Blake, Kraemer lead Jacks over USF

Wednesday, April 6

Sioux Falls, S.D. (Harmodon)

5 p.m.

South Dakota State University

University of Sioux Falls

4/6/2011 8:24:00 PM | Baseball

By: SDSU Sports Info

SIOUX FALLS - Joel Blake went 4-for-5 with four runs batted in and Shane Kraemer pitched 7 2/3 shutout innings to lead South Dakota State to a 7-1 victory over the University of Sioux Falls Wednesday afternoon at Harmodon Park.

With their eighth consecutive victory, the Jackrabbits improved to 11-9 overall. USF dropped to 13-8 on the season.

SDSU broke into the scoring column with two runs in the third inning. Daniel Marra led off with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Billy Stitz. Two batters later, Blake singled in Zach Briggs.

Marra again started a Jackrabbit rally in the fifth inning, leading off the frame with a base hit. SDSU took advantage of a USF error and balk later in the inning, with Blake delivering a two-run single to center field.

The Jackrabbits tacked on three more runs in the seventh. Blake doubled in the first run and Eric Cain and Phil Paquette followed with run-scoring singles.

Meanwhile, Kraemer put together the strongest start of his career, limiting the Cougars to four hits while walking two and striking out five.

USF scored its lone run of the game in the ninth inning on a run-scoring single by Corey Vasquez.

Stitz and Marra each had two of the Jackrabbits' 13 hits. Jimmy Maxwell was 2-for-4 to lead USF at the plate.

SDSU turned three double plays in the contest.

SDSU opens Summit League play with a four-game weekend series at Western Illinois. Friday's opener is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start in Macomb, Ill.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 7, SIOUX FALLS 1
USF 000 000 001 1-6-1
SDSU 002 020 30X 7-13-1
USF: Brady Nolz, Noah Coleman (4), Derek Fischer (7), Chris Nichols (8) and Dylan Dwyer. SDSU: Shane Kraemer, Austin Busse (8), Marcus Heemstra (9) and Zach Briggs, Nick Andrews (9).
W-Kraemer (1-0). L-Nolz (3-1). Save-none.
HR: none.