Softball Splits on Day 1 of the UCA Invite

Friday, February 26

Conway, Ark.

9:00 AM

South Dakota State University

2-9

Belmont

0-10

Belmont

South Dakota State

Softball Splits League Opening Doubleheader

2/26/2016 4:10:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: SDSU Sports Info

CONWAY, Ark. – South Dakota State scored pounded out 10 hits, including five doubles, in a 9-4 win over Belmont on Friday in the first game of the Central Arkansas Invitational, but stranded nine runners on base in the second game of the day, a 2-1 loss to Middle Tennessee.

The split gives the Jackrabbits a 2-10 record heading into Saturday, while Belmont fell to 0-10 and Middle Tennessee improved to 7-4.

The Jacks got two doubles each from Devan Larsen and Abbey Murphy, and one from Lauren Chirnside in the win over the Bruins, and then used a four run third inning to put the game out of reach.

SDSU opened with one run in the first inning, two in the second, and then responded to a two run top of the second from the Bruins with a four run third, highlighted by Ali Herkliska's first-career home run, a two run shot over the left center field fence.

The Jacks added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to seal the win.

Middle Tennessee scored both if its runs in the first inning, and held the Jackrabbits off the scoreboard until the sixth inning, when Erin Mullen drove in SDSU's lone run of the game. The Jacks would load the bases later in the inning, but stranded all three at the end of the frame.

Christian McKone drew a walk to open the seventh, and advanced to second on a Larsen sacrifice, but could not score, thus ending the game.

The Jacks look to dent the win column again on Saturday, when they take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 11:15 a.m., and then the host Bears at 6 p.m.