Softball Drops Two at Fresno State Classic

Friday, March 13

Fresno, Calif.

11:00 AM

South Dakota State University

Minnesota

3/13/2015 10:09:00 PM | Softball

By: SDSU Sports Info

FRESNO, Calif. – The South Dakota State softball team continued play on Friday at the Fresno State Classic, but came up short against No. 16 Minnesota and Cal Poly, falling 20-3 to the Golden Gophers and 11-8 to the Mustangs.

The losses drop the Jackrabbits to 4-10 on the season, while the Gophers improved to 19-4 and the Mustangs to 12-14.

The Gophers got off to a hot start, plating 16 runs in the first inning, more than enough to secure the win. SDSU did plate three unearned runs in the third, highlighted by a 2 RBI double from Devan Larsen, but could get no closer.

The Jackrabbit bats came alive in the second game of the day against Cal Poly, as the Jacks opened the scoring with a Larsen sacrifice fly in the top of the first. The Mustangs answered with a single run in their half of the first to tie the game at 1-1.

SDSU regained the lead in the top of the second, scoring four runs on a 2 RBI double from Christian McKone and a 2 RBI triple from Vanessa Kellems to take a 5-1 lead, only to see the Mustangs match that in their half, to tie the game again, this time at 5-5.

Jordyn Sturgeon put the Jacks back in front in the third with an RBI single, only to see Cal Poly match the Jacks again in the bottom of the third to tie the game at 6-all after three complete.

The Mustangs held the Jacks off the scoreboard for the next three innings and added a single run in the fourth and four more in the sixth to take an 11-6 lead after six innings.

Sturgeon smacked another 2 RBI double in the top of the seventh to cut the Mustangs lead to 11-8, but the rally came up short.

The Jackrabbits look to end the skid on Saturday in the tournament finale against Montana at 1:15 p.m.