FORT COLLINS, Colo.- The Yellow Jackets had a chance to take both games of this series, but a late grand slam by the Skyhawks in game two meant BHSU had to settle for the split as the two teams went 1-1 on the first day of the neutral site series at the Triple Crown Sports Complex in Fort Collins, Colo. BHSU's Desi Hernandez had a great day, reaching base in each of her first five at bats.
 
QUICK DETAILS – GAME 1
Final Score:  Black Hills State 5, Fort Lewis 3
Team Records: Black Hills State 23-25 (20-17 RMAC), Fort Lewis  11-36 (10-27 RMAC)
Pitching Decision: Win: Geschwill (13-10), Loss: Mann (6-11)
Attendance: 88

HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• Kaitlyn Geschwill struck out the first two batters she faced today, before getting into some trouble with a single and two walks to load the bases. She was able to strike out the sixth batter of the inning to get out of it. In the bottom of the first, Sammie Kaufman-Warner and Desi Hernandez both hit one-out singles and Kaufman-Warner made it home on a two-out single by Carli Maley to give BHSU a 1-0 lead.
• No runs scored in the second inning and in the top of the third, Fort Lewis got on the board when Skylar Dietz walked with one out, Carmen Alexander singled to move her to third, Makenna Milliman singled to score Dietz and move Alexander to second, and then scored from second on a throwing error to make it 2-1 Fort Lewis.
• In the bottom of the third, Kaufman-Warner singled, then Hernandez singled. Kaufman-Warner made it to third with Hernandez making it to second on the throw. A one-out sacrifice fly by Carli Maley made it 2-2.
• Fort Lewis got the lead back in the fourth inning when Stella Romeo hit an infield single with one out and Alyssa Fockler singled to put her on third. A fielding error allowed Romeo to score and make it 3-2.
• The Green and Gold finally found their groove in the bottom of the fifth, when Kaufman-Warner reached on an error, stole second base, and scored on a single by Hernandez that ricocheted off the pitcher's leg and made it to the outfield. Hernandez made it to second on the play and scored on a double by Caylee Mann. A single by Maley moved Mann to third base, and then she scored on a shallow pop up by Audrey Fouras. This gave BHSU a 5-3 lead, which they would hold the rest of the way to take game one.

 
BLACK HILLS STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 1

• Desi Hernandez: 4-for-4, 1 RBI
• Carli Maley: 2-for-3, 2 RBIs
• Sammie Kaufman-Warner: 2-for-4, 3 runs scored
• Kaitlyn Geschwill: 7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 5 K

 
QUICK DETAILS – GAME 2
Final Score:  Black Hills State 3, Fort Lewis 5
Team Records: Black Hills State 23-26 (20-18 RMAC), Fort Lewis: 12-36 (11-27 RMAC)
Pitching Decision: Win: Padilla (3-15), Loss: Honse (5-6)
Attendance: 92

HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• BHSU got the scoring started in this one in the bottom of the first, when Kaufman-Warner singled, Hernandez was hit by a pitch, and Maley also singled to load the bases with just one out. Caylee Mann walked to score a run and make it 1-0 and that's how the inning would end.
• The Yellow Jackets added another in the second when Brooklyn Theiler walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lily Simmons. She would score on a two-out single by Kaufman-Warner to make it 2-0.
• Stella Romeo would single to lead off the top of the third, reach second on a groundout, and advance to third on a wild pitch. Mia Cueva would hit a single to score her and make it 2-1.
• No one scored again until the top of the seventh inning. Sophia Honse, who had pitched really well up to this point, allowed three straight one-out singles to load the bases. She induced a pop-up to keep the lead and with two outs and a 3-1 count, Honse would surrender a go-ahead grand slam to Alexander to give FLC a 5-2 lead.
• The Green and Gold fought back in the bottom of the seventh, Kaufman-Warner walked, Hernandez reached on an error, and Kaufman-Warner scored on a fielder's choice that had a throwing error on the relay throw. Which left Maley on with one out. Anna Gietzen came in to pinch run and advanced to second on a single by Mann. Despite that, it was all BHSU was able to get as FLC came back to win 5-3.
• The Yellow Jackets held a nice ceremony for their three seniors, Audrey Fouras, Alyssa Wong, and Lily Simmons after the game that included celebration of the FLC seniors too.

 
BLACK HILLS STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 2

• Sammie Kaufman-Warner: 2-for-3, RBI, 2 Runs scored
• Caylee Mann: 1-for-2, RBI, 2 BB
• Carli Maley: 1-for-4

 
UP NEXT
The Yellow Jackets will finish their series with two important games versus Fort Lewis tomorrow as the Yellow Jackets will look to head into the final series with some momentum.
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