CHADRON, Neb. – After a productive nonconference opening weekend, the first-place Chadron State softball program will test themselves against RMAC opposition for the first time in 2025 this Sunday and Monday.

The Eagles (3-1) are set to face CSU Pueblo (1-6) in a four-game series that was pushed back a day due to the weather earlier this week. Currently, start times are set for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 16 and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Monday, February 17.

Games will be live streamed on the RMAC Network, while fans can also follow along via live stats. 

Looking Back
Chadron State softball went 3-1 over the weekend in Texas, earning victories over Adams State (12-2, 6 innings), Sul Ross State (4-1) and Texas-Permian Basin (4-2) while losing to Lubbock Christian (6-0). 

RECAPS: Day 1 | Day 2

The winning record has Chadron State in first place in the conference standings by winning percentage (.750) in the early going and is a far cry from the 2024 season when CSC went 0-10 in nonconference play before starting its RMAC schedule.

Player of the Week
The pitching staff was an overall highlight, allowing just 11 runs over the weekend and five runs across CSC's three wins, leading to Opening Day starter Tori Haug being honored with the RMAC's Pitcher of the Week award Monday.

STORY: Haug Named RMAC Pitcher of the Week

Haug was the winning pitcher in two of CSC's three victories. She tossed a complete game in the season-opener against Adams State, scattering five hits over six innings and allowing two runs with seven strikeouts. 

In CSC's final game of the weekend against UTPB, Haug entered a tie game in relief and didn't allow a baserunner over two innings pitched, allowing the Eagles to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning and win 4-2. Haug struck out two of the six batters she retired in order. 

For the season so far, Haug has a 1.75 ERA in eight innings pitched. Her .167 opposing batting average is the best in the RMAC. 

Freshman Arm
The Eagles found another pitching option this weekend in Elkhorn, Nebraska true freshman Belle Akins. 

Akins got the starting nod in CSC's third game of the season against Sul Ross State, a first-year Lone Star Conference member, and threw seven dominant innings. In a complete game victory, Akins scattered seven hits and allowed just one run. She pitched to her defense, walking and striking out one batter apiece.

Middle of the Order
Ashland Baca had a terrific opening offensive week while hitting cleanup in Chadron State's lineup. 

The grad student from Pueblo West, Colorado hit .571 over CSC's first four games. Baca's week was highlighted by a two-run home run in CSC's win over Adams State, but she had productive at bats even without getting hits. 

In addition to going 4-for-7, Baca also hit two sacrifice flies and walked three times to earn a .583 on-base percentage with five runs batted in. Baca's .571 batting average is currently third in the RMAC. 

J-Mart
Another Eagle off to a scorching start offensively is senior outfielder J'lyssa Martinez. 

The Denver native is batting .545 and ranks third in the RMAC with a .643 on-base percentage. Martinez went 3-for-3 in CSC's first game against Adams State and then went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI against Sul Ross State. 

In the outfield, Martinez already has two assists and has made five putouts without an error. 

Scouting CSU Pueblo
CSU Pueblo is 1-6 this season and has played all their games up to this point in California. The ThunderWolves went 0-5 at a classic in Irvine, California before splitting a doubleheader at Azusa Pacific. They had last week off and have not played since February 3. 

Caitlyn Cole leads the Pack offensively with a .421 batting average, including three doubles, a triple and a home run. Cole is the only Pueblo player to go deep this season. Junior Madelyn Huerta and senior Raelynn Rogers each have five hits. 

In the circle, McKenna James has started three of CSU Pueblo's six games, including a tough-luck outing where she pitched 7 1/3 innings while only giving up one unearned run, but took a loss. Overall, James has a 4.28 ERA. 

The Pack are coached by fourth-year head coach Bianca Duran, who was previously an assistant coach and Interim Head Coach at Louisana Tech University.

Coach's Corner
After previously serving as Chadron State's head softball coach from 2008-2017 and helping out the program as a coaching assistant for the past two seasons, Dr. Robert Stack will serve as CSC's Interim Softball Coach for the 2025 season. 

Stack has been a math professor at CSC for the past 26 years and was previously RMAC Coach of the Year in 2014. During Stack's head coaching career, he led an Eagles program that had not qualified for the RMAC Tournament prior to his tenure to four conference tournament appearances. Stack's teams set a new school record for wins in three of his last four seasons as coach (2014, 2016 and 2017), with the 32 wins by the 2017 team still standing as the program season high. 

Stack has also mentored two RMAC Pitchers of the Year (Casey Williams in 2010 and Tayler Hall in 2016) as well as two RMAC All-Academic Players of the Year (Williams in 2009 and Cassie Humphrey in 2010) and a two-time RMAC Summit Award winner (Breeze Phillips in 2014 and 2016).