CULVER, PITCHERS CARRY JACKS TO WINS OVER NDSU

Saturday, April 13

Fargo, N.D.

12 p.m.

South Dakota State University

25-18, 9-0

North Dakota State (DH)

16-26, 3-4

South Dakota St.

North Dakota St.

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia

4/13/2024 4:15:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andrew Pedersen

FARGO, N.D. — Lindsey Culver hit a pair of home runs and South Dakota State's pitchers gave up one run in a set of victories over North Dakota State on Saturday in a doubleheader. Tori Kniesche threw a complete-game shutout to lead SDSU to a 1-0 win in game one, then Shannon Lasey also had a complete-game effort in a 7-1 Jackrabbit victory in game two of action at Tharaldson Park.

Game One
The Jacks got a first-inning run and it was all they needed in the 1-0 pitcher's duel.

Culver came up with two outs and smoked a 2-1 pitch over the left-field fence to give the Jackrabbits a 1-0 edge in the top of the first. That would be all the insurance Kniesche needed in her start in the circle.

Kniesche gave up hits in both the third and fourth innings. However, Brooke Dumont caught a runner stealing in the third, along with a trio of strikeouts by Kniesche in the fourth ended any sort of threat.

SDSU had opportunities to extend its lead. The Jackrabbits left a combined five runners on base between the fifth and sixth innings, but each time the Bison got out of jams.

Kniesche continued to thwart any rally by NDSU. A single by the Bison came with two outs in the sixth, but a strong fielding play by Cheyanne Masterson moved the game to the seventh and eventually led to the Jackrabbit victory.

Kniesche improved to 13-5 on the season with her complete-game shutout. She allowed three hits but didn't walk or hit any batters. Kniesche struck out eight batters while throwing 79 pitches. SDSU had just four hits in the game. Culver accounted for two while Dumont and Madi Conklin had a hit apiece.

NDSU's Savy Williams dropped to 5-6 in the circle. She had a complete game for the Bison as she gave up four hits, three walks and hit two batters while striking out one.

Game Two
South Dakota State scored four runs in the first two innings to put the game out of reach in a 7-1 cap to Saturday's doubleheader.

The Jackrabbits began the first with two runs off the bat of Culver. Mia Jarecki led the game off with a walk and she'd get plated on a two-run home run by Culver.

SDSU extended its advantage to 4-0 in the second. Conklin hit a single with one out and she scored on a drive over the left-center field fence by Masterson. The first home run of the season by Masterson chased NDSU starter Addie Bowers out of the game.

Lasey had a strong opening three innings in the circle for the Jacks before she ran into trouble in the fourth. A walk and a hit given up eventually led to an RBI groundout in the inning to cut into SDSU's lead and make it 4-1.

The Jacks came right back to gain the run back in the fifth. Jarecki led the inning off with a solo home run to extend the advantage back to four runs at 5-1. The Jackrabbit lineup added two runs in the score column in the seventh. Culver had an RBI single to plate Kaylee Kardash and Rozelyn Carrillo scored Emma Osmundson with an RBI single.

Lasey was solid over the final three innings of action. She had a 1-2-3 fifth inning, then didn't allow a runner to reach third in the sixth or seventh. She finished her complete-game showing by giving up one run on five hits to improve to 8-8 overall. Lasey struck out five batters and walked five.

Notes

South Dakota State improved to 26-18 overall on the season while North Dakota State dropped to 16-27. The Jackrabbits remain the lone team undefeated in conference play with a 10-0 record in Summit League action. The Bison are now 3-5.
Across two games Culver went 4-for-7 at the plate with four RBIs and two runs scored. Her two runs scored propelled her into the program record in career runs with 145.

Up Next
South Dakota State and North Dakota State close out their three-game series in Fargo on Sunday. The two sides are slated for an 11 a.m. first pitch at Tharaldson Park.

-GoJacks.com-