CHADRON, Neb. – Black Hills State scored in every offensive inning across both games of the doubleheader, handling CSC softball 10-2 and 18-1 in two five-inning games to open a four-game series between the two schools.
Neither one of Chadron State's starting pitchers made it out of the third inning.
Belle Akins went two-plus innings, allowing six earned runs, while
Brynn Trujillo gave up nine runs in 2.2 innings pitched for the Eagles (3-21, 3-11 RMAC).
True freshman
McKenna Sides had the most innings pitched on the day for CSC, throwing three innings of three-run ball in game one and allowing nine runs (only four earned) in 2.1 innings of relief in game two.
Black Hills State (11-14, 8-6 RMAC) only struck out twice across the doubleheader while putting up 28 runs on 28 hits. The Yellow Jackets hit five home runs and five doubles over Friday's two games.
Chadron State's offensive highlights came from
Payton Sullivan, who clubbed a two-run home run (her second of the year) in the first game, and
Brianna Cordray, who knocked in an RBI single in game two.
As a team, the Eagles had five hits in game one and three hits in the nightcap.
Charley Pitrat and Sullivan recorded two hits apiece in the first game while
Tiffani Mein recorded two hits in the second.
In the opener, Black Hills State took an early lead three batters into the game on a walk, error and three-run homer. The Yellow Jackets would add two runs in both the second, third and fifth innings while tacking on one run in the fourth to build a 10-0 lead.
Needing three runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend the game and dip under the eight-run threshold that activates the run rule, the Eagles got two runs. Pinch-hitter
Madison Sebbo drew an eight-pitch walk to put the leadoff hitter aboard for CSC before Sullivan, a true freshman from Albion, Nebraska, hit an absolute bullet of a line drive over the fence that was a direct hit on a center-field camera over the wall.
Despite one final baserunner reaching on an error, BHSU starter Kaitlyn Geschwill finished off her complete game by retiring the Eagles in the fifth and finishing it 10-2.
Just like in game one, the Yellow Jackets used a first-inning three-run homer to take an early lead. Black Hills State led 9-0 after three innings, added two runs in the fourth and blew it open with a seven-run top of the fifth, cruising to a 17-run margin of victory.
Chadron State's only run came on a play with brilliant baserunning. In the fourth, Mein singled to right field with one out. Cordray, the next batter, lined one the other way to right-center field.
Mein went from first to third on the single, and when BHSU's throw missed the cutoff and dribbled all the way to third base, Cordray moved up to second. The Yellow Jackets tried to throw out Cordray at second, and on that throw, Mein broke for home. That throw in was late as well, as Mein scored to put CSC on the board, but the Eagles already trailed 11-1 at that point.
The two teams will battle again Saturday. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 11 a.m. It will be CSC's cancer awareness day, with a pregame ceremony honoring multiple individuals who have past or present battles with cancer.
