CHADRON, Neb. -- April 21, 2017 -- When Chadron State College softball takes the field this weekend for their four-game Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference series, it will be the final curtain call for the Eagle seniors, as well as their head coach, Dr. Robert Stack.

Stack announced his impending retirement from softball coaching duties prior to the 2017 season, marking the end of an important era in CSC athletics.

To recap, the CSC softball program, during Stack's 10-year tenure, has gone from a fledgling second-year operation, to an annual fixture in the upper echelons of the RMAC. They have shown constant improvement, from making the conference tournament in 2010, within the careers of the very first class, to a second-place tie in the league in 2014, to now coming two wins away from their third league tournament in four years.

As a result, the six graduating seniors represent the peak of what the program has accomplished so far, in only a few seasons. They will finish their careers as the winningest class in the 11 years of CSC softball. In fact, they had already eclipsed the mark of 86 wins, set by the classes of 2011 and 2016, on March 26 with the sweep of Black Hills State. Those seniors are Taylor Bauer, Zoe Humphries, Lindsey Karlin, Courtney Lecher, Kinsley Mason, and Morgan Wilhelm.

Coach Stack is to be honored between games one and two on Saturday, while the seniors for both CSC and Adams State University, their opponent, will be recognized on Sunday directly after the morning game.

Adams State is holding onto a tie for the seventh and eighth spots in the RMAC standings, at a league record of 15-17 and 16-26 overall. The Grizzlies ought to have have a sense of urgency about them, as they cling to a three-game lead for the final tournament spot, but face eight games remaining against MSU Denver and CSC, two of the top four teams currently.

At 18-13 in RMAC play, and 22-22 overall, the Eagles require two wins this weekend to assure themselves a spot in the conference tournament, and can only improve on their fourth-place standing if Colorado Mines loses four or more of their remaining eight contests. The schedule in front of them features ASU and Fort Lewis, who is currently 11th of 12 teams. Chadron State, fourth in the standings, is one-half game ahead of Colorado Christian who has arguably the toughest schedule remaining in the league, and two games ahead of Regis, who may have the weakest.

As is customary, ASU is a power-hitting squad, holding the fourth best team slugging percentage in the RMAC, but is ninth in batting average. Their home run (40) and double (69) totals are both third in the league. Their top three batters, Tyler Hays, Marissa Harmon, and April Riggins, are also their top sluggers. They own 23 of the team's 40 total home runs.

Their No. 1 starting pitcher, Lauren Murphy, is riding a hot streak of six wins out of her last seven games. Her run of six consecutive wins was ended last week in an 8-0 loss at home to Colorado Christian. However, the fifth-year senior has shown consistent improvement throughout the season, and has dropped her season ERA from her first month to her second by nearly two earned runs, to 5.94. Beyond Murphy, the Grizzlies' two other starters give up more than 10 runs, on average, per seven innings.

Chadron State is looking to regain some momentum for a tournament run, as they've slipped in five of their last seven games. The Eagles bat .320 and are 11-7 at home in Chadron, but only .266 and 8-9 in true road games. Pitching has improved objectively throughout the season, and the Eagle bullpen is now averaging a little over four earned runs allowed per game, down from a season high of 5.83 in February.

First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for noon, and the games on Sunday start at 11 a.m. The ceremonies honoring Dr. Stack and the seniors will take place at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, depending on weather and game duration.