CHADRON, Neb. -- March 17, 2017 -- Softball is back in Chadron this weekend for the first time in nearly three weeks, as Colorado State University rolls in to meet Chadron State College for doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday.

The sides have nearly identical records as Pueblo is 9-11 (6-6 RMAC) while CSC is 9-13 (6-5 RMAC).

In February, the ThunderWolves went on a seven-game skid dropping the last three of four to Colorado Christian in a non-conference series, and getting swept by MSU Denver in the first week of RMAC play, However, they have rebounded nicely with a 6-2 homestand that included a sweep over Black Hills State and a split with perennial contender Adams State.

Meanwhile, the Eagles worked out some batting kinks in the non-conference schedule and have fought to above .500 with their only home games coming against defending league champ Colorado Mesa. Chadron State took the abbreviated series 2-1. CSC is batting .292 in its 11 conference matchups after starting the season .171 in its first seven games.

CSU-Pueblo is one of the better teams in the RMAC in the batter's box, with a team batting average of .313, a slugging average of .474, and an on-base percentage of .393. All three statistics rank fourth in the league. Pueblo's freshman outfielder Sabrina Felix has a wide lead over the rest of her team and is fifth in the league with a .460 batting average.

The ThunderWolves have three pitchers who they are known to deploy interchangeably in starting and relief situations. A junior transfer from Otero Junior College, K'lee Kent, leads the three with nine starts and a 4.07 earned runs average. Seniors Lexie Martindale and Shannon Lieber, a former transfer from North Platte C.C., are also in the rotation. Martindale's 39 strikeouts and .332 opponent batting average lead the team.

As a unit, the two pitching staffs measure up evenly. CSUP's twirlers allow opponents to hit  .355, versus the .327 allowed by Eagle pitchers. CSC's rotation has a team 5.12 ERA, while the ThunderWolves let 5.11 earned runs cross per seven innings.

The doubleheaders are scheduled for noon on Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday.