Jacks run-rule A&M in weekend finale

Sunday, February 26

Beaumont, Texas

8 a.m.

South Dakota State University

4-11

Alabama A&M

4-10

Alabama A&M

South Dakota State

Photo by: Jeff Kellum

2/26/2017 10:57:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

BEAUMONT, Texas -- South Dakota State closed its stay at the Cardinal Classic in dominant fashion, taking down Alabama A&M 8-0 in six innings Sunday.

"After a tough weekend, I thought we we came out and played with energy," head coach Krista Wood said. "This team is able of doing some big things when we play to the level that we're capable of."

SDSU (4-11) racked up 10 hits while Ashlyn Bender and Madison Hope combined for a one-hitter in the circle.

Bender (4-4) tossed five innings and struck out five, facing just two over the minimum before Hope entered and finished the game, picking up a strikeout in the sixth.

Ali Herdliska went 2 for 2 on the day with five RBI, leading the team with a three-run home run and a two-RBI single.

Abbey Murphy and Baily Janssen put together multi-hit performances as well, with Murphy logging a triple and Janssen picking up a double to go alongside an RBI. Mallory McQuistan and Paige Gerdes also drove in runs for SDSU.

Scoreless through a frame and a half, State loaded the bases in the second and Gerdes drove McQuistan home on a fielder's choice.

Two innings later, the Jacks stretched their lead to 5-0 with a four-spot in the fourth. Erin Mullen walked to start the inning before an A&M error allowed Christian McKone to reach safely on a sacrifice attempt. Herdliska then blasted her first home run of the season in three-run fashion, taking a 3-0 pitch over the left field wall.

The next at-bat saw Julia Andersen work a walk of her own, and after advancing to second on a two-out illegal pitch, she came around to score when McQuistan singled into left.

State manufactured two more runs in the fifth before ending the game early with its eighth run of the day in the sixth.

Janssen doubled to lead off the fifth inning before moving to third on Mullen's single. After McKone had a bunt single to load the bases, Herdliska came through with her second hit of the day, driving a sinle up the middle to plate Janssen and Mullen.

With one out in the sixth, Murphy ripped a 3-1 pitch into left for her first triple of the season and scored the game-ending run off a Janssen infield single.

Game Notes

Ali Herdliska's five RBI is tied for the second most in a single game in SDSU's Division I history.
Ashlyn Bender allowed a career-low one hit and the fewest since March 30, 2016 when the Jacks held Creighton to one hit.
Herdliska now has 17 career home runs and is two shy of No. 4 on the career record list at SDSU.

Up Next
South Dakota State makes a return to the Sunshine State next, playing six neutral site games March 6-8 before the USF-Under Armour Invitational, March 10-12.

-GoJacks.com-