SDSU DEFEATS SEMO, NO. 15 ARKANSAS

Saturday, March 2

Fayetteville, Ark.

10 a.m.

South Dakota State University

10-11

Southeast Missouri

4-12

South Dakota St.

SEMO

Tori Kniesche

Photo by: Andrew Pedersen

3/2/2024 10:37:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andrew Pedersen

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — South Dakota State softball produced one of its most memorable days of regular season play in its program history on Saturday at Arkansas' Bogle Park. The Jackrabbits won two games at the Wooo Pig Classic Saturday, first beating Southeast Missouri 9-1 in five innings, followed by a 7-3 victory over the host and 15th-ranked Razorbacks 7-3.

Game One (vs. SEMO)
Multiple Jackrabbits stood out in South Dakota State's run-rule victory over the Redhawks to begin the day in Fayetteville.

SDSU got out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning. Mia Jarecki and Akayla Barnard hit back-to-back singles, then Emma Osmundson drove both Jackrabbits in with a two-run double. Lindsey Culver crushed a two-run home run to push SDSU ahead 4-0. A Brooke Dumont walk, along with Jocelyn and Rozelyn Carrillo reaching the base, loaded the bases. Abby Gentry ended the scoring in the frame with an RBI groundout.

Jarecki and Barnard again hit consecutive singles in the top of the second. Jarecki eventually was plated in the inning on a throwing error to push the Jackrabbits to a 6-0 advantage.

Barnard began the game in the circle for the Jackrabbits. After a scoreless first inning, the SEMO scored one in the second off of three hits. Barnard was able to get out of a bases-loaded jam with an inning-ending strikeout.

The Jackrabbits turned to Hailey Herman in relief for just her third appearance of her college career. The freshman pitcher was stellar for South Dakota State. She wound up pitching three innings and allowed just one hit in the span. She also struck out three Redhawks and didn't allow a free pass as she controlled the game in the circle.

SDSU put the finishing touches on the 9-1 victory in the fourth and fifth innings. Osmundson hit an RBI double and Culver drove in a run on a single as the Jacks scored two in the fourth. An RBI single by Jarecki in the fifth wrapped up the opening game of the day for the Jackrabbits.

The South Dakota State lineup combined for 13 hits against SEMO. Jarecki had a career-high four hits in the game, the first-four hit showing at the plate by a Jackrabbit this season, to go along with three runs scored. Osmundson and Culver each had two hits and three RBIs apiece. Barnard and Rozelyn Carrillo had a multi-hit games while Hailey Herman, who pinch hit, recorded the first hit of her college career.

Barnard was credited the win for her start in the circle, pushing her to 3-1 on the season.

Game Two (vs. Arkansas)
South Dakota State rallied from a three-run deficit and picked up its highest-ranked victory of its program history on Saturday when the Jackrabbits topped No. 15 Arkansas, 7-3, on its home field.

The Razorbacks got off to a strong start in the bottom of the first. Two walks led up to Kennedy Miller at bat who drove a three-run home run over the left-field foul pole. It put Arkansas ahead, 3-0.

SDSU responded in the second inning. Brooke Dumont and Abby Gentry each hit singles, while Cheyanne Masterson walked, to load the bases for the Jacks with one out. Another walk, this time drawn by Jarecki, plated SDSU's first run of the game. An RBI single by Barnard scored pinch runner Emma Christensen, then Osmundson hit a sacrifice fly to tie the score at 3-3.

SDSU starting pitcher Tori Kniesche found her groove in the second inning. She walked just one batter in the second and struck out two of three hitters she faced in the third before the Jackrabbit lineup struck again.

Jarecki hit a one-out single in the top of the fourth and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Barnard. With two outs, Osmundson smacked an RBI single to right field to score Jarecki and give the Jackrabbits their first lead, 4-3. Culver came up next and extended the margin, drilling a 1-0 pitch over the center-field fence to push SDSU edge to 6-3.

The extra runs provided plenty of insurance for Kniesche. She avoided any threat over the next two innings. Kniesche stranded a Razorback runner at third in the fifth and forced Arkansas to leave two runners on base in the sixth.

Culver hit a double in the top of the seventh. After a sacrifice bunt by Jocelyn Carrillo, Rozelyn Carrillo hit a single up the middle to plate Culver and put the Jackrabbits on top 7-3.

Kniesche wrapped up a complete-game performance in the seventh. She got a strikeout and flyout to begin the frame, though Arkansas picked up a double and walk to stretch the game out. An infield groundout finally ended the contest.

The Jackrabbits picked up their first nationally-ranked win of the season and second ever in their Division I era. It was SDSU's highest ranked victory with the Jacks defeating No. 20 Baylor a season ago in Waco, Texas. South Dakota State is now 2-26 all-time against ranked opponents at the Division I level.

Kniesche had a strong effort in the circle for South Dakota State. She allowed three runs on seven hits and seven walks, while she struck out nine batters. Kniesche improved to 6-4 on the season.

SDSU outhit the Razorbacks 8-7 in the contest. Culver had two of the Jackrabbits' hits, while her and Osmundson drove in two runs apiece.

South Dakota State improved to 11-11 overall with its two wins on Saturday.

Up Next
The Jackrabbits close out their stay at the Wooo Pig Classic on Sunday. SDSU will face Florida Atlantic in a rematch of a Friday meeting at 10 a.m. at Bogle Park.

-GoJacks.com-