Softball walks off with third straight win

Saturday, February 22

Conway, Ark.

11:15 AM

South Dakota State University

Arkansas-Pine Bluff

2/22/2014 11:37:00 PM | Softball

By: SDSU Sports Info

CONWAY, Ark. – South Dakota State ran away with a 10-1 in over Arkansas-Pine Bluff in its first game of the day at the Central Arkansas Invitational, and then walked off a winner in a 10-9 win over Alabama State for its third straight win.

The Jackrabbits end the day with a 4-8 record, while Arkansas Pine Bluff falls to 1-4 and Alabama State 1-11.

The first four Jackrabbit batters all scored in the opener against the Golden Lions to give SDSU the early 4-0 lead. SDSU added three more in the third and in the sixth to go up 10-0, and then surrendered just one run in the bottom of the sixth to secure the run-rule shortened game.

Elyse Eitel led the offense with a 3 for 3 effort at the plate in the opener, with a double, and RBI and three runs scored. Jennifer Sutton pitched all six innings, giving up just one unearned run on two hits with six strikeouts and seven walks to improve to 1-2 on the season.

Devan Larsen, who doubled home a pair of runs in the opener, reached on a fielding error in the bottom of the seventh inning in the second game of the day that plated Sammy Bingham to complete a four-run seventh inning and secure the come-from-behind 10-9 win.

Up 6-4 heading into the top of the seventh inning, the Hornets plated five runs to take a 9-6 lead over the Jacks, but SDSU got an RBI single from Samantha Terry and a two RBI single from Bingham to tie the game, and then capitalized on the miscue to secure the win.

Bingham finished the game 2 for 4 with three RBI and a pair of runs scored. Larson also went 2 for 4 with two RBI. KayCee Miller, Jessica Markanich and Kelly Kleppin all posted two hits and scored two runs in the win.

Ashlyn Bender evened her record at 3-3 on the season with two innings of relief in the circle. She game up five runs, four earned, on five hits with two walks and a strikeout.

The Jackrabbits look to complete a perfect weekend on Sunday, when they take on the host Bears at 11:15 a.m.