BROOKINGS, S.D.—Seniors Lauren Chirnside and Devan Larsen each had big days as the South Dakota State softball team split a twin bill vs. South Dakota Friday afternoon at Jackrabbit Softball Stadium. USD won the opener, 5-4, and the Jackrabbits won the nightcap, 12-11.
SDSU is 22-33 overall and 7-10 in Summit League play while USD is 14-35 and 8-8. The teams play their final regular-season game Saturday at 11 a.m.
Game 1
South Dakota State scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, but left two runners on base in the seventh inning in the 5-4 loss.
The Jackrabbits scored first when junior Christian McKone (Bonney Lake, Wash.) had a bunt single, stole second and third before scoring on an error.
South Dakota tied the game in the top of the second inning and used a three-run third inning to lead 4-1.
In the fourth, freshman Julia Anderson (Papillion, Neb.) singled to shortstop, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Larsen's single down the right-field line.
USD scored in the top of the sixth before freshman Ali Herdliska (Solon, Iowa) hit a two-run home to right field.
Sophomore Jordyn Sturgeon (Omaha) was 2 for 3 with a triple.
Sophomore Bryanna Clark (Riverside, Calif.) went seven innings, striking out a career-high 11 hitters. The last Jackrabbit with that many strikeouts was Kori Seidlitz, who struck out 11 April 27, 2013, at Fort Wayne.
Game 2
With the game tied at 11-11 and runners on first and second, Chirnside (Kansas City, Mo.) hit a walk-off single to left field for the SDSU win.
After trailing 5-1 after the top of the fifth inning, the Jackrabbits exploded with 10 runs on 11 hits in the bottom half. Chirnside hit a three-run home run to right-center field and Larsen (Monroe, Wash.) followed with a solo shot to center field.
Freshman Yanney Ponce (San Bernardino, Calif.) had an RBI single to center field and scored on a single by Anderson. Sophomore Danielle Steffo (Mission Viejo, Calif.) scored on an illegal pitch. Herdliska then hit a two-run home run to center field. The home run was her 16th of the season, tying Larsen's single-season school record for home runs set last year.
USD answered with three runs in the top of the sixth and three more in the seventh to tie the game, setting the stage for Chirnside's game-winning hit.
Chirnside was 3 of 5 with four RBI and a double while Larsen was 2 for 3. Anderson had two hits and two RBI while Sturgeon added two hits and a RBI.
Clark got the win on the mound, relieving junior Ashlyn Bender (Highland, Calif.) in the sixth inning. Clark went two innings and struck out two. Bender had a strikeout in five innings of work.