Softball wraps up weekend with two wins

Sunday, March 10

Clearwater, Fla.

8 a.m.

South Dakota State University

18-5

Providence

8-7

Providence

South Dakota State

Photo by: Laura Mullen

3/10/2019 1:47:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Jackrabbit softball team wrapped up its spring break trip with two more wins Sunday, taking down Providence, 4-1, and Central Connecticut State, 5-1.

South Dakota State improved to 19-5 on the season and capped the week-long stay in the Sunshine State with a 9-1 mark.

South Dakota State 4, Providence 1
Morgan DeMarais (5-1) threw four complete innings, allowing one run while scattering four hits and one walk. She struck out one before Taylor Compton entered in relief. Compton pitched the final three innings to earn the save in shutout fashion with three strikeouts.

Mallory McQuistan was 2-for-3 on the day with a pair of doubles, racking up three RBIs to lead the offense.

Baily Janssen (RBI) and Megan Rushing each had a pair of singles in the win, and Ali Herdliska was 1-for-2 with a walk.

The Jackrabbits built a 2-0 lead in the first, using a McQuistan double to strike first. Herdliska (walk) and Rushing (single) reached with two outs, setting the stage for the Jackrabbit catcher to drive both runs in.

Providence got one back in the third and threatened for more by loading the bases in the fifth, but the Jackrabbit defense worked out of the jam to hold the advantage.

SDSU tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the sixth, creating some breathing room behind another McQuistan double and a single from Janssen.

The Friars put a runner on in the bottom of the seventh, but Compton and the Jackrabbits racked up three quick outs to seal the win.

South Dakota State 5, Central Connecticut State 1
Kendra Conard improved to 6-0 in the weekend finale, throwing five innings of one-run ball with a strikeout. Compton picked up save No. 4 on the year in relief, throwing the final two frames in shutout fashion with two strikeouts.

Yanney Ponce was 2-for-3 on the day with a triple and an RBI, as five other Jackrabbits recorded a hit. Julia Andersen, Erin Mullen, Allison Yoder and Janssen drove in runs for SDSU.

Central Connecticut took a 1-0 lead in the first, but saw its offense go stagnant from there as the Jackrabbits locked down defensively. SDSU turned two double plays in the game and allowed only one runner to reach scoring position the final six innings.

The Jacks took control with a three-run fourth inning, using a pair of walks, two hits and a Blue Devil error in the rally. Herdliska (walk), Rushing (error) and Crist (walk) loaded the bases with one out for Yoder, whose fly ball to center was deep enough to plate Herdliska.

The Jacks tacked on another run when Janssen sent a single to the left-center gap, and after Crist stole third in a two-out situation, Ponce brought another run in with a single of her own.

That score held until the seventh, when the Jacks added two more runs to go up 5-1. Kerigan Torres started the frame with a single, wheeling around to third when Daugherty notched an bunt single before an overthrow at the bag pushed her to second.

Beaudry beat a throw to the plate on an Andersen ground ball in the next at-bat, and two batters later Mullen worked a bases-loaded walk for the fifth run of the afternoon.

Up Next
South Dakota State heads for Kansas City next weekend for four games. Originally scheduled to play in Omaha, Nebraska, the weekend showcase was shifted to Kansas City's campus due to wintry weather in the region. SDSU will take on Creighton and Kansas City on Saturday at noon and 5 p.m., respectively. Sunday's schedule features the Jackrabbits against the Bluejays at 11 a.m. before the weekend finale against the 'Roos at 1:30 p.m.

-GoJacks.com-