JACKS DEFEAT BEARS, SWEEP BOILERMAKES SATURDAY

Saturday, February 24

Conway, Ark.

11 a.m.

South Dakota State University

7-6

Central Arkansas

2-10

South Dakota State

Central Arkansas

Akayla Barnard

Photo by: Mario Terrana

2/24/2024 5:32:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andrew Pedersen

CONWAY, Ark. — South Dakota State softball earned a pair of victories at Farris Field on Saturday at the Michelle Short Memorial Classic. The Jackrabbits defeated host Central Arkansas 8-1, then completed a sweep of Purdue with a 7-6 victory.

Game One (vs. Central Arkansas)
South Dakota State scored eight consecutive runs en route to its 8-1 victory over Central Arkansas to begin the day.

The Jackrabbit lineup was held in check for the first two innings of the ballgame which saw the Bears jump into an early lead. SDSU Starting pitcher Tori Kniesche hit a batter and walked another to put two UCA runners on base. The Bears' Lilly Hood hit an RBI double to score one and give UCA another set of runners on second and third with one out. Kniesche got out of the threat by striking a batter out and forcing an infield popup.

SDSU tied the score in the top of the third on an RBI single by Mia Jarecki that scored pinch runner Kaylee Kardash. The Jackrabbits tallied another four runs in the fourth. With one out Emma Osmundson singled and Lindsey Culver drew a walk. Jocelyn Carrillo came up to the plate and belted a home run to push SDSU into the lead. The Jackrabbits weren't done as Abby Gentry followed with a walk. After advancing to second on a flyout off the bat of Brooke Dumont, Rozelyn Carrillo hit a single through the left side to score pinch runner Emma Christensen.

Kniesche coasted through the next three innings in the circle as she didn't allow a hit during the stretch.

The Jackrabbits added two more runs in the seventh. Akayla Barnard and Osmundson hit back-to-back singles. The two scored on a single by Jocelyn Carrillo to extend the margin to 8-1.

The Bears were able to hit a double in the seventh, but Kniesche struck out two Bears and forced a game-ending infield popout to earn another complete-game performance.

Kniesche improved to 4-3 on the season with her seven-inning effort. She allowed a run on five hits, a walk and a hit batter. She struck out nine batters.

Osmundson had a team-high three hits and three runs scored. Jocelyn Carrillo recorded two hits and four RBIs. The Jackrabbits totaled 10 hits in the matchup.

Game Two (vs. Purdue)
A day after topping Purdue 5-1, South Dakota State rallied from trailing to the Boilermakers and held on for a 7-6 win.

Both teams had early chances to take an early advantage.

SDSU's Mia Jarecki hit a lead-off single in the bottom of the first and sat on second with two outs. Lindsey Culver hit a single to left field which Jarecki tried to score on, but the Jackrabbit second basemen was thrown out at home.

Starting pitcher Akayla Barnard cruised through the first before running into a threat in the second. Two singles to begin the frame ended up with runners on second and third for Purdue with one out. Barnard forced a Boilermaker fielder's choice which resulted in a tag at the plate by catcher Brooke Dumont on a throw from Rozelyn Carrillo to keep the game scoreless.

Purdue took the first lead of the day in the third. The Boilermakers. Two singles and two doubles led to two Purdue runs to give the Big Ten foes the early advantage.

South Dakota State broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth.

Emma Osmundson led the inning off with a solo home run to make it a 2-1 score. Culver hit a single, Jocelyn Carrillo walked and a Dumont single scored another run to tie it at 2-2. Rozelyn Carrillo then crushed a three-run home run to put the Jackrabbits on top, 5-2. Alexa Williams and Barnard each singled before the Boilermakers were able to escape the inning.

SDSU went to Williams in the circle and she kept the Boilermakers at bay as they scored one run over the next two innings. Ahead 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth, Williams and Barnard hit back-to-back solo home runs to extend the SDSU lead to 7-3.

The Jackrabbits had to work through a threat in the seventh to close out a victory. Purdue earned a walk and single to put two runners on, then a three-run home run cut the deficit to 7-6. SDSU pitcher Shannon Lasey ended the matchup by forcing an infield pop-up and striking out a batter.

Barnard, Williams Osmundson and Culver each had multi-hit performances as the Jackrabbits recorded 12 hits. Seven different Jackrabbits scored runs.

Barnard earned her second win in the circle during her college career. She allowed six hits and two runs in four innings of work. Williams struck out four hitters in two innings.

Notes

Osmundson now has a team-high three home runs, eight doubles, 14 RBIs and .478 batting average on the season through 14 games. She's tied with Barnard with 14 runs scored.
The Carrillo sisters, along with Williams, hit their first homers of the season. Barnard's home run was the first of her career.

Up Next
South Dakota State closes out its stay in Conway on Sunday. The Jackrabbits are slated to face Central Arkansas at 10 a.m. at Farris Field.

-GoJacks.com-