KNIESCHE, HOMERS HIGHLIGHT FRIDAY IN LAWRENCE

Friday, March 10

Lawrence, Kan.

10 a.m.

South Dakota State University

13-8

Central Arkansas

14-6

Central Arkansas

South Dakota State

Photo by: Erik Williams

3/10/2023 3:47:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andrew Pedersen

LAWRENCE, Kan. – South Dakota State starting pitcher Tori Kniesche threw a complete-game shutout while Mia Jarecki and Alexa Williams each hit home runs to lead the Jackrabbits to a 3-0 victory over Central Arkansas on Friday, March 10, to open the Jackrabbits' stay at the Jayhawk Invitational. SDSU closed the day by taking on nationally-ranked Stanford and was held to three hits in a 6-0 defeat to the Cardinal at Arrocha Ballpark.

The Jackrabbits and Sugar Bears previously met in Central Arkansas' home tournament on Feb. 26 with Central Arkansas claiming a 7-6 win over SDSU. This time, the Jackrabbits did enough to earn the victory. The two sides combined for just three hits in the opening five innings as a pitcher's duel commenced between SDSU's Kniesche and Central Arkansas's Jordan Johnson.

SDSU broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth. Mia Jarecki led off the inning with a solo home run to give the Jacks a 1-0 lead. Emma Osmundson followed with a single, and after a sacrifice bunt, Alexa Williams came to the plate and smacked a two-run home run to push the Jackrabbit edge to 3-0.

It's all the insurance Kniesche needed. The Sugar Bears got two runners on base in the top of the seventh with one out, but a fielder's choice and strikeout closed out the win and split the season series between SDSU and UCA.

Six different players eventually recorded hits for the Jackrabbits. Kniesche improved to 7-2 overall this season as she gave up no runs while allowing three hits and two walks. She struck out a season-high 10 batters.

The second game of the day saw South Dakota State hang with No. 6/8/12 ranked Stanford for five innings before the Cardinal pulled away for a 6-0 win.

Rozelyn Carrillo hit a single in the top of the first for the Jackrabbits, but SDSU's lineup was held at bay and wouldn't produce a hit again until the sixth.

Jackrabbit starting pitcher Shannon Lasey escaped multiple threats to keep SDSU in the contest. The Cardinal put two runners on in each of the first three innings but were unable to get on the scoreboard. Lasey threw a hitless fourth before Stanford got on the board in the fifth.

The Cardinal scored five runs in the fifth behind an RBI triple, RBI single and three-run home run. Stanford added another tally with a solo homer in the sixth for the eventual 6-0 score.

SDSU's Allison Yoder and Osmundson each recorded singles in the sixth, but the Jackrabbits were unable to do anything and left them stranded.

Lasey took the loss and is now 6-3 overall on the year. She pitched four-plus innings and gave up three runs on seven hits and walked two.

Notes

South Dakota State is now 13-9 overall after the split of the action in Lawrence on Friday.
Jarecki is up to five home runs this season and is tied with Carrillo for the team lead in the category. Williams's home run in the victory over Central Arkansas was the second of her career.

Up Next
South Dakota State continues play at the Jayhawk Invitational on Saturday. The Jackrabbits face Stanford for a second time at 10 a.m. then take on host Kansas at 5:30 p.m.

-GoJacks.com-