Jacks split doubleheader at Drake

Thursday, March 31

Des Moines. Iowa

2 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Drake

3/31/2011 7:33:00 PM | Softball

By: SDSU Sports Info

DES MOINES, Iowa - The South Dakota State softball team split a pair of one runs games on Thursday at Drake, falling 6-5 in the opener before bouncing back to take a 4-3 game in the nightcap.

The Jackrabbits finish the day with a 7-19 record heading into Saturday's Summit League doubleheader with IPFW at Sherman Park in Sioux Falls. Drake ends the day with an 18-11 record.

The Jacks took the early lead in the opener, plating four runs on three hits in the second inning. Allison Huffman drew a bases loaded walk to score the first run of the inning. Emily Weber followed with an RBI fielder's choices that scored a run left runners on the corners for Ashley Durazo, who came through with a two-run double that put the Jacks up 4-0.

The Bulldogs scored single runs in the second and third innings to cut the lead in half after three innings. SDSU scored one more in the fourth to go up 5-2, but a pair of walks came back to haunt the Jacks in the bottom of the fourth, when Torey Craddock belted a three-run homer to left that tied the game at 5-5.

After a scoreless fifth and top of the sixth, Drake manufactured their sixth and deciding run in the bottom of the sixth, and then held off a Jackrabbit rally in the seventh to secure the win.

Kori Seidlitz, who also went 1-for-4 at the plate, took the loss for the Jacks, giving six runs, five earned, on seven hits with six walks and a pair of strikeouts.

Down 1-0 heading into the fourth inning of Game 2, the Jacks put together their second four-run inning of the day, but this time they did it all with two outs and with a little help from the defense.

Allison Huffman got things started with a single up the middle. Pam Nicholson followed with a heads-up play, reaching first base on a past ball after striking out, which allowed Huffman to take third.

Nicholson promptly stole second to put runners on second and third for Durazo, who reached on infield single that scored Huffman.

Devon Reick came up next and reached on an error to load the bases for Winter, who smacked a three-RBI double to center to put the Jacks up 4-1.

Drake scored two runs in the fifth to get within one at 4-3, but Nicholson kept the Bulldogs off the scoreboard long enough to secure the Jackrabbit victory.

Nicholson picks up the complete game win after giving up three runs, two earned, on nine hits with five strikeouts and two walks.

The Jackrabbits return to action on Saturday, when they host IPFW at Sherman Park in Sioux Falls on either field 'C' or 'D' in a doubleheader at 1 p.m.

The Sherman Park softball complex is located on the Southwest corner of West 12th street and Kiwanis Ave., in Sioux Falls near the Great Plains Zoo and Museum. Fans wishing to attend the game, which is free and open to the public, can to enter the complex from Kiwanis Ave.