KNIESCHE SHINES AS JACKS DEFEAT DRAKE

Friday, February 12

Cedar Falls, Iowa

6 p.m.

South Dakota State University

1-1

Drake

0-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Drake	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	2
South Dakota State	0	1	1	3	1	0	X	6	11	0

Photo by: SDSU Sports Information

2/12/2021 10:16:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Freshman pitcher Tori Kniesche struck out 12 batters in a complete-game effort and the South Dakota State offense got in gear as the Jackrabbit softball team slugged its way to a 6-1 victory over Drake Friday night at the Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic.

SDSU salvaged a split of its two games on the opening day of the season. Drake dropped to 0-1.

A right-hander from Wayne, Nebraska, Kniesche struggled with her command early as three first-inning walks led to what would be Drake's lone run of the game.

SDSU tied the game on an opposite-field solo home run by Lindsey Culver with two outs in the bottom of the second off Bulldog starter Nicole Timmons, then grabbed the lead for good when Cylie Halvorson launched a solo shot well over the fence in left field to lead off the third.

The Jackrabbits broke the game open with a three-run rally in the fourth inning, with all of the damage coming with two outs. Peyton Daugherty started the outburst with an infield single, advancing to second and taking third on an ensuing throwing error before Olivia Pfeifer delivered a run-scoring single to left. Pfeifer later scored on a Halvorson single, while Mia Elliott pushed the SDSU lead to 5-1 two batters later with a single that brought home Halvorson.

Meanwhile, Kniesche settled into a groove, retiring 10 Bulldog batters in one stretch before having her no-hit bid broken up by consecutive hits from Delaney Taylor and Macy Johnson in the top of the fifth. Drake had a player thrown out at the plate on Johnson's double into the corner as Daugherty and Rozelyn Carrillo perfectly executed throws from left field and shortstop, respectively.

Kniesche finished with a three-hitter, issuing only one walk after the first inning.

The top three hitters in the Jackrabbit lineup -- Daugherty, Pfeifer and Halvorson -- each tallied two of SDSU's 11 hits.

UP NEXT
The Jackrabbits resume action at the Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic on Saturday, meeting Drake in a rematch at 2:45 p.m., followed by a 5 p.m. matchup against host Northern Iowa.

NOTES

Drake leads the all-time series, 11-7
Kniesche's 12 strikeouts were the most by a Jackrabbit pitcher since Abby Deane recorded 13 K's versus St. Bonaventure on March 7, 2017, a total that is tied for the most by an SDSU hurler in the Division I era
Daugherty recorded her second two-hit game of the day
Culver's home run was the fifth of her career, while Halvorson notched her third career round-tripper

-GoJacks.com-