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Black Hills State University Athletics

Black Hills State University Yellow Jacket Athletics
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Ashlyn Englehorn

Ashlyn Englehorn took over the Black Hills State softball program in July 2023 and will enter her second season at the helm for the 2025 season.

She picked up her first win at BHSU with a 7-2 win over Bemidji State (Minn.) on Opening Weekend at the Kelly Laas Memorial Tournament in St. Cloud, Minn. Later on, Englehorn earned her first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) victory in late February (Feb. 25) with a 7-4 victory over the Mountain Lions of UCCS down in Colorado Springs, Colorado. 

In her first season, Englehorn led the Yellow Jackets to a pair of NCAA Division II era records in total wins (15) and RMAC wins (14). She picked up three RMAC series wins over CSU Pueblo (3-1), Adams State (4-0), and Chadron State (3-1); while leading the team to a program record eight-straight wins in the month of March. 

Her first season at the helm (2024) proved to be a productive one, as the Yellow Jackets set numerous individual and team program records. She provided a spark to a Yellow Jacket squad and led the program to a new program record for most consecutive wins in row at eight-straight in the month of March (March 2-18). Furthermore, BH tied the single-season record for most wins at Yellow Jacket Field, which proved to be the best in the NCAA Division II era. The Yellow Jackets also set a new program record for doubles in a single season.

Prior to BHSU, Englehorn spent two years at the helm of the Crown College softball program of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) at the NCAA Division III level. 

While at Crown, she compiled a record of 20-49. She took over a program that went 7-21 (3-13 UMAC) prior to her taking over the reigns. In her two seasons, Englehorn increased the win total for the Polars. In her final season at Crown in 2023, she led the Polars to a 12-29 (9-12 UMAC) record - the most wins in program history since 2019 - and clinched the program’s first UMAC tournament appearance since 2018. 

The 2023 Crown squad also touted the 2023 UMAC Player of the Year in Maria Lilienthal (C/3B) and finished top-40 in Division III in stolen bases (91 stolen bases). 

During her tenure in Saint Bonifacius, Minnesota, Englehorn’s teams tied or broke 15 school records and had 11 UMAC All-Academic players and NFCA Academic All-Americans. Additionally, she coached a pair of First Team All-UMAC performers. 

Before Crown, Englehorn was the Head Assistant Coach at Williamette University (Ore.) from 2018-2021. In her three seasons with the Bearcats, she was responsible for improving the team’s fielding percentage from .916 to .949, while also assisting with recruiting, development, camps, team travel, and academic success of the softball program. 

Englehorn played her collegiate softball at Corban University (Ore.) in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 2015-18. While competing for the Warriors, she competed for a National Championship, falling in the NAIA national title game to top-seeded Oklahoma City. 

In her four seasons in a Corban uniform, she helped lead the Warriors to a 157-65 overall record (.707 win percentage) and three NAIA national tournament appearances. 

She graduated from Corban with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and a master’s degree in kinesiology. A native of Boise, Idaho, Englehorn currently resides in Spearfish with her dog, Rosie. 

HONORS AND AWARDS
2025 RMAC Coach of the Year

BHSU COACHING MILESTONES:

  • 50th Career Win: vs. Chadron State (8-2 - March 10, 2025 in Spearfish, S.D.)
  • First Career Win: vs. Finlandia (Mich.) (at Crown College, March 26, 2022)
  • First Win at BHSU: v. Bemidji State (7-2 - Feb. 4, 2024 in St. Cloud, Minn.)
  • First RMAC Win: at UCCS (7-4 - Feb. 25, 2024 in Colorado Springs, Colo.
HEAD COACHING RECORD
 
Season Overall Pct. Conference Pct. Finish Home Pct. Away Pct. Neutral Pct. Postseason
Crown College (UMAC)
2022 8-20 .286 6-14 .300 6th 5-3 .625 1-11 .083 2-6 .250
2023 12-29 .293 9-12 .429 4th 2-6 .250 4-6 .400 6-17 .260
Crown College Totals 20-49 .290 15-26 .366 7-9 .438 5-17 .227 8-23 .258
Black Hills State (RMAC)
2024 15-32 .319 14-28 .333 9th 9-11 .450 5-14 .263 1-7 .125
2025 27-27 .500 25-19 .568 6th 6-6 .500 20-16 .555 1-5 .167 RMAC Tournament (0-2)
Black Hills State Totals 42-59 .416 39-47 .453 15-17 .469 25-40 .385 2-12 .143
Career Totals 62-108 .365 54-73 .425 22-26 .458 30-57 .345 10-35 .222

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