12-29, 11-25 RMAC) battled the No. 7-ranked and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC)-leading Colorado Christian Cougars (43-4, 35-3 RMAC) on a chilly day at Yellow Jacket Field. Gianna Haley would erupt for three extra base hits and drive in four runs on the day to lead the BHSU offense.
 
GAME 1: (7) CCU 5, BHSU 3
 
PITCHING DECISIONS:
Win: Laci Peskey (5-13)
Loss: Kaila Eastburn (14-1)
 
It would be the Yellow Jackets who struck first to start the day in against the nationally ranked Cougars. Tyler Whitlock (Jr., Erie, Colo.) worked a walk and with the aid of CCU defensive miscues would wind up on third base for Malia Ogee (So., Anchorage, Alaska). Ogee would deliver with an RBI fielder's choice, as Whitlock was able to slide into home safely for the first run of the day.
 
Colorado Christian would respond with a pair of runs the following half inning to take a 2-1 lead. The Black Hills State all-time leader in doubles, Haley (Gr., Arvada, Colo.) would rope her 34^th double of the season in the second inning to knot the game up at 2-2, as Ashlynn Pauwels (Jr., Tallahassee, Fla.) would score all the way from first.
 
A pair of solo home runs for the Cougars in the fourth and fifth innings would prove to be the difference, as the Cougars would hold a 4-2 lead after four and a half innings of play. The big day at the plate, however, for Haley would continue in the fifth as she would belt her second home run of the season to cut it to 4-3.
 
Ultimately, the Cougars would tack on an insurance run in the sixth inning, as they would take Game 1, 5-3.
 
GAME NOTES

• Gianna Haley had both of the BH hits, going 2-for-3 on the day with two extra base hits and two RBIs.
• Lily Simmons worked a pair of walks in Game 1, moving her into the BH record book for most walks drawn in a career as just a sophomore.
• She brought her on-base streak up to 16-straight games.
• Haley has hit both of her home runs this season at Yellow Jacket Field (March 2 vs. CSU Pueblo).
• She recorded her ninth multi-hit game of the season and third multi-RBI game of the year.
• Malia Ogee drove in the other Yellow Jacket run.
• The BHSU defense turned their seventh double play of the season.
• Laci Peskey made her 19^th start of the season – throwing her 13^th complete game of the season – in yet another solid outing for the freshman.
• She gave up just five runs to a line-up that averages nearly nine runs per game, plus leading the RMAC in batting average.
• Making her 19^th start of the season moves her into a three-way tie-for-fifth in BHSU single-season history for games started.

GAME 2: (7) CCU 12, BHSU 2 (F/5)
 
PITCHING DECISIONS:
Win: Emma Duncan (15-1)
Loss: Shayla Tuschen (5-12)
 
The RMAC's best offensive team saw the bats wake up in Game 2, putting up 12 runs on 16 hits in the back-half of the doubleheader. The Cougars would jump out to a 4-0 lead through two innings of play.
 
A five-run fourth inning would add to the lead, making it 9-0. Taking a 12-0 lead to the bottom half of the seventh, the Yellow Jackets would push a pair of runs across to avoid the shutout. Haley would pick up her second double of the day, and third extra base hit, as a two-RBI double to center.
 
GAME NOTES

• BHSU works a season-high seven walks in the second game of the day.
• The CCU pitching staff was dominant again in Game 2, allowing just three Yellow Jacket hits.
• Of the three hits, two were doubles: Gianna Haley (9) and Shayla Tuschen (5).
• Tyler Whitlock picks up her team-leading 15^th stolen base, bringing the team total to 52 stolen bases this season.
• Working her third walk of the day, Lily Simmons sits at 33 walks drawn in her young Yellow Jacket career and sits in a three-way tie for 6^th in program history for most walks drawn.
• Simmons brings her on-base streak up to 17-straight games.
• Gianna Haley also worked a walk in Game 2, making her just the second Yellow Jacket all-time to work 50+ walks in their career, sitting second in program history.
• She picks up back-to-back multi-RBI games, her fourth of the season.
• Additionally, Haley's career total for doubles is up to 35 and she sits second on the team in doubles this season with her ninth.

Up Next: The Yellow Jackets and Cougars will conclude the series tomorrow with the final doubleheader from Yellow Jacket Field for the 2024 campaign, beginning at 11:00 a.m.