Jacks complete sweep with 6-4 victory

Sunday, April 21

Brookings, S.D.

11 a.m.

South Dakota State University

29-12, 8-4

Purdue Fort Wayne

8-33, 3-12

Purdue Fort Wayne

South Dakota State

Photo by: Iowa Athletics

4/21/2019 1:38:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

The Jackrabbit softball team completed the series sweep over Purdue Fort Wayne Sunday with a 6-4 victory in front of 111 fans.

South Dakota State (29-12, 8-4 Summit) had six hits in the game and have now won four straight, picking up their second sweep of a Summit League opponent this season.

Kendra Conard started and threw into the second, exiting with a runner on as Taylor Compton entered in relief. Conard gave up two runs on a hit and three walks, while Compton (7-4) earned the win over 5.1 innings, allowing a pair of runs on four hits with two strikeouts.

Emma Hardin picked up her first career save, entering with one out and one on in the seventh. Hardin retired the only two batters she faced, ending the game with a strikeout.

Yanney Ponce continued her strong play of late, going 2-for-3 with her second triple of the weekend while driving in four. Megan Rushing and Mallory McQuistan added RBIs as four other Jackrabbits logged hits.

Ali Herdliska worked three walks in the win and McQuistan drew two free passes.

SDSU faced adversity early, as Purdue Fort Wayne loaded the bases in the top of the first with no outs, but Conard and the Jackrabbit defense allowed only one run after a force out at the plate and an inning-ending double play.

The Jackrabbits answered quickly with a four-spot in their half of the first, taking control after loading the bases and pulling off a two-out rally. Peyton Daugherty (error), Julia Andersen (single) and Herdliska (walk) reached safely to open the frame, but after a fielder's choice and a strikeout Purdue Fort Wayne was close to escaping the threat. A McQuistan walk tied it at 1-1, though, and in the next at-bat Ponce laced her second triple of the weekend to right field, clearing the bases and putting the Jacks up, 4-1.

The Mastodon offense struck again in the top of the second to draw even at 4-all, but a two-out single from Rushing pushed SDSU back in front, 5-4, as Daugherty (who singled earlier) scored from second.

State put together another bases-loaded scoring chance in the third, and Ponce logged another RBI when she sent a pitch back up the middle to push SDSU's lead to two.

That 6-4 advantage held the rest of the way, as both defenses locked down over the final three and a half innings of scoreless play.

Up Next
South Dakota State is scheduled to host Creighton in a Tuesday doubleheader, with first pitch set for 2 p.m. from Jackrabbit Softball Stadium.

-GoJacks.com-