SPEARFISH, S.D.- The BHSU Yellow Jackets were able to remain in fifth place in the RMAC thanks to a late three-run home run by Tyler Whitlock in game three of the series.
The Yellow Jackets secured a split with that win before losing in the final game of the series.
Laci Peskey became only the tenth RMAC pitcher ever to record 200 strikeouts in a season as tied her career-high with 13 strikeouts in game three.
QUICK DETAILS – GAME 3
Final Score: Black Hills State 3, UCCS 1
Team Records: Black Hills State 23-20 (21-14 RMAC), UCCS 25-20 (19-15 RMAC)
Pitching Decision: Win: Peskey (19-6), Loss: Kunze (4-6)
Attendance: 154
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 3
• BHSU and UCCS had a major pitching duel going on between Laci Peskey and Autumn Kunze. Going into the fourth inning, neither team had recorded a hit. Peskey actually got the first hit of the game, doubling to left center, but she was unable to score. UCCS finally got their first hit in the top of the fifth but was also unable to score. Peskey had nine strikeouts through four innings, which put her over the 200-strikeout mark on the season making her only the tenth RMAC pitcher ever to reach that milestone.
• In the bottom of the fifth with one out, Adreanna Lance pinch hit for Audrey Fouras and walked. Fouras reentered the game, and pinch ran and advanced to second on a perfect bunt single over the pitcher’s head by Taylor Dowden. Tyler Whitlock came up to the plate and launched a three-run home run over the wall to give BHSU the 3-0 lead late.
• In the top of the seventh, Halley Redd led off the inning with a double. Peskey would get the next two batters out and the Mountain Lions would pinch-hit Jenna Siefken. Siefken would battle for a long at-bat with Peskey before hitting a single to score Redd and cut the lead to 3-1. Jennavieve Goldsworth would also hit a single to put the tying runner on first before Katie Steinmetz flew out to end the game, giving BHSU a 3-1 win and clinching the series split.
BLACK HILLS STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 3
• Tyler Whitlock: 1-for-3, 1 run, 3 RBIs, HR
• Taylor Dowden: 1-for-2, 1 run
• Laci Peskey: 7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 13 Ks, 1 BB, W, 1-for-2, 1 BB, 2B
QUICK DETAILS- GAME 4
Final Score: Black Hills State 5, UCCS 7
Team Records: Black Hills State 23-21 (21-15 RMAC), UCCS 26-20 (20-15 RMAC)
Pitching Decision: Win: Hunt (11-4), Loss: Goodell (1-6), Save: Falk (4)
Attendance: 208
HOW IT HAPPENED- GAME 4
• The scoring started early in this one as Goldsworth made it to first on a bunt single. A sacrifice bunt advanced her to second and Pancost hit a single to put runners on first and second with one out. Steinmetz doubled to score Goldsworth and Pancost made it to third, but then immediately scored on a wild pitch by Paige Goodell. Laynee Case doubled to score Steinmetz and give UCCS an early 3-0 lead. Whitlock singled and stole second to begin the bottom of the first inning. She then scored on a single by Desi Hernandez to cut the lead to 3-1.
• In the bottom of the third, Carly Reyes Mims walked to start, and she scored immediately when Hernandez got a hold of one and sent it over the center field fence to tie the game at three.
• The tie was short lived as UCCS got back-to-back singles to start the fourth inning. Laci Peskey entered the game and got Goldsworth to ground out, but both the runners advanced. Jacqueline Berkowitz hit a single through the right side and both runners scored to give UCCS a 5-3 lead.
• The seventh inning started crazy when Pancost hit a single to get on base immediately. After striking out Steinmetz, Peskey threw a wild pitch to advance the pinch runner Kaylee Holland. She then allowed an RBI double to Tayler McCombs to give UCCS a 6-3 lead and a single to Case to make it 7-3. Despite a few more base runners, Peskey was able to get out of the inning, only giving up the two runs. Hernandez reached on an error to start the bottom of the seventh, but Pauwels grounded into a fielder’s choice and put herself on first with one out. With two outs, Fouras walked and Jarzobski hit an RBI single to cut the lead to three and score the pinch-runner Lily Simmons. Peskey immediately answered with a single of her own to score Fouras and cut the lead to two. UCCS brought in their closer Lauren Falk to face Dowden, who was the winning run and Falk won the battle getting Dowden to immediately ground out to end the game with UCCS winning 7-5.
