JACKRABBITS WIN HOME OPENER, 8-1

Tuesday, April 9

Brookings, S.D.

3 p.m.

South Dakota State University

14-16

Northwestern (Iowa)

17-19

Northwestern (Iowa)

South Dakota State

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia

4/9/2024 7:27:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Shortstop Matthew Werk drove in a career-high four runs and four South Dakota State pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts as the Jackrabbits opened the home portion of their schedule with an 8-1 victory over Northwestern (Iowa) Tuesday afternoon at Erv Huether Field.

The Jackrabbits improved to 14-16 overall, while Northwestern fell to 17-19 on the season.

A sophomore from Madison Lake, Minnesota, Werk gave the Jackrabbits a 4-1 lead with a three-run home run in the bottom of the second inning. His blast to left field was his first home run of the season and came after Bryce Ronken walked and Adam Benes was hit by a pitch to start the frame.

SDSU built its lead to 6-1 with two more runs in the third inning after a trio of free passes loaded the bases. Ronken plated the first run with a sacrifice fly and Benes notched a run-scoring single.

After giving up a run in the top of the first inning without a ball leaving the infield, Jackrabbit starter Will Kent settled in to complete five frames of one-run baseball. The sophomore right-hander struck out six, walked three and gave up three hits — all singles by the Red Raiders' leadoff man, Luke Wroblewski.

Alex Koep followed with a scoreless sixth inning in which he recorded a pair of strikeouts and Jack Kruger added two strikeouts in two scoreless innings.

Werk and Thatcher Kozal capped the scoring with run-producing singles in the bottom of the eighth. Werk and Cael Frost each collected two of the Jackrabbits' seven hits.

Reliever Sam Schlecht closed out the SDSU victory by striking out the side in order in the top of the ninth.

UP NEXT
The Jackrabbits are back on the road for a three-game weekend Summit League series at Omaha. Friday's series opener is slated for a 6 p.m. first pitch at Tal Anderson Field.

NOTES

SDSU leads the all-time series, 7-0
Werk became the 12^th Jackrabbit to hit a home run this season
Werk entered the day with one RBI in limited action
Frost raised his team-leading batting average to .385 with a 2-for-3 day at the plate
Reece Anderson had his streak of reaching base safely end at 19 games
Jess Bellows scored the Jackrabbits' first run of the game on a passed ball in the bottom of the first inning
SDSU pitchers recorded double figures in strikeouts for the 12^th time this season