Jacks down Harvard in 10 innings

Saturday, March 13

Minneapolis, Minn.

1 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Harvard (Mass.)

3/13/2010 4:00:00 PM | Baseball

By: SDSU Sports Info

MINNEAPOLIS - Jesse Sawyer's bases-clearing double in the top of the 10^th inning propelled South Dakota State to a 7-4 victory over Harvard (Mass.) Saturday afternoon at the Metrodome Tournament.

The Jackrabbits improved to 7-4 overall. Harvard dropped its second consecutive game, falling to 2-3 on the year.

The SDSU rally in the 10^th began when John Lee coaxed a leadoff walk and Billy Stitz followed with his third double of the game to put runners at second and third. An intentional walk to Daniel Telford loaded the bases. Harvard pitcher Daniel Berardo induced a ground ball from Scott Hood to force Lee at the plate for the first out of the inning. Sawyer, the reigning Summit League Player of the Week, then drove a pitch out of the reach of the Crimson outfielder in right-center field to score all three runners.

Trever Vermeulen allowed only one hit in 2 2/3 innings of relief to earn the victory. He struck out three and did not walk a batter in improving to 3-0 on the season.

For the second straight day, the Jackrabbits dug themselves an early hole as they allowed a pair of first-inning runs. Jeff Reynolds drove in the first run of the inning for Harvard with a single to right field that scored Samuel Franklin. Marcus Way scored the second run of the frame when he was awarded home plate on a balk.

The Jackrabbits got a run back in the top of the second. Jesse Sawyer led off the inning with a double down the left field line, moved to third on a deep flyout by Zach Rhodes and scored on a groundout off the bat of Eric Cain.

The Crimson pushed across another run in the fourth inning to take a 3-1 lead. Way drew a leadoff walk, moved to third base on a pair of wild pitches and scored on a sacrifice fly by Dan Zailskas.

SDSU closed to within a run on a solo home run by Eric Cain with two outs in the seventh inning. Cain's second home run of the season ended a string of 12 consecutive batters retired by Harvard starter Conner Hulse. The Jackrabbits appeared on the verge of tying the game later in the inning as Jeff Fish singled to chase Hulse from the game, but Zach Briggs' bid for an extra-base hit was thwarted, however, as Franklin made a running catch just before crashing into the left-field wall.

Harvard regained a two-run lead in the home half of the seventh. Pinch-hitter Brent Suter tripled past a sliding left fielder Joel Blake and later scored on a wild pitch.

The lead didn't last long as the Jackrabbits tied the game at 4-all with a two-run eighth. Andrew Melton opened the inning with a sharp single up the middle and Billy Stitz doubled to put runners at second and third with no outs. Daniel Telford delivered a sacrifice fly to score Melton, and Stitz came around to score on Sawyer's single up the middle. The Crimson used four different pitchers in the inning.

Jackrabbit starter Blake Treinen pitched the first 7 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on five hits. He struck out six and walked four.

Stitz and Sawyer each tallied three of SDSU's six hits, with Sawyer finishing the game with four runs batted in.

Franklin posted two of Harvard's six hits.

SDSU closes out the Metrodome Tournament Sunday afternoon against host Minnesota. First pitch is slated for 3:05 p.m.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 7, HARVARD (Mass.) 4 (10 inn.)
SDSU 010 000 120 3 7-9-0
HARV 200 100 10x 0 4-6-1
SDSU: Blake Treinen, Trever Vermeulen (8) and Nick Andrews, Zach Briggs (5). HARV: Conner Hulse, Jonah Klees (7), Will Keuper (8), Robert Wineski (8), Daniel Berardo (8) and Cole Arledge.
W-Vermeulen (3-0). L-Berardo (0-1). SV-none.
HR: SDSU-Eric Cain (2).