SDSU COMPLETES FRESNO STATE CLASSIC SHOWING

Saturday, February 10

Fresno, Calif.

11 a.m.

South Dakota State University

2-2

Santa Clara

1-1

Jackrabbits

Santa Clara

Photo by: Josh Gateley

2/10/2024 9:37:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andrew Pedersen

FRESNO, Calif. — South Dakota State nearly completed a comeback in one game, then topped another opponent by run-rule in the other, as the Jackrabbits closed out the Fresno State Kickoff Classic on Saturday splitting a pair of matchups. The Jackrabbits fell 7-5 on a walk-off home run to Santa Clara and followed that with a 9-1 five-inning victory over CSU Bakersfield at Margie Wright Diamond.

Game One (vs. Santa Clara)
Following a 1-0 win for the Jackrabbits over the Broncos the day prior that featured a combined three hits, both team's lineups showed up on Saturday.

The two sides were tied at 1-1 through three innings when Santa Clara jumped ahead in the bottom of the fourth. The Broncos' Morgan Salmon hit a solo home run, then a walk and three singles scored two more runs to chase Jackrabbit starter Shannon Lasey out of the ballgame.

South Dakota State responded in the top of the next inning. Mia Jarecki hit a solo home run, her first and the team's first of the season, to cut the score to 4-2. Akayla Barnard walked next and Emma Osmundson stroked a two-run home out of the two-spot to tie the game again.

Santa Clara re-took the lead in the bottom of the fifth off SDSU reliever Alexa Williams. An RBI double by Hazyl Gray made it 5-4 heading into the final inning of action.

The Jackrabbits kept the game alive in the top of the frame. Barnard led the seventh off with a double. She'd watch the Jackrabbits from second base as two more outs were recorded. Barnard eventually was plated on a two-out single by Lindsey Culver to tie the score at 5-all.

SDSU's comeback bid fell short in the bottom half of the inning. Tori Kniesche came in for relief and walked the first batter she faced. Santa Clara's Salmon came up next and drove a pitch over the left-field fence to give the Broncos a 7-5 win.

South Dakota State finished the contest with seven hits by seven different Jackrabbits. Barnard scored three of SDSU's five runs while she was also walked twice. Lasey gave up four runs in 3 2/3 innings. Williams threw 2 1/3 innings and allowed a run on three hits with two strikeouts and a walk.

Game Two (vs. Bakersfield)
The Jackrabbits racked up 11 hits and scored often on the way to a five-inning 9-1 win against the Roadrunners.

SDSU scored a run in the second, three runs apiece in innings 2-4 – and following a Bakersfield RBI single in the fifth – two runs in the fifth capped by a Brooke Dumont RBI single to close out the game by run rule.

None of SDSU's hits came by extra bases as seven players accounted for 11 singles. Culver, Jarecki and Rozelyn Carrillo each produced two hits. Jarecki and Cheyanne Masterson had two RBIs apiece for the Jacks. Scoring multiple runs for SDSU were Carrillo (3), Culver (2) and Dumont (2).

Kniesche began the game in the circle for the Jackrabbits. She threw two innings and struck out a batter while giving up two hits. Shannon Lasey was rewarded with the win which was her first decision of the year. She pitched three innings and allowed a run on two hits and two walks. Lasey struck out seven Roadrunners.

Notes

South Dakota is now 3-2 following the conclusion of the Fresno State Kickoff Classic.
Osmundson and Culver have the Jackrabbits' top batting averages through five games. The senior outfielders are hitting .438 and .429, respectively. Also hitting over .300 are Jarecki (.385), Dumont (.385), Barnard (.333) and Masterson (.300). Barnard has scored a team-high seven runs.
Kniesche has a team-best 2.69 ERA while she has a 2-1 record in the circle. Alexa Williams, despite an 0-1 record, has a solid ERA of 2.80.

Up Next
South Dakota State will head to Denton, Texas, to compete in North Texas' Tracey Beard College Classic. The Jackrabbits open their tournament appearance at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16, against Texas A&M Commerce.

-GoJacks.com-