SPEARFISH, S.D. – Chadron State softball split a pair of games against Black Hills State to close a four-game series, falling 8-2 before winning the series finale 3-2 behind an early home run and a clutch pitching performance from Kenzi Garner. 

The win in game four of the series snaps what had been a seven-game losing streak for the Eagles, who will return home to play in Chadron for the second time this season coming up this weekend. The Eagles are now 8-12 overall and 5-11 in the RMAC. 

Determined to avoid a series sweep, the Eagles wasted no time getting on the board in the second game of the day. Leadoff batter Aliyah Rothstein laid down a bunt and reached third base on a throwing error before J'lyssa Martinez followed with a home run to right field to give CSC a 2-0 lead after just two batters and three pitches. 

Chadron State added another run in the fourth when Jazlyn Arvizo drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on Elizabeth Thorngren's one-out double. The hit was the first double, second extra-base hit and third RBI of the season for the Trinidad CC transfer. 

Those three runs turned out to be all that senior pitcher Kenzi Garner would need. Coming to the aid of a CSC pitching staff that used the other three pitchers on the roster in the day's first game, Garner threw her team-leading fifth complete game of the season and improved her win-loss record to 2-4.

In seven innings of work, Garner allowed just five hits and two runs, which came on a sixth-inning home run by BHSU's Ashlynn Pauwels. Garner struck out four, walked two, and retired the Yellow Jackets in order in the first, fifth and seventh innings. 

Black Hills State clinched the series victory in Monday's opener. Once again, BHSU threw three-time RMAC Pitcher of the Week Laci Peskey, who threw seven two-hit, two-run innings with seven strikeouts. Eagle starter Tori Haug matched her zero-for-zero through the first four innings, collecting five strikeouts and allowing just three hits through four, but things unraveled in the later innings. 

After a leadoff double in the fifth, BHSU hit back-to-back home runs with two outs to take a 3-0 lead, prompting a pitching change to Belle Akins. The freshman got the final out, then Chadron State showed some life with two solo home runs off of Peskey. 

Brogan Allen hit a pinch-hit blast to lead off the inning, the first home run of the Cheyenne, Wyoming redshirt sophomore's career. With two outs, Lauren Zimmerman followed with another solo home run, Zimmerman's seventh of the season to place the senior into a five-way tie for the RMAC lead. 

But as soon as Chadron State pulled within a run, Black Hills State scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth to put the game out of reach. Akins couldn't get out of the inning, with Wellington, Colorado freshman Destrie Greiman coming on for her third career relief appearance and giving up two runs on three hits in one third of an inning.

Chadron State will have a quick turnaround ahead of its next games, with the Eagles traveling to in-state nonconference rival Nebraska-Kearney for a road doubleheader on Wednesday. RMAC play will resume this weekend, with Chadron State scheduled to host MSU Denver for a home series on Saturday and Sunday.