SPEARFISH, SD – The Cougars traveled to Black Hills State to play a three game midweek series all in one day in order to avoid poor weather in the area.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

GAME ONE:

The two teams took some time to get going with all the scoring coming in the final three innings of the game.

The Cougars struck first with two RBI singles to go up by two runs in the fourth inning, Black Hills State responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth.

In the fifth inning the Cougars blew the game open with a seven run inning, highlighted by back to back to back doubles driving in five runs.

Black Hills once again responded in the bottom of the fifth with two more runs but could not close the gap any more as the Cougars added two more runs in the top of the sixth and secured the 11-3 win.

COUGAR LEADERS: Piper Lujan, Kayla Middleton, Kenzie Middleton and Caitlin McCarthy all had two RBI. McCarthy also had three hits.

In the circle Jennifer Romero pitched 4.2 innings with four strikeouts and allowed three runs. Sydney Rawlings pitched 1.1 innings in relief with a strikeout.

GAME TWO:

The Cougars came out firing in the second game, scoring eight runs in the first two innings. Scoring four runs in each of the first two innings the Cougars singled their way to an 8-0 lead, with only two of the eight runs scoring on an extra base hit.

Black Hills responded with three runs in the bottom of the second but the Cougars power responded in the top of the third with a two run home run.

The Cougars scored once in the fourth and three times in the fifth to increase the lead to nine runs and giving plenty of cushion for the pitching to finish the game off 14-5.

COUGAR LEADERS: Caitlin McCarthy had five RBI for the Cougars. Kenzie Middleton and McCarthy had three hits as well. Middleton also had a home run.

Julie Katz started for the Cougars and pitched 3.2 innings with six strikeouts and only walked two. Sydney Rawlings once again pitched 1.1 innings in relief with one strikeout.

GAME THREE:

The final game of the series was a slow developing game for the Cougars, scoring two runs in the first three innings, the Yellow Jackets scored twice as well and the game remained tied in to the fifth inning.

Piper Lujan broke the game open in the fifth with a two run home run followed up by a Sydney Reamer double which gave the Cougars the lead once again.

The Cougars scored four runs in the seventh thanks to another home run from Lujan and a home run from Samaria Roope which secured the sweep for the Cougars with a 10-2 win.

COUGARS LEADERS: Lujan and Roope both had three RBI, Lujan had two home runs and Roope had a home run as well. Reamer had two doubles and three hits.

In the circle Jennifer Romero pitched the entire game with nine strikeouts and only two earned runs.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• Jennifer Romero started in two of the three games today.
• Allie VanHoveln recorded her first collegiate hit and drove in her first run
• The Cougars did not trail during the series.

UP NEXT: The Cougars are back home this weekend, hosting Regis on Sunday and Monday with double headers on both days.