Softball Splits Doubleheader at North Dakota

Tuesday, April 5

Grand Forks, N.D.

2:00 PM

South Dakota State University

12-22

North Dakota

11-22

South Dakota State

North Dakota

Photo by: GoJacks.com

4/5/2016 8:12:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Ryan Sweeter

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Jackrabbit sophomore Danielle Steffo hit a home run in both games of a doubleheader at North Dakota on Tuesday, and senior Devan Larsen hit two in the second game, as South Dakota State split the twin bill, falling 6-3 in the opener before bouncing back with a 5-3 win in the night cap.

The Jacks end the day with a 13-22 record, while the Fighting Hawks end with an 11-23 mark.

Down 1-0 in the fourth inning of the opener, SDSU tied the game on an Ali Herdliska RBI single that scored Christian McKone, but the UND came right back with one run in the bottom of the frame to retake the lead at 2-1 after four complete.

Steffo put the Jacks in front 3-2 in the top of the fifth with a two-run home run, but the lead didn't last, as North Dakota scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth for the 6-3 lead, which held up for the win.

The Jackrabbits scored first in Game 2 on another Herdliska RBI single, a shot down the left field line that scored McKone to put SDSU up 1-0 in the third inning.

Still 1-0 into the fifth, Larson smacked the first of her two dingers on the day to give her team a 2-0 lead into the sixth inning, where Steffo led off with her second longball of the afternoon, which drew a pitching change from the UND dugout.

Two batters later, McKone singled, setting the stage for Larsen, who blasted her second homer of the day to give SDSU a 5-0 lead.

UND answered with one run in the bottom of the sixth, and added two more in the seventh before Jackrabbit starter Bryana Clark closed the door. Clark surrendered all three runs, one earned, on six hits, with eight strikeouts and a pair of walks to earn the win, which evens her record at 7-7.

The Jackrabbits return to Summit League play on Saturday, when they travel to Omaha to take on the Mavericks in a three game series, which starts with a doubleheader on Saturday at noon.