Softball Wins Two in Florida

Saturday, February 14

Clermont, Fla.

12:30 PM

South Dakota State University

UMass Lowell

2/14/2015 10:18:00 PM | Softball

By: SDSU Sports Info

The South Dakota State bats came alive on Saturday at the Dot Richardson Invitational, as the Jackrabbits ran away with a pair of wins on the day, downing UMass Lowell 9-1 in the first game before running away with a 14-6, five inning, win over Liberty in the second game.

The two wins even the Jacks record at 4-4 going into the final day of the tournament on Sunday, with games against Cleveland State and Missouri on the slate.

SDSU broke a scoreless tie against UMass Lowell in the second inning with five straight hits to open the frame, including back-to-back-to-back doubles from Alyssa D'Agostino, Elyse Eitel and KayCee Miller, along with singles from Jordyn Sturgeon and Cassidy Vlot. The Jacks plated five runs on five hits in the inning to take a 5-0 lead.

The River Hawks got one back on the bottom of the second, but the Jacks added three more in the fourth on four hits and one UML error to go up 8-1.

A Vlot single in the seventh gave SDSU a 9-1 lead, and the defense did the rest in the bottom of the inning to secure the win.

Ashlyn Bender earned the win in the circle, giving up one run on four hits in four innings, with Bryana Clark earning the three inning save. She gave up three hits with three walks and four strikeouts, but did not allow a run.

The Jackrabbits fell into a 3-0 hole in the first inning against Liberty in the second game of the day, but erupted for seven runs on three hits and two Flames errors in the bottom of the second inning, highlighted by a two-RBI double from Eitel, to take the 7-3 lead after two complete.

The Flames got three of those runs back in the fourth to cut the SDSU lead to 7-6, but the Jacks returned the favor, scoring three in the bottom of the fourth, including a Devan Larsen home run and RBI singles from Miller and Dana Chavez that put the Jacks up 10-6.

SDSU would add four runs in the fifth, and ended the game via the eight-run on an RBI single from Vlot that scored Katie Lang with two outs.

Eitel led the Jacks with a 6 for 7 day at the plate, with three doubles and five RBI. Miller went 5 for 7 on the day with four RBI. Larsen, Vlot and D'Agostino recorded three hits and a pair of RBI in the two wins.

The Jacks wrap-up play at the Dot Richardson Invitational on Sunday, with games against Cleveland State at 8 a.m., and against Missouri at 10:30 a.m.