SPEARFISH, S.D. – The 2024 Black Hills State University softball team took major strides in the right direction this season under first-year head coach Ashlyn Englehorn, setting multiple new program and DII-era records along the way. The Yellow Jackets also tied their best-ever finish in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) standings with a ninth-place finish, improving their 2023-win total by six games.
 
"What a season! Lots of highs and a lot of learning. First, we want to thank everyone who made it possible! The amount of time dedicated to this program is something we value and appreciate," noted Englehorn. "We saw really great progress towards the future and vision for the program, but more importantly, we saw the team come together and build a culture they are proud of."
 
Along with the release, the BHSU Athletic Communications office is proud to announce the launch of the newly designed and composed Record Book for the BH softball program. Furthermore, attached above is the final set of notes for the 2024 season.
 
SEASON-IN-REVIEW
The Yellow Jackets made strides on the field this season, seen by the most wins in a season in the Division II era at 15, while also setting a new program-best mark of 14 wins in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play. In league play, BHSU picked up three series wins which is the most in one season (in four-game series) since joining the league back in 2012.
 
The Yellow Jackets set a new program record with 66 doubles as a team, while also etching a new program-best win streak of eight-straight games in the month of March. At one point this season, Black Hills State hit multiple home runs in five-straight series.
 
Once Jackets got on base, Englehorn liked to utilize the speed on the squad. BHSU recorded the program's second-most number of stolen bases this season (59), missing the record by just four swiped bags. It also marked just the fourth time in program history BH has recorded 50+ stolen bags in a season. It was senior Kayla Lee (Kearney, Neb.) who led the way with 17 stolen bases (17-for-18), while Tyler Whitlock (Jr., Erie, Colo.) sat right on her heels with 16 (16-for-17). Lee's mark sits tied for second in program history, while Whitlock will enter her senior season sitting sixth in program history.
 
"The team was able to compete well and break both individual and team records that haven't been touched in years. Kudos to the team for buying into being where our feet are and getting one-percent better every day," said Englehorn. "BH is special and I've loved every moment of it thus far! The future is bright, our talent is young, and we are ready to prepare for another great season (next year)!"
 
Ashlynn Pauwels (Jr., Tallahassee, Fla.) continued to put up power numbers for the Yellow Jacket offense with 50% of her hits being for extra bases, giving her the team lead with a .552 slugging percentage. As a part of that slugging number, she set a new single-season program record with 14 doubles on the year, while surpassing her 2023 totals with a team-leading 34 RBI.
 
The team leader in both batting average and on-base percentage in Alyssa Wong (R-Fr., San Antonio, Texas) was recognized by the league office with Honorable Mention All-Conference honors. She also held the team's longest hit streak this season at nine-straight games, a mark that sits tied for 10^th best in program history.
 
Sophomore shortstop Lily Simmons (Frederick, Colo.) was a spark plug at the top of the line-up for BH, working a team-best 21 walks. The walks mark sits second-best in a single season by a Yellow Jacket and is just the third time a Jacket has worked 20+ walks in one year. Through two seasons in a BH uniform, she sits sixth in program history in walks drawn.

Her ability to work walks and get on base for the Yellow Jackets led to the team's longest on-base streak of 17-straight games this year, a mark that sits tied for second in program history (Division II era only). It was just one game short of tying Erica Everson's program's best 18-staright game mark, done back in 2013. 
 
Laci Peskey (Fr., Waller, Texas) stepped up in a big way for BHSU in the circle this season, being the workhorse with 138.2 innings in the circle. Her numbers in the circle sit top-10 in the RMAC, while also etching her name in the single-season records (more to be found in the attached documents).
 
For Englehorn, the 15 wins this season also marks the most wins in a season she's had as a collegiate head coach in her third season overall. In each of her three seasons, she has increased her win total.
 
THE STORIED CAREER OF GIANNA HALEY
One of just two players to play five seasons in the green and gold, graduate student Gianna Haley (Arvada, Colo.) leaves the program as one of the best to ever wear BHSU across her chest. Queen G leaves sitting on top of four offensive categories in the career record book: games played (178), games started (178), at-bats (528), and doubles (35). She's the only Yellow Jacket to have 500+ at-bats in their career. Haley also sits tied for the career-lead in walks drawn with 51, tied with Erica Everson (2013-15).
 
"I'm so grateful I got to coach Gianna for her final year to watch her make her final mark in the BH record book. She has been a core piece of the team all five years and deserves to be etched in the foundation of BH Softball," commented Englehorn. "There aren't many players who get the opportunity to play collegiately for the time Gianna has and we are happy she dedicated her time and talent to be a Yellow Jacket." 
 
Furthermore, Haley is just one of three Jackets with a 140+ hits in their career, finishing her career in third with 142 to her name. She sits third in RBI (75), third in runs scored (75), and T9th in triples (3).
 
TIP OF THE CAP TO TUSCHEN
Not to be outdone, fellow senior Shayla Tuschen (Sioux Falls, S.D.) also leaves her name etched in the BH record books. The two-way player finds herself in nearly all the tracked categories in the Record Book. She leaves the program as the all-time leader in career RBIs with 87 to her name, being just one of two to notch 80+ in their BHSU career. She's also just one of six to have 400+ at-bats in their career while starting 144 games and playing in 158 (both top-10). Her 134 career hits also ranks top-5 in program history all-time.